The Sergeant’s exam must be postponed indefinitely, due to the ongoing negotiations between the State of New Jersey and the United States Department of Justice regarding an acceptable revised test plan under the proposed Consent Decree. A new Orientation Guide outlining any changes to the testing process will be issued approximately 6 to 8 weeks before a new test date.

In January 2010, the Department of Justice sued the state and New Jersey Civil Service Commission, alleging the sergeants exam discriminates against black and Hispanic officers and arguing the tests weren’t necessary to prove candidates could do the job.

The lawsuit cited figures from 2000 to 2008, when 89 percent of white candidates passed the exam, compared with 77 percent of Hispanic officers and 73 percent of African-Americans. Black and Hispanic officers who passed received lower scores and were less likely to be promoted.

Under the proposed settlement, the exam will be revised and New Jersey will provide $1 million in back pay to officers deemed harmed by the promotion process.

Ken Ferrante left work at the Hoboken Police Department on Friday a lieutenant and returned today a sergeant.

"It feels awkward," said Ferrante who was formerly a commander of three community policing bureaus and is now a first line supervisor over one four-member unit.

Ferrante is one of nine senior officers who have been demoted effective today as part of Mayor Dawn Zimmer's police redeployment plan that she has said will save taxpayers on the city's high personnel costs.

The city recently reported over $2 million in savings through the plan.

In response, the PSOA - the senior police officers' union - is appealing the decision.

All of the past year’s political battles were on display again at a marathon City Council meeting Wednesday night. Among the biggest issues was a plan to demote 12 police officers – a number that was reduced to nine by the end of the week.

The council is often split 5-4 on controversial votes right now, with the majority voting against the policies of Mayor Dawn Zimmer.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Councilman Michael Russo, a sometime Zimmer critic, sported his yellow “Stop the Zimmer Police Layoffs” t-shirt. Demotions for 12 top officers in the Hoboken Police Department were scheduled to take effect the next day, and Zimmer confirmed her administration would carry out the demotion plan by issuing a press release around 10 p.m. while the meeting was in progress. (On Thursday evening, the mayor announced that another retirement had taken place, which limited the demotions to nine officers.)

The bitter fight over Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s plan to lay off 18 police officers may have come to an end.

Mayor Zimmer, Police Chief Anthony Falco, and Executive Director of the Hoboken Housing Authority Carmelo Garcia announced on Friday morning that the city – through a combination of the Housing Authority hiring five officers and a police reduction of force through retirements of some other officers – will be able to avoid the layoffs of all 18 officers.

The Housing Authority (HHA) agreed this week to hire five officers to work an overnight shift at the HHA buildings. Combined with the retirements of five other officers and commitments from some others to retire, the layoffs will be avoided and still save, in the long term, at least $2.5 million from the budget.

Two days after her council majority voted against a non-binding rescind order for Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s plan to lay off 18 police officers, Zimmer was hand delivered a letter this morning from Assemblyman Ruben Ramos (D-Hoboken) telling her to pull the plug on the job cuts. Zimmer is in Trenton today and not in City Hall to receive the missive.

“There comes a time in every official’s life when some of the hardest decisions must be made. Often these decisions pit self-interest against providing for the greater good,” Ramos wrote. “I must commend you for your tough stance on this issue, as I know this is not a decision any executive wants to make.”

Judging by Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, the city’s new six month budget, introduced by a narrow 5-4 vote by the majority allied with Mayor Dawn Zimmer, will be the fresh ground on which many familiar political battles will be fought in the next four weeks until its public hearing on Sept. 29.

A standing room only crowd of men and women in bright yellow t-shirts labeled “Stop the Zimmer Police Layoffs!” filled the council chambers. Their spokespersons warned the mayor’s plan to lay off 18 police officers and demote 19 others will expose Hoboken to a greater risk of crime, and was unwarranted when the budget is running a $10 million surplus even after $1.9 million is used for tax relief.

A 22-year-old employee of the Hoboken municipal garage was arrested on Friday in connection with the theft of a police transponder from back in January 2009, according to police reports.

On Friday, police concluded that a plastic encoded transponder and a GPS SIM card, both owned by the City of Hoboken, was initially stolen by Terry McDonald, a mechanic at the Hoboken municipal garage, 256 Observer Highway, reports said.

Police generated a warrant complaint against Terry McDonald charging him with burglary, theft and theft of services, reports said.

Former Hoboken Fourth Ward Councilman Chris Campos is suing Sgt. James Peck of the Hoboken police and New York City police officer Joseph Liotta in a civil lawsuit over his DUI arrest more than three years ago. The cities of Hoboken and New York were also named in the suit.

Campos, a private practice attorney in Hoboken, is seeking injunctive, compensatory damages from the defendants who arrested him on DUI charges more than three years ago.

Following a wait of several months, the operational audit of the Hoboken Police Department has now been released to the city. The audit makes recommendations for significant staffing cuts of approximately one-third of the force.

The report said the staffing needs for Hoboken Police Department are one chief, three captains, 12 lieutenants and 60 or 70 officers/detectives depending on the methodology applied. This determination reflects a staff reduction from 158 to 112 or 102 depending on the methodology applied, the report said.

 probe into a drug ring operating out of a Downtown Jersey City restaurant has led to 17 arrests, including a Hoboken police officer and Hoboken Fire Department battalion chief, as well as a Jersey City police officer who was already suspended, officials said.

The year-and-a-half investigation resulted in the arrest of Jersey City Police Officer Mark Medal, 52, of Fifth Street; Hoboken Fire Department Battalion Chief Henry Setkiewicz, 59, of Summit Avenue in Jersey City; and Hoboken Police Officer Ralph F. Gallo, 25, of Church Towers in Hoboken, said Hudson County First Assistant Prosecutor Guy Gregory.

About 20 people attended Wednesday night's crime prevention meeting concerning several muggings and aggravated assaults that have occurred near Hoboken's 2nd Street Light Rail stop and around 2nd and Harrison streets.

Here's a summary from the Hoboken Police about that area, which they've determined a "hot spot," and (starting tonight!) what they'll be doing to prevent crime near the 2nd Street Light Rail:

Since Oct 12, 2008, there have been eight incidents of violent crime - meaning robberies and aggravated assaults -- in that area, said Sgt. Ken Ferrante, Commander of Hoboken Community Policing.

According to Lt. Ken Ferrante, Commander of Hoboken Community Policing, there will be a meeting tonight at police headquarters to address crime around the 2nd Street Light Rail station.

The meeting was organized by a Hoboken resident who felt concerned about crime in the area of 2nd and Harrison streets, particularly on Friday nights. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. inside police headquarters. The room can only accommodate about 10-15 people, so the meeting is specifically for people who live near the Light Rail stop.

Ferrante said crime and crime-prevention solutions will be discussed tonight.

Councilmembers are demanding an investigation into the leak of a scathing report by the city's labor attorney into the Hoboken SWAT team/Hooters scandal to the media.

"We've asked for a copy of the Corrigan report," said City Councilwoman Dawn Zimmer at Wednesday's council meeting, referring to the report by city labor attorney David Corrigan. "Fox News got a copy and The Jersey Journal got a copy and we've been asking for it and we haven't seen it."

Police Chief Carmen LaBruno, who is retiring at the end of next month with a six-figure pension, and former SWAT team leader Lt. Angelo Andriani abused their positions of authority and engaged in illegal conduct, a scathing internal investigation into the Hoboken Police Department has found.

LaBruno and Andriani, who is suspended in the wake of the SWAT team scandal, are not the only cops slammed in the report. Members of the SWAT team who have filed a discrimination lawsuit against Andriani and the department also are treated harshly in the report.

HOBOKEN - City officials were furious yesterday that the findings of an internal investigation had been leaked to the media, but appeared undecided whether to pursue an investigation to determine who did it.

The Hoboken Now blog (NJ.com/HobokenNow) and Fox 5 News both had stories on the findings of city labor attorney David Corrigan's investigation into the Hoboken Police Department.

City attorney Steven Kleinman said that no one connected to the city released it and doing so was a "violation of New Jersey attorney general guidelines."

PBA President speaks out on the unfairness of SWAT punishment

The president of the union representing Hoboken's rank and file officers is describing the departmental charges filed by the city against his members in connection with the SWAT team scandal as unfair and is accusing the media coverage of creating a "lynch-mob mentality."

"The level of recommended discipline is not only excessive but also unfair," said Vince Lombardi, president of the Policeman's Benevolent Association, in a recent statement.

The city announced last week that nine cops have been accused of violating several provisions of state administrative code and departmental rules and procedures. Officials said sanctions against the cops range from a 10-day suspension to termination, but would not be specific.

Retiring a few years early will leave 59-year-old Police Chief Carmen LaBruno with a comfortable landing - and may cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The city has not yet sealed a deal with the chief, sources say, but he is expected to announce this week that he will retire at the end of June, sources have told The Jersey Journal.

LaBruno, who has been chief for the past 18 years, has been under pressure for his role in two SWAT team trips to Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina - one in September 2005 and the other during Mardi Gras 2006.

Mayor David Roberts has recruited some experienced lawyers to show the city is being "fair and impartial" in its investigation of nine unnamed officers charged in connection the SWAT scandal.

But others say that the city is prepared to throw a few lower-ranking police officers under the bus and pay top dollar to shield itself from further litigation.

Roberts said that he asked criminal defense lawyer Paul Condon, a former Essex County prosecutor, at $150 an hour, to present disciplinary charges on behalf the city in administrative proceedings.

Hoboken Mayor David Roberts promises a "fair and impartial" investigation. But the Mayor, Hoboken's Chief Executive, was also present at Kenner. Is he investigating himself?

The Jersey Journal quoted Hoboken Mayor David Roberts as saying "that he would be "extraordinarily careful" in picking a replacement" for outgoing Police Chief Carmen LaBruno and that problems for LaBruno began after the now disbanded SWAT team's post-Hurricane Katrina trip to Kenner, La., in September 2005 and a subsequent visit to New Orleans for Mardi Gras the following year. 

Roberts is also quoted as saying that “he knew that there'd be criticism that there was "going to be a whitewash" and moved to ensure that the city was fair and impartial.“

Wait a second, weren’t there “other” City Officials on the “humanitarian” trips to Kenner, La?   How about Mayor David Roberts and Councilman Michael Russo?

In the quest for a scapegoat, it appears that one important mitigating circumstance may have been overlooked, the CHAIN OF COMMAND and a LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT.

The Jeresy Journal is reporting that Police Chief Carmen LaBruno will announce his retirement next week in the wake of the department's SWAT team scandal, city sources said tonight.

Police Chief Carmen LaBruno will announce his retirement next week in the wake of the department's SWAT team scandal, city sources said tonight.

LaBruno, 59, is expected to make a formal declaration ending his 37-year law enforcement career sometime next week, according to sources.

The chief is expected to stay during a transition period that would end in June.

Is Mayor Roberts conducting a flawed internal investigation? "It's like Alice in Wonderland," Attorney Charles Sciarra said. "This is all political and not a legitimate investigation. The city is trying to undo the damage that was done when the mayor watched all this happen."

The racy photos of cops cavorting with Hooters waitresses rocked the Hoboken Police Department. Now, officers face disciplinary charges after a scathing report on their conduct was released.

The photos embarrassed and brought unwanted attention to the Hoboken police.

Officers of the disbanded SWAT team and their chief are seen in the photos having a ball during Mardi Gras, and with Hooters waitresses during the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

Retiring Hoboken patrolman John Camile told CBS 2 HD he's moving on with a bit of a heavy heart.

"You feel that weight that people are taking everything and putting down the police department," retiring Hoboken cop John Camile told CBS 2 HD.

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.

Wednesday January 23, 2008 Jersey Journal

Public Safety Director Bill Bergin addresses the crowd
while Police Chief Carmen LaBruno looks on.

Family, friends and lots and lots of Hoboken cops showed up for the swearing in of 14 new Hoboken police officers and promotions.

The 14 new cops are as follows: Francisco Rosa, Andrew J. Perez, Ralph F. Gallo, David DiMartino, Casandra Casella, Wilfredo Gomez, Frank R. Francolino, Bret A. Globke, Adam C. Colon, Christopher J. Markey, Daniel P. Chirino, Josue Velez, Jonathan E. Mecka, Madhu R. Cohan.

Note: Anthony Olivera was scheduled to be sworn in today, but was not. Bergin refused to say why; he said "he may be sworn in at a later date" and that there were some "unforeseen circumstances" regarding his hiring. Hmm...

The five patrolmen promoted to rank of sergeants are: Joseph P. Leonard, Donald R. Rosso, Roy A. Haack, Danilo Cabrera and Thomas M. Kennedy, Jr. The two sergeants promoted to lieutenant today are Steven V. Drasheff and Kenneth F. Ferrante.

Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio decided today not to seek indictments against the Hoboken police chief and a lieutenant who headed up the now-disbanded SWAT team, both of whom were accused of ordering subordinates to do work at their houses on police time.

DeFazio said there was not enough evidence against Chief Carmen LaBruno and Lt. Angelo Andriani, both of whom found themselves at the center of controversy after photos surfaced of SWAT cops cavorting with Hooters waitresses -- who were seen holding the officers' guns -- and with topless women at Mardi Gras during relief missions to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"We sent the matter back to Hoboken for their review and administrative action as they deem appropriate," DeFazio said. "It was concluded that criminal charges should not be pursued against Lt. Andriani or any other police personnel involved."

Former transsexual cop opens up

Now a 'real' woman, Lt. Aiello talks about life after Hoboken PD

In the spring of 1995, Hoboken motorcycle police officer John Aiello told his superiors that when he returned from his leave, it would be as a woman named Janet.

Rumors of the situation began circulating around the mile-square city, but police officials refused to confirm them for the press. Finally, in July of 1995, the New York Post landed an interview with Aiello, then slapped the officer's photo on their cover with the headline, "Sex-op cop fights for job."

Recently elected 2nd Ward Councilwoman Elizabeth Mason, who ran on a platform of reform and open government, caused heated discussion with two of her moves at Monday evening's City Council meeting.

At the meeting, she addressed the City Council and asked for a recall of Hoboken's recently appointed public safety director, William Bergin, and also repeated her call for an outside investigation into the recent police SWAT team scandal.

Originally, Mason endorsed Bergin's appointment three weeks ago. But her change of heart came, she said, was based on two possible conflicts of interest.

Kenner, Louisiana Mayor Phil Capitano and representatives from his city were in Hoboken last week to express their appreciation for the residents' charitable donations in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Shortly after the hurricane hit in August, the Hoboken City Council voted to "adopt" Kenner, a town of about of 70,000, which is about 15 miles west of New Orleans.

Residents donated baby food, baby wipes, diapers, flashlights, batteries, and a multitude of other supplies. Enough items were collected to fill an 18-wheel tractor trailer.

Last month, Mayor David Roberts and Councilman Michael Russo were part of a large group that embarked on a 30-hour, 1,300-mile journey to Kenner.

In honor of of the Hoboken SWAT team's visit to New Orleans to help victims of Katrina and have some fun with the Hooters girls.

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Weeks after five Latino police officers sued the city, claiming they were the victims of racial discrimination by a white lieutenant, the Hoboken Police Department is again reeling after a series of embarrassing photos were released by the plaintiffs' attorney.

The photos show members of the Hoboken SWAT Team - in uniform - partying with women from the restaurant/bar "Hooters," while on their way home from their trip to Louisiana to aid in the relief effort after Hurricane Katrina.

Although the officers were off-duty at the time of the party or parties, the police were seen in uniform partying and apparently drinking with Hooters girls. Photos show them apparently pouring Jell-o shots down the women's throats and allowing the women to handle their weapons.

"This is a very repugnant and disturbing display seen in these  photographs," said Mayor David Roberts last week. "It's an embarrassment that will never happen again."

Roberts, who also visited Louisiana as part of the relief effort but was not involved in the party, said, "I should point out that this is an anomaly with the Hoboken Police Department that is not representative of the intelligent and dedicated men and women who serve."

Hoboken's top cop has now been accused of having police officers do manual labor at his home on the city's dime.

Police officers, who declined to be identified because they said they feared retaliation, said they removed debris and building materials from the basement of Chief Carmen LaBruno's home in Clinton in September 2006 when they should have been doing police work.

According to the officers, three of the plaintiffs who now have a suit pending against the former SWAT team commander, Lt. Angelo Andriani, said Andriani supervised the cleanup operation.

LaBruno could not be reached yesterday, but told The New York Times he has all the canceled checks to prove he paid contractors for renovations to his home. LaBruno said he had donated the materials to the SWAT team to build "whatever."

It has been a difficult few weeks for the Police Department in this trendy riverfront town. The beleaguered mayor, David Roberts, heaved a sigh as he summed it all up in a news conference this week: “We have been on a slippery slide of matters getting worse.”

At the top of that slope are five officers, all Hispanic, who filed a lawsuit last month accusing their superior, Lt. Angelo Andriani, of intimidation and harassment, which included charges of racism. The suit also charges that the lieutenant made the officers do maintenance work on his house in Verona while they were on duty.

But it took a batch of photographs that show Lieutenant Andriani and several other officers posing with scantily clad waitresses from Hooters to make people take notice.

“What occurred was some repugnant behavior,” Mayor Roberts said, “and conduct that is not becoming of a police officer of the City of Hoboken.”

Hooters girls have now entered the fray between five Latino Hoboken police officers and their commanding officer, who they have accused in a civil lawsuit of being an "unabashed white supremacist."

According to Luis Zayas, the attorney representing the officers, a video recorded in 2005 shows Hooters restaurant hotties holding shotguns, sub-machine guns, and other SWAT team weaponry distributed to them by officers under the command of Lt. Angelo Andriani, the target of the lawsuit.

The video was made during a trip to Kenner, La., where the officers were sent to help with the post-Katrina relief effort. In September 2005, after Hurricane Katrina struck the area, Kenner was "adopted" by Hoboken as a sister city.

Andriani is also caught on tape "caressing" the breasts of a Hooters babe while wearing his Hoboken-issued commanding officer turtleneck, Zayas said.

HOBOKEN - Shortly after 3 on a Saturday morning in late January, Councilman Chris Campos was driving his Mercedes Benz along the West Side Highway in New York City when police lights flashed in his rear view mirror.

What was initially a routine stop that Jan. 20 for driving through a red light, cops said, soon turned into a driving while intoxicated arrest - an embarrassing situation for an elected official.

But now eyebrows are being raised over a New York City cop's "courtesy call" across the Hudson in which he apparently asked a Hoboken sergeant if Campos should be let off the hook.

According to a tape recording of the phone call obtained by The Jersey Journal, a man who identifies himself as New York City Highway Patrol Officer Liotta asks Hoboken Police Sgt. James Peck if Campos should spend the rest of the night "as a guest of the city." Peck immediately tells Liotta that he should "do your duty" and enforce the law - adding later in the conversation that the city's police department has been "without a contract for two years."

HOBOKEN - A police sergeant has filed a lawsuit against the city, alleging a pattern of harassment and retaliation that started after he complained about not getting promoted.

Lawyers for Sgt. Kevin Houghton, who joined the force in 1984, filed the suit in U.S. District Court at the end of November, alleging he was repeatedly passed over for promotion to lieutenant, denied leave, and assigned to undesirable duties - such as working the evening shift in an unsafe housing office and being assigned to foot patrol.

Detective Lombardi's letter is emotionally driven, not fact-based

11/25/2006  HR
 
Dear Editor:

Detective Vincent Lombardi's letter published November 19, 2006 (Blood will continue to flow in the streets) is emotionally driven not fact-based, and comes at a critical time in contract negotiations between the City of Hoboken and the union that he represents. His statements are irresponsible and disingenuous at best and may have instilled in our residents an unjustifiable sense of fear.

The facts are clear, in 2005 the violent crime rate in the United States was 4.7 per 1000 population; in the State of New Jersey it was 3.6 per 1000 population; and in the City of Hoboken it was 2.9 per 1000 population. This translates into an increase in violent crime in the United States; a 0 percent increase/decrease in violent crime in New Jersey; and a 19.1 percent decrease in violent crime in the City of Hoboken. What is more impressive is the fact that the violent crime, rate for the City of Hoboken year-to-date in 2006 compared to 2005's record breaking crime reduction is down an additional 6.5 percent and the non-violent crime rate is down 23.3 percent.

Responding to Mr. Lombardi's letter regarding our police department

11/25/2006 HR

Dear Editor:

We write in response to Vince Lombardi's over-wrought letter, entitled 'Blood will continue to flow in the streets', published on this page on November 19, 2006. In his letter, Mr. Lombardi eagerly points his finger at the Administration and City Council, displays utter disregard for truth and reason, and callously exploits the victims 'and tragedy of crime.

As president of the Hoboken Police Department's PBA, I am compelled, to inform Hoboken's community of a serious increase of violent crime plaguing our City.

Throughout the year, I have spoken at council meetings and sent dozens of letters to our elected officials, all of which have gone unanswered, warning that increased violence in our neighboring cities will eventually spill over and like a virus infect our community. Even after the February murder of Ismar Mineros, an 18 year old resident, gunned down in our City, again I called for the hiring of more police officers. My pleas were dismissed and unanswered.

Police investigate each other
GPS monitoring results in five suspensions, 13 reprimands 

After a 14-month investigation led by Hoboken's internal affairs unit, 13 of the city's 25 police officers who were assigned to a 12-to-8 a.m. shift were found not to have been patrolling their beats at certain times, and given suspensions recently.

HOBOKEN - Thirteen members of the Police Department were reprimanded this week in the wake of a 14-month investigation that ended with the resignation of the department's highest ranking female police officer, said Chief Carmen LaBruno.

According to LaBruno, GPS tracking devices used as evidence against Capt. Karen Dimonde - who resigned last month after admitting that she wasn't showing up for her midnight-to-8 a.m. shift - proved that others on Dimonde's command were also slacking off.

Still not enough cops.  A 20-officer deficit infuriates Hoboken PBA Local No. 2 President Detective Vince Lombardi, who warns of a strain on the department and says "The mayor's idea of a crisis management plan is to wait for a crisis to happen and then scramble to figure out how to manage it".

Former Hoboken Police Captain Karen Dimonde resigned July 1 after pleading  guilty to 220 charges accrued over a 10-day period.

Following a 14-month investigation led by Hoboken's Internal Affairs, police  charged her with insubordination, conduct unbecoming of a public employee, failure to supervise subordinates, and neglect of duty.

HOBOKEN - A 21-year veteran of the Police Department and the city's only female captain has resigned after a 14-month internal investigation revealed that she frequently failed to report for work and refused to follow other protocols, according to police records.

Safety & Security of Hoboken at Risk
June 6, 2006

Promotions fair to the taxpayers and to law enforcement
12/22/2002 Hoboken Reporter

Dear Editor:

Eighteen months ago, upon his appointment as our Mayor, David Roberts and I met for the first time. Mayor Roberts did not seek retribution against those in the department who opposed his candidacy. Her made only two demands: A visible police presence to protect our citizens and a police force that is respectful to their citizens.

In the past eighteen months, in the face of budgetary constraints and intense opposition from some of his adversaries, Mayor Roberts has supported and delivered a contract that is fair to Police Officers and the taxpayers of Hoboken. He has supported innovative strategies such as a School safety Bureau, the Pilot Mounted Horse Patrol and an increase in the Table of Organization to better serve the public.

The Police Officers, the Hoboken Police Department and the citizens of Hoboken owe a dept of gratitude to a man whose integrity is impeccable and who stands up for his principles.

Carmen V. LaBruno
Chief of Police

To the cheers and tears of supportive family and friends, the city welcomed 18 new police officers to the job Thursday. The large-scale police hiring and reorganization of the force is the culmination of months of negotiations between Mayor David Roberts and Police Chief Carmen LaBruno to replenish the force's dwindling numbers.

While the relations between the two have been tense in the past, both men had nothing but praise for each other Thursday as they swore in the city's next generation of officers.

Late Thursday afternoon, Mayor David Roberts and Hoboken Police Chief Carmen LaBruno sat in the mayor's office together. There, in a cooperative effort, the two worked out aspects of a joint statement announcing the city's intention to hire approximately 17 new police officers and reorganize the Hoboken Police Department's structure.

The statement was the culmination of a tense week where LaBruno and City Hall argued over public pressure LaBruno had put on the mayor and City Council to replenish what he said was a short-staffed police force.

WHAT is 36 1/2 feet long, 8 feet wide and 12 feet high, weighs 20,000 pounds and moves on wheels? It is ORCA, the latest addition to Hoboken's police force.

ORCA, an acronym for Operation Remove Crack Attack, is the city's mobile police unit, a customized bus that the police have used since April to fight crime in the city's highest crime area.