#NJ group for black cops ‘offended’ at being left out of police reform talks

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New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal
Robert Miller

An organization for black cops in New Jersey says it was “disappointed and offended” at getting left out of officials talks leading to recent police reforms in the Garden State.

The president of the New Jersey chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) told NJ.com he was “actually shocked” when changes to use of force policy and identifying disciplined cops were announced by state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal.

“We were dismayed,” Jiles Ship, a former national president of the group of black federal, state and local law enforcement officers, told the site of announcements earlier this month.

The group insisted that it should have been included because most of the reforms were likely to most impact communities of color.

”Who better to provide insights about these reforms than law enforcement professionals who for decades walked the streets in these neighborhoods and communicated with real New Jerseyans and work with community leaders?” Ship said in a statement.

“We were disappointed and offended that we were not invited to be at the table,” Ship said.

The Rev. David Ford, of the New Jersey Clergy Coalition for Justice, said it “seems very disrespectful given the need to build police-community trust to leave our black, Hispanic, and Asian law enforcement groups out of the process.”

“We are one of the most diverse states in America. It would seem logical to include those who not only look like many in our diverse communities but those who have years of service in community policing, especially in communities of color,” Ford said.

Grewal contacted Ship after hearing his concerns and insisted the group’s exclusion was not intentional, Ship told NJ.com

“We have tremendous respect for Jiles and everyone at NOBLE, which is why we regularly consult them on our law enforcement initiatives,” insisted said Sharon Lauchaire, director of communications for the Attorney General’s office.

“We look forward to continuing our partnership with NOBLE as we work to make New Jersey a national leader on policing reform,” Lauchaire told NJ.com.