Even if racial profiling "works," the practice assaults the basic principles upon which our society is founded. April 23, 1998, is an important date in New Jersey history. State troopers John Hogan and James Kenna fired 11 shots into a van carrying four unarmed Hispanic and African-American men. If guns or drugs had been found in the van, the entire matter would have been discussed with a point of view much more favorable to the state police. This incident forced the state to admit that troopers were stopping motorists based upon race and ethnicity. [continues 391 words]
In an ironic chain of events, admitted drug-dealer Corey Ashford has become the star witness for both the prosecution and the defense in the celebrated New Brunswick police-corruption case. Ashford's recorded conversations with former Hub City detective James Marshall became the centerpiece in the 1998 grand jury investigation that resulted in Marshall's indictment for dealing drugs and accepting bribes. Bolstered by astute legal counsel and his former colleagues from the New Brunswick Police Department, Marshall is winning the battle for the hearts and minds of potential jurors who will decide his fate on charges, which also include operating three brothels. [continues 401 words]
