Punishment pledged on SWAT report

Wednesday, February 20, 2008  Jersey Journal

The city's long awaited disciplinary report into the infamous SWAT scandal is due today and the public can expect those responsible to face "penalties," Mayor David Roberts said yesterday.

Roberts' announcement comes on the heels of more embarrassing video footage of SWAT team members featured on Fox News 5 Monday night, showing SWAT team members cavorting with girls during a post-Hurricane Katrina trip to Kenner, La., in September 2005.

In one scene, Lt. Angelo Andriani, the former SWAT team commander - and the main target of a discrimination lawsuit against the department filed by five Hispanic officers - is shown distributing bullets from the magazine of his gun to Kenner real estate developer Henry Shane and his wife, Patricia.

Roberts promised "penalties" would be meted out, but declined to provide further details, adding that departmental directors were being briefed yesterday.

"I am very angry by what has occurred on behalf of the hard-working men and women of the Hoboken Police Department," Roberts said. "This is not representative of their conduct."

Charles Sciarro, Andriani's attorney, said the video "helped" his client since the interaction took place "under the watchful eye" of Police Chief Carmen LaBruno.

LaBruno did not return calls seeking comment.

Roberts and Councilman Michael Russo also attended the event at Shane's home in Kenner, a thank-you party for the Hoboken cops.

Earlier this year, The Jersey Journal published a picture of SWAT cops and LaBruno posing with the Shanes, with Patricia Shane pointing a SWAT team pistol.

The New Jersey state attorney general's "Use of Force Policy" says that law enforcement officers must not "unholster or exhibit a firearm" except in specific circumstances.