A police union in New Jersey announced Tuesday that it has won a dispute over a city’s demand that local police officers identify whether they are participating in the January 6 violent riot at the Capitol.
Bob Fox, president of the Fraternal Order of Police-New Jersey Labor Council, said in a press release that it resolved a grievance on behalf of members of the Neptune Superior Officers Association Lodge 19, “the preservation of our members’ constitutional and contractual rights.”
Fox added that on January 20, Neptune Township issued a notice that “members are demanding to identify whether they are participating in the January 6, 2021 siege of the U.S. capital in Washington,” “clearly and unequivocally condemning all levels. ”
Fox added that officers have been informed that they will take disciplinary action if they do not respond to the notice.
“There was absolutely no indication, complaint or information indicating that any Neptune Superior Officer was involved in any way in the January 6 events in Washington DC,” the police union chief continued. “The FOP concluded that this investigation was conducted for political purposes only and was not based on factual or credible information.”
The police union subsequently filed a grievance ‘challenging the legality of the notice and the requirement to compel our members to respond’, and alleged ‘violation of our members’ rights under the agreement with the collective bargaining agreement with the congregation of Neptune ‘
Fox said the congregation then sustained the grievance and therefore revoked the notice to police officers.
“The FOP and the FOP-NJ Labor Council will continue to defend our members, without delay and with the full resources at our disposal,” Fox added in the press release.
This is because several current and former police officers were among those arrested and charged in connection with the January 6 riot in which five people died as a result of the chaos, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick and a woman who was shot by ordinary clothes. official.
Federal officials have already charged more than 100 individuals in connection with the riot, and investigators said Tuesday they are currently investigates more than 400 potential suspects.
Acting U.S. Attorney for DC Michael Sherwin said in a call with reporters that law enforcement has received more than 200,000 tips from the public and received more than 500 warrants and subpoenas.