Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). But Turner did put out a statement on Wednesday the Port Authority board, via its resolution, directly refuted. Port Authority commissioner of New York and New Jersey has caught by camera giving an explosive-laden tirade to the police officers during a traffic stop. While in her statement Turner said, at no point did I violate the Port Authoritys Code of Ethics or ask for special treatment for anyone involved, nor did I suggest, in any way, that I would use my position at the Port Authority to affect the outcome of the violations issued to the driver, the boards resolution declares otherwise. However, there are only 1,600 officers employed at the Port Authority. One of the officers said its a ridiculous way to talk and behave with us. The video showed that a Democrat lobbyist was shouting at the responding officers and saying may you shut. Turner resigned Monday when she learned she was being investigated by the Port Authority board A Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioner caught on camera delivering an. "The video evidence is, simply, deeply disturbing," the resolution reads. Turner interrupts him, "No, no, no, don't call me 'Miss.' Turner became agitated when one of the officers told her to ask the driver of the car. The eighth-minute video clips showed that Turner reached the spot where police officers pulled her daughters friends. Turner asks, apparently referring to Tenafly police traffic officer Louis Smaragdakis. Moment Seven: 'Don't call me 'Miss,' I'm 'Commissioner!'. She told to NJ.com that my daughter was in the car with her three friends when a police officer pulled over the car. How dare you to tell me, Miss. The bill, NJ S2858, is also sponsored by Weinberg, who championed Turners nomination to the Port Authority. | Getty. and Yale. Police never brought her to trial for any wrongdoing. "She" is Caren Z. Turner, who abruptly resigned on Monday as the Port Authority said that it was investigating allegations that she'd violated the board's code of ethics. "You're just here as the ride, right?" Trust me. An appointee of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Horwitz used to chair the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics. Caren Turner, the former chairman of the Port Authority's Governance and Ethics Committee, belittled the Tenafly officers who pulled over the driver of a Toyota Corolla with Nevada plates, which was carrying three passengers, includingTurner's adultdaughter, over Easter weekend. I can't move back any farther and you keep stepping toward me," thecop said as he backed up to his car. The man who inadvertently found himself in the midst of a now viral rant against police by a recently resigned Port Authority commissioner late last month tells News 4 he tried his best to stay out of it because "my only job was to tow the car." Find NJ.com on Facebook. "Well, I'm just telling you who I am," answers Turner. A former police commissioner for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Turner was captured bullying. The video also shows the Democratic lobbyist becoming increasingly agitated with the responding officers. Turner "became further enraged and began using profanity," the report said. Turner resigned on April 20, and in their resolution Thursday, the commissioners said they would have asked her to resign had she not done so. Chris Christie, and has served on finance committees for Hillary Clinton and Gov. On Thursday, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey wanted to make one thing abundantly clear: Despite the misdeeds of former Commissioner Caren Turner, the agency has come a long way since the days when its chairman pleaded guilty to bribery and its executives were caught red-handed engineering the Bridgegate scandal. Anyone whos seen that video will agree that the conduct on that video is not only out of bounds for any public official, its out of bounds for any member of the public in respect to how they act with the police, Mr. Horwitz said. She asks why they were pulled over, and an officer responds, "The driver has all the information, he'll tell you all you need to know," adding that she wasn't involved in the traffic stop. How are you involved? "No I'm not," Turner said. ", In contrast, theresolution states that Turner violated the agency's code of ethics for commissioners "clearly and unambiguously" and "in multiple ways.". As a crime of the second degree, official misconduct carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison without parole, and carries a maximum of ten years. Mark Zinna, the former Tenafly Borough Council President who served as acting Mayor in 2017 is now calling for official misconduct charges to be brought against Turner. He has since recused himself on four occasions, which include an item today pertaining to insurance coverage for the World Trade Center.. After being caught, she apologized for her wrongdoing and she . It started out as a routine traffic stop for an obscured out-of-state license plate. For those who missed the controversy, Caren Turner, a former Port Authority commissioner, made headlines when dashcam video emerged of her interaction with two Tenafly police officers who. Then she said, she is a commissioner and leads 4000 police officers. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Turner was the chairman of the Port Authority's Ethics Committee. Caren Turner , A Port Authority commissioner refused wrongdoing by ranting. Turner now threatens to speak not just to the chief of police, but to the mayor of Tenafly, Peter Rustin, as well. Turner told the men they were a "disappointment" and that she would be reporting them. An official from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey caught on video apparently trying to influence police by citing her powerful government job is reportedly apologizing. Turner soon begins demanding to know why the driver was stopped. As the officer examines the gold shield, Turner, wearing a plum colored, hooded vest, lowers her voice somewhat and answers, "I am a . The scandal's mastermind, David Wildstein, is on probation. "No, no, no. Turner does not relent, however, and presses him: "I just want to know why.". She was at the department for approximately one hour.". I need to know!'. ", But the officer continues, "You don't seem like a very big police supporter, I don't know. The Port Authority did not reveal what Caren Turner is accused of having done, saying only that she violated the board's "newly enacted code of ethics." (Scott Roth/Getty Images for. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "I know Louis, what's his name? And it's fine. Don't miss out on content from Dave Rubin free of big tech censorship. After Turner's daughter called mom for a ride home, things took a major turn for the crazy. Caren Turner, the former chairman of the Port Authority's Governance and Ethics Committee, belittled the Tenafly officers wh After mentioning her friendship with the mayor, Turner then begins to name drop officers within the Tenafly police department's traffic division. Turner could not be reached for comment Tuesday. No one answered the door at her listed home address. Big mistake. "I'm commissioner. Turner wascaptured on police dash cam ranting at two police officers on Route 9W March 31, yelling at them, "You may shut the f--- up!" Both the Port Authority and Tenafly Police Chief Robert Chamberlain say the video shows Turner was right to resign. Police explain that the stop doesn't concern her since all the passengers are adults, and direct her to inquire of the driver. I'm not so nice.'. It's notthem.". The traffic stop stemmed from side tinted windows -- which are not legal in New Jersey -- and a partially obscured license plate. Being a mother, hurt me a lot. yet before even greeting anyone or identifying herself as a Commissioner at the Port Authority, Turner demands to know what's going on. A now-viral video captured by police on March 31shows Caren Turner identifying herself as a commissioner and aggressively challenging the officers, even telling them "you may shut the f--- up. "You are not involved here. They soon found that the car's registration was expired, and the driver had no insurance card to present, which prompted them to have the vehicle impounded. And she is not directly in charge of them in any way, shape or form. On Thursday, the former commissioner was formally censured by the Port Authority board, in a highly critical condemnation that cited her for a litany of ethics rules violations, in connection with the Easter weekend traffic stop caught on a police dashcam video that has since gone viral. Turner becomes more agitated, insisting, "I need to know" why the stop occurred. Police dash cam video shows. For more information about our use of cookies, our collection, use, and disclosure of personal information generally, and any rights you may have to access, delete, or opt out of the sale of your personal information, please view our, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Instead one of the passengers called her mom. Police dashcam video of the incident went viral nationally. Her daughters registration would expire on March 31. Herewith, our Zapruder-style, frame-by-dashcam-frame analysis of how things went so wrong, so fast. All rights reserved. I did not violate the Code and Conduct of the Port Authority in any way. Turner arrived on the scene demanding answers and flaunting. Mr. OToole described Ms. Turners behavior as bullying and obstructionist and said that if she had not resigned, the board would have demanded that she do so. In a statement posted byNew Jersey On-Line, the agencysaid: Turner received a law degree from Georgetown University and served on the National Finance Committee for Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, according to her company bio. If she wasn't happy with what she was being told she should go to court." You are a disappointment. as she continued stepping in closer and closer to one of them. The Port Authority was wise to confirm POLITICOs story about Turners resignation, said Stephen Sigmund, the agencys former communications director. "Don't call me 'Miss,' I'm "Commissioner,' thank you," said Turner, holding up her badge. Hudson County Freeholder Bill ODea also used a police-style badge to pull over a driver during a traffic dispute, telling the driver the police work for me, according to The Jersey Journal. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) and Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) on July 26 introduced the bill, which would bar the badges for Port Authority Commissioners, NJ Transit board members and all local and state elected officials except for county sheriffs. He also thanked the Port Authority "for their professionalism and prompt attention to the matter.". The censure was a swift and harsh rebuke of Ms. Turner, who interceded in a March 31 traffic stop in Tenafly, N.J. Video released by the police captured Ms. Turner, 60, flashing her Port Authority badge and swearing at officers who had stopped and impounded a car her daughter was riding in. I'm very involved," she said. Port Authority Chairman Kevin O'Toole said the board had sent letters of apology to Tenafly officers Matthew Savitsky and Tom Casper, as well as Chief Robert Chamberlain. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Schmaradaski?" Ms. Turner, in a statement, apologized for her tone and off-color language, and then called for the Tenafly Police Department to review its policies with respect to tone and de-escalation, so that incidents like this do not recur., Port Authority Censures Former Commissioner Who Berated Police, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/26/nyregion/port-authority-censure-turner.html, Full video: Port Authority commissioner confronts police during N.J. traffic stop, a statement about the episode she released publicly. There is an elevated level of authority associated with these badges, Gopal said. Told to ask the driver for the reason for the stop, she stammers, "It's not they. Turner, in a statement earlier this week, said she had initially gone to the scene of the traffic strop after the officers decided to impound the vehicle her daughter had been riding in with friends. "I've got all your information, sweetheart," responds Turner, "I know Sikoryak" apparently dropping another name, that of Tenafly Police dispatcher, George Sikoryak. I don't need it. I will be talking with the chief of police, and I will be speaking with the mayor, she said. Turner's daughter was a passenger in a car that was pulled over for an expired registration March 31. Turner shows them something -- later identified in a police report as a Port Authority gold badge -- and says, "I am the commissioner of the Port Authority, and I am heading up over 4,000 police officers, OK?". "Trust me, I'm very involved. Staggering snowfall in California mountains leaves residents trapped for days, SpaceX launches new crew to space station, Prosecution wraps case at Alex Murdaugh murder trial, White House cybersecurity strategy pivots to regulation, Explosive found in checked luggage at Pennsylvania airport, feds say, Rape kits from two women lead to arrest in 1979 murder of one of them, FDA authorizes first at-home test for both COVID and flu, Couple accuses fertility clinic of implanting embryo with cancer genes, Several hospitalized after Lufthansa flight diverted to Dulles due to turbulence, Port Authority official seen ranting at officers resigns. "I'm very disappointed in the way you're acting. Turner digs in, now insisting she be informed of the charges, saying, "I'm involved. (Image source: Video screenshot). Get the news that matters most delivered directly to your inbox. "You may take them," says the officer, gesturing to the vehicle's driver and passengers. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. I'm involved. Turner has already worked as the ethics chair of Port Authority before leaving it. "You may tell me nothing.". Unfazed, the officer offers his own badge number and even his first name. "Your daughter was very nice as well," said the officer. Caren Turner, who is a Port Authority commissioner refused of wrongdoing by crying. ", "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah," Turner says. All rights reserved (About Us). Turner said, she is my daughter and the officer said, she is one of them sitting in the car. ", The officer says, "You work with police officers, correct? OToole said he took his badge out just once to show his kids, who thought it was cute.. On Wednesday, Caren Turner added a statement, one day later Tenafly Police Department broke a video taken by By Claude Brodesser-Akner | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Turner was apparently called to the site of the traffic stop to pick up her daughter and her friends. Unethical and even criminal wrongdoing by past Port Authority leaders has badly damaged the agencys reputation, said Kevin OToole, the bi-state agencys new chairman, reading from a resolution that ultimately won unanimous board approval. Call it privilege run amok. Finally, the officer told Turner she could take her daughter and her friends home. Turner begins to complain that the officers have a duty to tell her what charges have been brought against the driver of the vehicle. I found it most useful [in] trying to get your grandchildren to go to bed, Cotton said. ", "No, no, no, I'm involved," Turner said. "Not very often. Ms. Turner, like Mr. OToole, was appointed to the board by the previous governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, a Republican. A spokeswoman for the Attorney General's office said on Tuesday afternoon that it neither confirms nor denies investigations. TENAFLY, N.J. -- A Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioner who abruptly resigned last week was caught on camera cursing at two police officers during a traffic stop. Claude Brodesser-Akner | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Port Authority cites 'profoundly disturbing' conduct in resignation of commissioner, Video shows Port Authority commissioner telling cops: 'You may shut the f--- up!'. If someone had one called an Uber, none of what happened next ever would have happened. At one point in the video, she instructed the police officers to address her as commissioner.. During my long time stay in Tenafly, I played an active role in community work and also helped the law enforcement personnel, I also gave a new spirit to the Tenafly Police Department. Amen to that, brother. Turner then delivers her first name-drop, saying that she's there not just as their ride, but "as a concerned citizen, and a friend of the mayor.". But when the officer explains "there's no problemit's an unregistered vehicle." But that didn't happen. Caren Turner, who led the Port Authoritys ethics committee, resigned from the agency in April after its leadership learned of the badge incident. You may tell me nothing.". ", The officer reiterates that she can ask the driver of the vehicle herself why the car was pulled over. Initially, the cops pulled over the driver for having tinted side windows and a partially covered license plate. One officer takes a proffered business card, but lead officer declines, saying, "I don't need that." She was forced to resign last week as commissioner after police reached out to the inspector general of the bi-state agency regarding her conduct. The officer said in the report that he told her he was under no legal obligation to fill her in on what happened because all the occupants in the car were adults. After days of silence, former Port Authority commissioner Caren Z. 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