The last time I visited my hometown of Paterson, NJ; I was pulled over on route 20. I was on my way to the airport after visiting my grandmother; who resides in riverside, and has since 1960. I was observed at the red light where 5th ave meets route 20 (there's a Home Depot there now). An officer followed me down route 20 where he finally pulled me over for leaving a "drug area". Apparently he decided that my being at that light was a 100% indication that I had been leaving the 5th ave projects after purchasing heroin. This "gentleman" opened my car door, physically removed me from my vehicle, and slammed me on the hood of it where I was told to stay for probably a half an hour while he tore my car apart.
As a well spoken, articulate, 230 pound professional athlete with several college degrees; this man deemed that I had no business ever being in Paterson if not for being a "heroin junkie", as he put it. I politely explained to the officer that while I had an out of state driver's license, I had been a resident of Paterson for over half my life, and I was simply visiting my grandmother. I explained to the officer that I had several relatives who were former Paterson police, and a close relationship with a former mayor of the city. It wasn't until I disobeyed his orders, took my face off of the hood of my car, and notified the officer that I was calling my uncle; a nearby police chief, and placing him on speaker phone for the remainder of the stop. At this point he promptly told me "you're lucky I didn't find anything" and stormed off angrily, got in his car mumbling some obscenities and drove off.
Fast forward to December of 2017. I had been in back in Paterson for less than five minutes, leaving my daughter's baptism, driving down 20 with my wife, kids, and grandmother in the car when I made the right turn onto 7th ave. Given my last experience; I thought that taking 5th ave might be a bad idea; even on my way out of church with my family. As soon as I got onto 7th ave an officer promptly made a U-turn in an effort to get behind me. I made the right turn onto 23rd, the left onto 7th, and the right onto Madison where he still followed behind me. I have no doubt that had a couple of cars not ended up in between us I would have already been pulled over. I made the left onto 6th ave, which he also followed before I finally lost him somewhere around e. 17th when too many cars got in between us.
My crime: visiting Paterson with out of state plates.
Had I not been clever enough to lose this jerk; I have no doubt that I'd have ended up with my face on the hood of my car, or the pavement, getting protected and served in front of my kids. All for the heinous crime of not living in town anymore, but coming back to visit.
I find it absolutely disgusting to see the turn that this town has taken. I can lay the blame on criminals, the drug dealers, the gang members; etc. But the fact is; that every city in America faces that element to a degree. What most cities don't have is a currupt, vile police force who profiles to a degree where we feel more in danger dealing with the police than the aforementioned criminals. Visiting from out of town is not a crime. Having an out of state driver's license or driving a car with out of state plates is also not a crime. Driving down a street where drugs are unfortunately sold is also NOT a crime. If these problems are so severe within your municipality; might I suggest going after the ones openly selling the drugs in your streets instead of the law abiding citizens who are only there visiting loved ones? Any of the policemen and women who are using this kind of profiling to justify harassing innocent people should truly be ashamed of themselves. These behaviors violate the trust of the people you have been enlisted to protect and serve. I can't say I'll never come back to Paterson, but I can promise that when I do; I'll be more afraid of having an interaction with this unjust police department than I will of any criminal in the street. read more