Sept. 25, 2007 Aric Webster must step down as Police Director

The misuse of the Orange Police Department for political purposes, as demonstrated by the actions of  Council President, Lisa Perkins, and Civilian Police Director, Aric Webster, in the arrest of Jeff Conway, will undoubtedly result in another lawsuit against the City of Orange - for which the long suffering taxpayers of Orange will have to pay.

The State of New Jersey, Department of Law and Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice,   clearly states that the position of Civilian Police Director lacks the appropriate authority to directly supervise, let alone dictate, police activities.  Yet Aric Webster held a police staff meeting the day before the September 18, Orange City Council meeting in which he made it very clear that there was to be an example made at the next days meeting. Aric Webster declared to the assembled Orange Police leadership that there would be an arrest of a protesting citizen at the City Council meeting. Aric Webster was the only person, by his actions and deeds, performing as a police supervisor at the City Council meeting that night.

The blatant and arrogant disregard of correct police procedures and basic Constitutional guaranteed civil rights by the arresting officer (in the presence and under the direct influence of Aric Webster) and the subsequent lack of action by any police supervisors responsible for the necessary intervention to stop this travesty of justice, demonstrates the inappropriate control of the  Civilian Police Director, Aric Webster, over the operations of the Orange Police Department. 

We have stated before that the Orange City Council is dysfunctional with the intended checks and balances of power between the Mayor and City Council dissolved by the Mayor’s control and manipulation. The same can be said for the Orange Police Department and the position of Civilian Police Director.

Aric Webster clearly owes his allegiance, not to the principles of good law enforcement and the protection of the rights and property of the citizens of Orange, but to the political considerations and protection of Mayor Hackett.

Aric Webster must step down as Police Director.