Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department

Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department
Abbreviation PIPPD
Agency overview
Formed 1908
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction New York & New Jersey, U.S.
Legal jurisdiction New York and New Jersey
Headquarters 1 Alpine Approach Rd. Alpine, NJ 07620

Police Officers 26
Agency executive
  • Michael J. Coppola, Chief of Police
Parent agency Palisades Interstate Park Commission
Units
Website
Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department

The Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department (PIPPD), is a law enforcement agency in New Jersey, which duties of which are to protect all facilities owned or operated by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, and to enforce state and city laws at all of the facilities. The PIPPD is operated by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, an interstate government agency responsible for protecting the Palisades Interstate Park as well as the Palisades Interstate Parkway.[1]

Controversy

Prior to 2008, the PIPPD received about 50 complaints annually about officer conduct. In 2008, cameras were introduced and 15 complaints from 15,000 motor vehicle stops were determined to be mostly limited to demeanor. Hassidic ambulance services complained about being stopped, but the PIPPD responded that the ambulances were not licensed in New Jersey.[2]

In 2005, PIPPD officers arrested the Deputy Commissioner of the NYPD, in a dispute about a parking ticket issued to his daughter.[3][4]

A state assemblyman sought to disband the department, after his son was arrested by PIPPD officers. Suggestions that other agencies could provide police services for less were unsubstantiated.[5]

Misconduct

After a number of press reports of misconduct, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office conducted an investigation that led to Chief Michael Coppola being suspended for ninety days starting in mid-July 2018. The prosecutor found the department had an incentive program to encourage officers to write more traffic tickets. In early August, he was arrested on drugs charges.[6]

The investigation also showed that most of the department's high-speed chases were in violation of the State Attorney General's policy on such pursuits. At least one of these resulted in a fatal crash.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Palisades Parkway Police". parkwaypolice.org. Retrieved 30 June 2017. Increasing the safety of the motoring public and park patrons through proactive enforcement of motor vehicle, criminal, maritime statutes as well as the rules and regulations of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.
  2. ↑ https://www.vosizneias.com/27754/2009/02/21/new-jersey-many-complaints-filed-about-palisades-parkway-cops/
  3. ↑ http://nypdconfidential.com/columns/2005/050722.html
  4. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/20/nyregion/20chief.html?nytmobile=0
  5. ↑ https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/bergen/2018/05/09/assemblyman-palisades-interstate-parkway-police-oversee-attorney-general/585759002/
  6. ↑ "Woes Continue For Palisades Parkway Police As Chief Arrested On Drug Charges". Vos Iz Neias?. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  7. ↑ Sheldon, Chris (13 July 2018). [Chief Michael Coppola "Chief who ran ticket incentive program suspended after report shreds his one-highway department"] Check |url= value (help). NJ.com. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.