Due to the number of comments being submitted to The Fact of The Matter that do not pertain to the story title or topic that the comments are being attached to, TFoTM once again brings to it's readers a "Weekly Questions, Comments, & Concerns
If you have a question, comment, or concern about anything...........we will post it here.
Funny how the lead investigator from the WPD squashed his investigation that was seeking who in our police department is providing information to this website when it was found out that he contacted The Fact Of The Matter. Can TFOTM confirm this?
ReplyDeleteTFoTM can confirm that the Westfield Police Department conducted an internal affairs investigation regarding this website. TFoTM has obtained information that Westfield police officer Paul Ferry was reprimanded due to his failure to follow directions concerning a questionnaire he was required to fill out asking 30+ questions regarding The Fact of The Matter. The investigation was allegedly conducted by Lt. Christopher Battiloro. TFoTM will seek all legal protection afforded to this website with regards to the "Shield Law" and continue to protect our sources of information. TFoTM has successfully fought a subpoena issued by the Union County Prosecutor's Office requesting an appearance before a grand jury and will seek relief through legal counsel if the need arises again.
DeleteTFoTM will continue to protect the identities of our sources of information.
We have read about the Mcguire v. Romankow matter and it looks like the County settled with McGuire and "retired" this Clay guy.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the status of this Terrorist matter involving Romankow ? and is it true that he will have to take the stand and testify under oath about his relationship with his confidential informant ?
I have a concern.....with the rank and file told to cut back cut back...how is it that the PD can get away with staffing an ESU at an additional cost to the taxpayer, a Chief of Police can take 10 weeks off to attend a training conference in DC all expenses paid, a Captain can run up overtime on shame investigations....these are just a few of the departments wasteful spending schemes.......
ReplyDeleteMY HUMBLE OPINION.....
DeleteThe FBI academy is not going to make Wayman a better leader or more knowledgable in the area of law enforcement...Wayman's ego will not allow him to accept any way of thinking other than his own....afterall he got to where he is because he is smarter than everyone else...Right Nick.....so what can the FBI academy teach him not a damned thing....this is a ten week all expense paid vacation....way to go Mr. Gildea......
You have three valid questions/concerns. The PD has an ESU (Emergency Services Unit) that duplicates the services of UCERT (Union County Emergency Response Team). The same question you pose was asked at a Town Council meeting and met with silence from members of the Town Council.
DeleteThe Chief of Police (David Wayman) is currently attending an intensive leadership training conference at our nation's FBI academy. It has been alleged that Wayman has no formal education beyond a high school diploma and that this course is a "feather" in his cap" to bolster a "weak" educational backround that many feel is needed for the position of chief of police that was bestowed upon him by Town Administer Jim Gildea. His leadership skills, integrity, and character have all been in question since several "mishaps" during his police career have surfaced. It has been alleged that previously outgoing police chief Bernard Tracy "whitewashed" Wayman's personnel file of any records adverse to Wayman's chances of being promoted through the ranks. Perhaps leadership, integrity, and character are being sought at this training in the hopes that town officials can say they made the right choice with regards to promoting Wayman. Certainly, the last two police chief selections "backfired" before their eyes.
Captain Auchter, earning well over $125,000 per year, is no fool. His overtime hourly rate might be over $100 an hour and any time spent on internal investigations after his "normal working hours" can be billed as overtime. In recent years since outgoing police chief Parizeau and former Captain, now Chief,David Wayman have seized control of power within the police department, the number of internal affairs investigations has allegedly increased. This can be an indication of many things. Are current police officers receiving more citizen complaints? Are current police officers more prone to getting into "trouble" on-duty and off-duty? Is the current administration being more proactive in citing officers for rule & regulation violations?
What is known is that if the current chief of police (Wayman) had been subject to the same scrutiny of the current Internal Affairs process put into place by his own administration, during his climb up the police department's chain of command, he would never had made it past the rank of patrolman. Many of his transgressions and abusive, vindictive, and retaliatory behavior are well known within the police department which is why many are left wondering how he could have possibly been appointed police chief. Answer: The lid needs to be kept closed on the Gildea, Tracy, Skibitsky connection and the Pandora's Box holding the secrets.
This posting includes fact and opinion.
The fact of the matter is Chief Wayman's employment with the Town should have been terminated for cause when he was a probationary Patrolman.
ReplyDeleteBefore the questions, here's the truth....
While attending the Union County Police Academy and undergoing firearms training, Wayman left his Town owned and issued handgun unsecured in his personal vehicle outside a Union County go-go bar. Rather than follow either common sense or written procedure, Wayman left the weapon unattended for several hours while consuming alcohol in an establishment well known for criminal behavior. Upon returning to his vehicle, he discovered both it and the firearm had been stolen.
1. How many violent crimes were committed with this Town owned weapon?
2. To whom within the WPD and UCPO were these facts reported?
3. Who conducted the WPD Internal Affairs investigation into these facts?
4. What disciplinary measures was Wayman subject to as a result of these facts?
5. Who participated in the conspiracy to conceal these facts and why?
6. Don't we as residents and tax-payers deserve better than this?
The time has come to address the larger issue in a meaningful way. The poisonous culture of corruption, cronyism and entitlement within the PD needs to end.
ReplyDeleteIt is abundantly clear that independant oversight of and transparency into the daily operations of the police department is necessary. The reality today requires a Police Director from the outside with experience cleaning up troubled police departments. Someone with vision, leadership skills and a moral compass. Someone immune to the many decades of ineptitude and corruption that has overwhelmed this agency.
This is necessary today, before something truly tragic occurs. We are watching, have been patient long enough and, WE VOTE.
why does the pd get whatever they want whenever they want and the fd gets nothing.
ReplyDeleteHow about a good story about Chic Fil A.......anyone who supports Free Speech should support this establishment....
ReplyDeleteI have just finished reading an editorial in the Westfield Leader Aug. 2 edition from a Linden resident who got caught up in the Pizza run on Wednesday....to her dismay she had no idea that the run was going on and had to redirect her errands to another town..... but what really struck me was that reason for the 5k run......to raise money for (now get this) to repair the streets in Westfield.....whats next for this town a bake sale to snow plow the streets.....???....why doesnt the mayor and counsel take a long hard look at the budget and decide what is a waste of the towns time and money......I am sure they can find a ton of things that can be cut from the budget....by the way I would like to know when the bake sale is....I am a sucker for a good bake sale....
ReplyDeleteWhile Mayor Skibitsky continues to tout his slogan "We are doing more with less," in reality the town is doing less with less. With the wasteful spending, most recently admmitted to by Councilman David Haas, and the mismanagement facilitated by town administrator Jim Gildea, one has to wonder if Mayor Skibitsky was a bit aloof when he claimed Westfield has one of the best administrators in the state of N.J., if not the best. TFoTM as extensively covered the wasteful spending of Westfield's government officials. Only recently has one of them come out and admitted it. Perhaps the flood gate has been opened.
DeleteI believe it was July 25th there was an accident on w. broad at the pool entrance/exit. Was a hit and run between a car (runner) and a motorcycle. The motorcycle driver was hurt. Do you know anything about this cuz there was nothing in the paper about it. I heard the car left its bumper with plate behind.(duh) I was just wondering why so quiet
ReplyDeletewell at least the top notch traffic safety unit will be able to solve this mystery....go get em boys....
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