Dysfunction is as dysfunction does.  How Dys'ed is Joe?
Trenton Police Director Santiago has given public notice that on his arrival in Trenton, he found the police department to be dysfunctional. But does Director Santiago possess the requisite knowledge to discern between functional and dysfunctional? The K9News-Revival believes Santiago is uniquely qualified to recognize dysfunction.
    In support of this stance, we offer the following:

	“I personally thank you and your organization ‘Benevolence International Foundation’ … for your ongoing and continuing efforts in demonstrating to the community that you are an organization of concern and compassion… Your organization exemplifies the true spirit of what America is all about.” – October 2001 letter by Newark Police Director Joe Santiago, to the BIF, an al-Qaida support group.
	“You are hereby directed to ascertain the following: How many confidential investigations were conducted involving me…” and “… provide me with the originals and all copy [sic] of these confidential investigations” – September 19, 2002: Illegal NJSP memorandum from NJSP Superintendent Joe Santiago. See the Memo
	“gross mismanagement” The term used by the NJ Attorney General to describe NJSP Superintendent’s re-working of financial books to pervert the pre-approved spending limit.
	August 14, 2003, after receiving a parking ticket on his departmental vehicle at Marsilio’s restaurant, Santiago moved his vehicle and then called shift supervisors and Internal Affairs personnel. Santiago claimed officers were picking on him and used his then legally parked car with the summons as evidence. The following day, after the food wore off, Santiago had the investigation terminated.
	“During my entire career, except the time I was Director in Newark, I never spent more than two years in any one assignment.” – Joe Santiago at an October 2003 Comstat meeting, boasting that this was an "accomplishment".
	A temporary Lieutenant, hand-picked by Joe Santiago and who has been allowed to continue in this capacity after:

	... issuing a written order instructing officers under his command to “Stop all” cars of a certain type, based on his order alone, and investigate the occupants. A civil service Captain had the temporary Lieutenant reissue the order, instructing officers to establish Probable Cause before stopping said cars.
	... falling asleep while on duty at a critical post responsible for prisoner safety.
	... telling an officer that the owner cannot report the car stolen because it was unregistered and uninsured. The officer was ordered to change the report title from “Stolen Auto” to “Lost Auto”. Fortunately, a Civil Service Lieutenant correctly reclassified the incident as a Stolen Auto.

“The leadership of a police organization will ultimately determine the character of the organization.”
                              - Lee Brown, Former Chief of Police NYPD

   What determines if an auto is lost or stolen? Seems like a pretty simple question. However, in the Stats Game nothing is cut-and-dry. Director Santiago, in a December 22, 2003 letter to the Times, offered a defense of his new method of counting crimes. However, Santiago's defense relies on his integrity. The history of his integrity is well known, but what about the present?
   On January 6, 2004 a citizen reported her auto stolen. All the elements of "Theft" were present and the officer wrote a theft report. However, a "Temporary Lieutenant," who was hand-picked by Santiago, had the officer change the report from a Stolen Auto to a Lost Auto. Later, a "Civil Service" Lieutenant correctly had the officer change the report back to a Stolen Auto.
   So what happened here Director? Given your past, many questions come to mind. Was this an intentional reclassification to skew the stats, or did your hand-picked man just fail to understand the elements of theft? By ignoring the Civil Service list for promotions are you engaging in cronyism as a way to manipulate underlings? How many other supposed "non-crimes" have slipped past? Are these the "unverified" crimes the Mayor spoke of?
     Rollo Tomasi, Trenton

   Soon, crime will not exist in Trenton. Perfect towns like Mayberry and Pleasantville will be a faint memory in the midst of the newest cookie-cutter city—at least that is what certain officials want you to believe. Sidewalks of concrete covered with shards of glass are really paved mines teeming with diamonds. And those used condoms littering the city are actually deflated balloons from the last city fair.
   Despite recent attempts to assuage Trentonian’s feeling of rising crime, the truth is undeniable. When “For Sale” signs spring up around the city like unwanted dandelions, no amount of fudging statistics and political jargon can change what the people see. If crime is so greatly improved, why are people scattering from the city like roaches from light instead of flooding the city like a tsunami?
   I think it is time for Trentonian’s to flex their muscles of democracy. Real change is possible, but the people have to start exercising their rights.
     Anonymous, Trenton

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