Christie Lashes Out At NYPD, Ray Kelly Over Surveillance Of Muslims In New Jersey
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie isn't mincing words when it comes to what he thinks of NYPD's surveillance of Muslims in the Garden State.
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Christie says it can be dangerous when one agency investigates outside its jurisdiction and others are not aware of it.
Although he was U.S. Attorney when the operation took place, Christie, heard on NJ 101.5, said he can't recall being briefed.
"None of us have any recollection of being briefed by NYPD or by FBI," Christie said. "I have real concern about this."
Christie then leveled his fire at New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and his refusal to apologize.
"He's Ray Kelly, so what're you gonna do? I mean, he's all-knowing, all-seeing," Christie said.
"And I don't know all the details yet, but my concern is, you know, why can't you be, you know, communicating with the people here in New Jersey, with law enforcement here in New Jersey. Are we somehow not trustworthy?" said Christie.
Kelly says Newark officers went along with the NYPD on these intelligence operations and they received a full report.
Christie says the NYPD thinks the world is their jurisdiction and the danger, he said, is that one agency cannot be aware of everything, and a lesson of 9/11 is that all levels of law enforcement need to communicate.
"This is New York Police Department. I know they think their jurisdiction is the world. Their jurisdiction is New York City. So if they're going to leave their jurisdiction and go to investigate a case in another jurisdiction, it could be dangerous," Christie said. "This is the way law enforcement people get hurt or killed, is when they're not cooperating with each other, not communicating with each other."
"I'm not saying they don't belong in New Jersey, but tell us! Share it with the appropriate law enforcement agency," Christie said. "My concern is this kind of obsession that the NYPD seems to have that they're the masters of the universe."
Christie's comments have drawn praise from at least one Muslim leader in New Jersey.
"I'm so gratified. I'm honored to be a resident of the state of New Jersey under his leadership,'' said Aref Assaf, head of the Paterson-based American Arab Forum. "He doesn't mince words; he was unambiguous about the incursion of the NYPD into our state without proper protocols.''
A meeting is being held Saturday in Trenton with state and federal law enforcement officials to discuss the NYPD's surveillance operations in New Jersey. Muslim leaders have been invited to attend.
What do you think of Christie's criticism of Ray Kelly and the NYPD practice? Sound off in the comments section below.
