Officials respond to complaint with trite explanation

I read the story “Attorney Claims Officers Did Not Act Improperly” in the Sept. 1, 2004 edition of the News Transcript. The allegations of Manalapan residents against the township police are very disturbing and should be fully investigated.

What I also find disturbing is the reaction of township officials; it is the same pattern we have seen over the past several years when township officials are presented with allegations of official misconduct:

• Deny that any misconduct took place; intimidate the victims.

• Launch an internal “investigation” that surprisingly finds no problems.

• Kick it upstairs to a county or state agency to back up the official version of events. A curious nondenial is issued, “there is no evidence of a crime.” No one is held accountable; the real issues are not addressed.

• When the whole thing becomes public, we hear cries from our elected officials, “We are outraged, but there is nothing we can do.” Blame the victims, as the township attorney, Mr. Lomurro, in your story, implies that the individuals in this incident are lucky that they weren’t given municipal violations for the heinous crime of being kids hanging out at a park.

Then, back to business as usual — no one is accountable, no one accepts any responsibility, nothing changes.

Steve Peterson

Manalapan