Data shows law enforcement officers overwhelmingly white and male

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Apr 28, 2022 View in browser   By Jonathan Custodio New Jersey's law enforcement officers are overwhelmingly white and male, according to a new report from acting Attorney General Matt Platkin. The report analyzes statewide data on the demographics of law enforcement officers, including race, ethnicity, gender and age, comparing it with U.S. Census demographic data. Of the state's 30,505 active and full-time officers, just over 10 percent are female, and nearly 89 percent are male. Nearly 70 percent of officers are white. About 52 percent of the state's residents are white, according to Census figures. Officers who are Hispanic and Black account for about 18 and 10 percent, respectively, while the state's residents are approximately 22 percent Hispanic and 12 percent Black. Asian residents make up about 10 percent of the population and account for about 2 percent of law enforcement. Wider discrepancies exist at state law enforcement agencies. Less than 6 percent of officers are female and about 75 percent are white. "In a state as diverse as New Jersey, it is imperative that law enforcement reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, especially as we seek to build trust between police and the community members they are sworn to protect," Platkin said in a statement. "This public release of officer demographic data is an important step towards transparency and achieving that goal. I applaud our dedicated agencies from around the state who are committed to recruiting and training the most effective police forces possible." HAPPY THURSDAY AFTERNOON — Hi there, I'm Jonathan Custodio, your Playbook PM author. You can send eastern goldfinch photos to jcustodio@politico.com. We're here with the latest from Trenton and elsewhere as New Jersey moves ahead in the budget process and the Legislature conducts hearings on Gov. Phil Murphy's spending plan. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY GERRYMANDERING OFFICIAL AT CENTER OF INQUIRY — Sam Wang, who oversaw the Princeton Gerrymandering Project, is at the center of a Princeton University probe after members of his staff alleged he mistreated employees and was manipulating data to correlate with his personal goals, reports New Jersey Globe's David Wildstein. The New Jersey Globe obtained several memorandums, letters and emails from the Princeton University Human Resources department that showed the institution restricted Wang from speaking directly with his staff while he advised the independent congressional redistricting tiebreaker because of the probe. Complaints were submitted both before and during his tenure. COVID NUMBERS — New Jersey reported 2,571 cases of Covid-19 and seven deaths on account of the virus on Thursday as top vaccine producer Moderna asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to authorize its vaccine for children below the age of six. The state's seven-day average was up 21 percent from a week ago and 138 percent from a month ago. ON THE BEATS   CASINOS — The United Auto Workers is entering the casino smoking debate. In a letter to lawmakers, the labor union — which represents workers in the Tropicana, Bally's and Caesars casinos and about 10,000 gaming workers across the country — pressed to pass legislation NJ S264 (22R) , which would bar indoor casino smoking. "We have heard the financial scare tactics laid out by the casinos, but nothing is more frightening than the numbers released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with regard to secondhand smoke," the letter reads. "We know that the casinos will thrive without indoor smoke causing a slow death to the employees. We know this because we have seen casinos in states across the country thrive while implementing accommodations to protect their workers." The union support is notable, as Atlantic City's largest labor union, Unite Here Local 54, has opposed efforts to ban casino smoking, citing concerns of a possible negative financial fallout for casinos. The casino industry, which adamantly opposes the ban, has warned that taking such action could be detrimental to the industry and local economy. Legislation to bar casino smoking has gained steam in recent months, with dozens of lawmakers signing on to the effort, which has long been dormant in Trenton. — Daniel Han  Around New Jersey "A $1 billion boost pitched for health services," by NJ Spotlight News' Lilo H. Stainton: "State officials want to invest nearly $1 billion more over the next year to expand New Jersey's caregiver workforce, mental health programs and health insurance coverage for struggling families, issues that have become increasingly important due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The total spending increases — fueled largely by state dollars — are part of the massive $24 billion annual budget request from the New Jersey Department of Human Services, up 4% from what was spent last year. Department officials appeared before the Assembly Budget Committee Wednesday to talk about their spending plan for fiscal year 2023, which lawmakers must approve by July." "Bill would require more drug testing for bus drivers," by New Jersey Monitor's Sophie Nieto-Muñoz: "As lawmakers debate whether police officers should be able to consume cannabis while off duty, two Republican say they plan to introduce a bill requiring all public and private school bus drivers be drug tested twice a year. Under current federal law, school bus drivers are subject to annual random drug tests. School districts or contracted bus companies must test 10% of their drivers for alcohol and 50% for drugs like controlled opiates and marijuana each year. The new measure would expand that to 100% of school bus drivers at least twice annually, including drivers for private schools. The bill will be sponsored by Bergen County Assembly Republicans Robert Auth and DeAnne DeFuccio." "Prominent Edgewater developer Fred Daibes pleads guilty to federal banking crimes," by The Record's Kaitlyn Kanzler: "Prominent Edgewater developer Fred Daibes pleaded guilty on Wednesday before a federal judge to federal banking crimes. Daibes appeared via Zoom to submit his plea, brokering a plea agreement with the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, despite denying any wrongdoing in May 2019. Daibes was indicted in 2018 for conspiracy to circumvent lending limits set by Mariner's Bank, which he founded in 2001. He and Michael McManus, the chief financial officer of Daibes Enterprises, allegedly used others not named in the indictment to secure millions of dollars in loans — which were used for Daibes' benefit — without the knowledge of the bank or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The scheme ran from 2008 through 2013." "Another investigation launched into the over 200 COVID deaths in NJ veterans homes," by The Record's Scott Fallon: "A third investigation into the deaths of more than 200 residents of New Jersey's veterans homes during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic has been opened by an independent state agency that reports on government malfeasance, a state commissioner revealed this week. The State Commission of Investigation is looking into how the outbreak at the Paramus, Menlo Park and Vineland homes became one of the nation's worst COVID-related nursing home disasters, Military and Veterans Affairs Commissioner Lisa Hou told a legislative panel on Tuesday. The commission joins probes by the state Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Department of Justice." Odds and ends — Some kind of milky substance has gotten into waterways in Passaic, but officials say there's no danger to the public.   — New Jersey's teacher of the year still loves her work, four decades after she started her career.  — Two challengers hoping to unseat Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis say they'll skip a planned debate tonight. — The Barnes & Noble in Clark will shut its doors after nearly a quarter-century. — All 21 counties are under a "red flag" alert for brush fires today and tomorrow. — New Jersey soccer legend Carli Loyd has purchased a share of NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League.  — It's take your child to work day at the governor's office.   Subscribe to the POLITICO Playbook family Playbook  |  Playbook PM  |  California Playbook  |  California Playbook PM  |  Florida Playbook  |  Illinois Playbook  |  Massachusetts Playbook  |  New Jersey Playbook  |  New York Playbook  |  New York Playbook PM View all our political and policy newsletters Follow us

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