DEP REQUESTS ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
OFFICE INVESTIGATION
(06/23) TRENTON -- Expressing concern
for Emil Mann, his family and the Ramapough Mountain community,
Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa P. Jackson
today announced that the state Attorney General's Office has agreed
to conduct an internal investigation into the April 1, 2006, incident
involving members of the Division of Parks and Forestry's State
Park Police working at Ringwood State Park in Mahwah.
The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office is continuing its criminal
investigation into the shooting and the circumstances surrounding
it. Anyone who witnessed the incident at Ramapo Valley Reservation
is asked to call the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes
Unit at (201) 226-5552.
"The officers who patrol our state parks are held to the highest
standards of professional conduct," Commissioner Jackson said.
"The Attorney General's office and the DEP are working in earnest
to establish whether department procedures and policies intended
to protect the public were followed.
"Should the investigation determine that any department protocols
- including those that guide our work with other law enforcement
agencies - are not as effective as they can and should be, I will
take immediate action to rectify those deficiencies," Commissioner
Jackson said.
All four park police officers involved in the incident are on leave
with pay.
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