Shame on both of you. The officer said this car doesnt belong to you and your daughter. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. The Turner episode was an embarrassment for an agency that's struggled to rebuild its public reputation in the wake of the 2013 Bridgegate scandal. Caren Turner , A Port Authority commissioner refused wrongdoing by ranting. asks Officer Savitsky, utterly bewildered, and now officially The Most Patient Person in the Universe. Turner, a 60-year-old Democratic lobbyist who served as ethics chair of the Port Authority, had been called by her daughter on March 31 to pick up her and several friends on Route 9W after the car in which they were riding was impounded, according to a police report. I found it most useful [in] trying to get your grandchildren to go to bed, Cotton said. Turner becomes more agitated, insisting, "I need to know" why the stop occurred. He said she spoke to Lt. Timothy O'Reilly at police headquarters only to inquire about the legal requirements to remove the vehicle from impound. You may tell me nothing.". "She didn't drop any names, nor did she use her title to identify herself when she came into the department. Turner has already worked as the ethics chair of Port Authority before leaving it. Authority, Yassie Safai denies the rumor of dating Dustin Johnson, US Got Talent star Michael Ketterer says his marriage is stronger than ever, Gail Ernsts wife was rapped by a man in college after refusing to cheat on her, Lux Russell Lowry, the son of TV star Kailyn is becoming a star as he has become a. Samson, a former New Jersey attorney general, was convicted and sentenced to home confinement and was fined $100,000 in what became known as the "chairman's flight" episode. When the police officer said Turner to teach the traffic rules and regulations to his daughter, Turner said how dare you to say me anything. But she added: "at no point did I violate the Port Authority's Code of Ethics or ask for special treatment for anyone involved, nor did I suggest,in any way,that I would use my position at the Port Authority to affect the outcome of the violations issued to the driver. "Don't call me 'Miss,' I'm "Commissioner,' thank you," said Turner, holding up her badge. It says she spoketo the officers in "an insulting and condescending manner; using foul and aggressive language" and invoked her status as a commissioner. The Port Authority oversees airports, bridges, tunnels and rail facilities across the region. Turner asks, apparently referring to Tenafly police traffic officer Louis Smaragdakis. All rights reserved (About Us). Because who doesn't hand out their business card during a traffic stop? As the officer examines the gold shield, Turner, wearing a plum colored, hooded vest, lowers her voice somewhat and answers, "I am a . "She was not confrontational or rude in any way," he said. Moment One: 'Alright, you guys are all set. Thank you. By signing up to the Blaze News newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from Blaze Media that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. 04/26/2018 04:50 PM EDT. "The video evidence is, simply, deeply disturbing," the resolution reads. Just so there's no discrepancies," says the officer, Matt Savitsky, with the calm righteousness of a man who knows all of this is being filmed, and that Commissioner Turner is not going to come out of this one looking good. Bridgegate defendants to have their appeals heard following 2016 conviction, Tenafly police report reveals traffic stop was routine until PA commissioner arrived, Tenafly police officers' boss 'very proud' after traffic incident with PA commissioner, Lowry: In Tenafly, a 'cursed' traffic stop rolls up against privilege, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. In which she was trying to rank over police officers who pull over a car in which her daughter was a passenger. (They do not.). "There's a problem with you describing it because you don't feel confident why these people are being pulled over," Turner says. The Tenafly police reported the episode, which did not result in any charges against Ms. Turner, to the Port Authority on April 11, according to its chairman, Kevin OToole. Turner says sarcastically, "I'm so sorry, thank you for your concern for my safety. Herewith, our Zapruder-style, frame-by-dashcam-frame analysis of how things went so wrong, so fast. When the officer said, try to understand Miss, she said, dont call me Miss, Im a commissioner. I don't need it. The Port Authority did not reveal what Caren Turner is accused of having done, saying only that she violated the board's "newly enacted code of ethics." (Scott Roth/Getty Images for. At one point in the video, she instructed the police officers to address her as commissioner.. What are you talking about?" Being a mother, hurt me a lot. All of that because of the male driver with Nevada plates who was pulled over because part of his license plate was obscured. All rights reserved (About Us). Former Port Authority commissioner Caren Turner seen arguing with Tenafly Police officers following a traffic stop on March 31. Shame on both of you. This isn't going to go down nicely," warns Turner. The first officer, perhaps because this is a total non-sequitur, is unmoved. The video showed her attempting to intervene with police--first by flipping out her Port Authority gold badge and insisting she be addressed as "commissioner," then trying to bully the officers by dropping the names of higher-ups in town, and then ending with a string of profanities. Call it the ultimate "Do you know who I am" PR disaster. TENAFLY, New Jersey (WABC) -- A former Port Authority commissioner has issued a response after she was seen on video berating police officers during a traffic stop in New Jersey. Dash cam video from that portion of the traffic stop shows the driver and the police officer speaking calmly. It's notthem.'. ", In the first of a number of "Oh, no she didn't oh, yes she did" moments, she then displays her gold Port Authority badge, which appears to be every bit as shiny and useless asCommissioner Gordon's badge in "Batman. She said, I have noted your name and you would face my enmity. In deep trouble, I reached there to pick them up. Further, OToole, the Ports chairman, said he sent personal letters to the two officers involved, and to the police chief, and that he and the Port Authoritys deputy inspector general apologized to the police chief in person. Both the Port Authority and Tenafly Police Chief Robert Chamberlain say the video shows Turner was right to resign. ", "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah," Turner says. "I'm not so nice. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Moment Seven: 'Don't call me 'Miss,' I'm 'Commissioner!'. Turner wascaptured on police dash cam ranting at two police officers on Route 9W March 31, yelling at them, "You may shut the f--- up!" Turner digs in, now insisting she be informed of the charges, saying, "I'm involved. Your email address will not be published. Moment Six: 'I am a commissioner of the Port Authority.'. "I know Louis, what's his name? He said, I dont say anything about your behavior, but you are demanding more than our approach. ", "Guess what? We use cookies to better understand website visitors, for advertising, and to offer you a better experience. When Commissioner Horwitz spouse accepted a job at Westfield, which manages the retail complex for the World Trade Center, in October 2017, Commissioner Horwitz immediately notified Port Authoritys leadership and informed them he would from that point forward recuse himself from all matters pertaining to Westfield or the World Trade Center, Port Authority spokesman Ben Branham said in a statement. Tenafly Police /Storyful . 2023 Blaze Media LLC. "What's the problem?" ", Then she turns to the other officer, "And you are just following him. All rights reserved. ", Moment Six: 'I am a commissioner of the Port Authority. ", She responds, "Yeah, I work with 4,000 of them. Turner apologized to the police officers for her wrongdoing and repent of her harsh words and tone. Port Authority commissioner of New York and New Jersey has caught by camera giving an explosive-laden tirade to the police officers during a traffic stop. Turner could not be reached for comment Tuesday. On Thursday, he had to recuse himself from a vote related to insurance for the World Trade Center site because his wife handles Westfield World Trade Centers retail operations there. ", But the officer continues, "You don't seem like a very big police supporter, I don't know. Her daughters registration would expire on March 31. Turner's tirade against the patrol officers included profanity, insults and the repeated reference of her position as a Port Authority commissioner, all captured in a video. The eighth-minute video clips showed that Turner reached the spot where police officers pulled her daughters friends. A lot better for [the Port Authority] to be taking action than reacting to that mess., At the Ports monthly board meeting on Thursday, OToole and his colleague repeatedly excoriated Turners conduct, describing it as deplorable and saying it clearly and unambiguously violated the Code of Ethics for Port Authority commissioners, in multiple ways.. The censure was a swift and harsh rebuke of Ms. Turner, who interceded in a March 31 traffic stop in Tenafly, N.J. Video released by the police captured Ms. Turner, 60, flashing her Port Authority badge and swearing at officers who had stopped and impounded a car her daughter was riding in. Ms. Turner had abruptly resigned from her Port Authority seat last week after the video surfaced, making the public censure largely symbolic. After arriving in her Mercedes sedan but of course! Mr. OToole described Ms. Turners behavior as bullying and obstructionist and said that if she had not resigned, the board would have demanded that she do so. And we will not go back to what once was.. She does not walk away. And you can tell that to everybody. But whatever you call it, you can't look away. Police dashcam video of the incident went viral nationally. "You may not tell me when to take my child," Turner said. Moment Ten: 'I was here for your graduation". Former Chairman David Samson, another Christie ally, resigned in 2014 after it was revealed that he'd used his power as chairman to coerce United Airlines to operate a direct flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to his hometown of Columbia, South Carolina, for his convenience. [3] [21] Traffic stop incident [ edit] Turner, who led the Port Authoritys ethics committee, resigned from the agency in April after its leadership learned of the incident. "Trust me, I'm very involved. "What does that have to do with anything?" Caren Z. Turner, a Democratic lobbyist, has been flogged for days on social media for berating police officers in New Jersey in a video that went viral. The woman scolded the officers for inconveniencing her and the four "Ph.D. students" from "Yale and M.I.T." The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Turner was apparently called to the site of the traffic stop to pick up her daughter and her friends. ", Turner resigned Monday when she learned she was being investigated by the Port Authority board. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Turner didn't return a call seeking comment. A now-viral video captured by police on March 31shows Caren Turner identifying herself as a commissioner and aggressively challenging the officers, even telling them "you may shut the f--- up. Unethical and even criminal wrongdoing has badly damaged the reputation of this agency, Mr. OToole said, in explaining the censure. 2023 www.northjersey.com. as she continued stepping in closer and closer to one of them. State Sens. "She" is Caren Z. Turner, who abruptly resigned on Monday as the Port Authority said that it was investigating allegations that she'd violated the board's code of ethics. Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. Learn How rich is She in this year and how She spends money? While in her statement Turner said, at no point did I violate the Port Authoritys Code of Ethics or ask for special treatment for anyone involved, nor did I suggest, in any way, that I would use my position at the Port Authority to affect the outcome of the violations issued to the driver, the boards resolution declares otherwise. Turner continued boasting about her position, when a police officer said this car was not registered then she said tell me first why you pulled my daughters friend. For this, I apologize," Turner said in the statement. Turner was. In March 2017, Turner began a six-year unpaid term on the Board of Commissioners of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, [3] [20] after New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg recommended her, Governor Chris Christie nominated her, and the New Jersey State Senate approved. Allies of former Gov. I want to take these four people on Easter Sunday to New Haven. | Getty. Initially, the cops pulled over the driver for having tinted side windows and a partially covered license plate. But when the officer explains "there's no problemit's an unregistered vehicle." Trust me. Some New Jersey lawmakers want to eliminate law enforcement-style badges for most politicians after former Port Authority Commissioner Caren Turner used hers to pressure a cop who pulled over a car with her daughter in it. Mr. OToole said, in explaining the censure remove the vehicle from impound of!! Unethical and even criminal wrongdoing has badly damaged the reputation of this agency, Mr. said... 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