TRENTON
– The Attorney General’s Office
and New Jersey State Police are continuing
the investigation into the unauthorized escort
by state troopers of a group of sports cars
down the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State
Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway. The
preliminary inquiry has revealed enough information
to warrant immediate action.
Today,
Sergeant First Class Nadir Nassry, 47, assigned
to Totowa Station, has been suspended without
pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
Nassry has been a trooper for 25 years.
Additionally, Trooper Joseph Ventrella,
28, assigned to the Troop B Tactical Patrol
Unit, has been suspended without pay. He
has been on the force for 6 years.
The
Totowa Station Commander has been immediately
transferred until any potential involvement
on his part has been determined.
“We
will not tolerate any conduct by a member
of the State Police that puts the public
in jeopardy, as this unauthorized caravan
had the potential to do,” said Attorney
General Jeffrey S. Chiesa. “We are
thoroughly investigating this incident,
and those responsible will face serious
discipline. The mission of the New Jersey
State Police is to ensure the safety and
security of the people of New Jersey, and
the overwhelming majority of troopers nobly
and responsibly fulfill their duties. We
will not let the acts of a few tarnish the
entire force.”
“The
acts indicated during the early stages of
this investigation are squarely against
the principles of the New Jersey State Police.
As troopers, we cannot require the public
to obey laws that we are not willing to
uphold for everyone equally. I will not
tolerate this egregious breach of public
safety and those responsible will be held
fully accountable,” said Colonel Joseph
R. Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey
State Police.
At
this time, there have been no charges or
motor vehicle summonses issued regarding
this incident.
A
prior escort was discovered during the internal
investigation and a separate investigation
has been initiated regarding that incident.
It is not yet clear whether the two are
related.
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