Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday afternoon that he maintains confidence in the head of the New Jersey State Police as the agency faces an investigation into alleged antisemitic remarks by the state police’s second in command.
Murphy said he has complete confidence in Col. Patrick Callahan and Attorney General Matt Platkin, the latter of whom was reportedly the target of the alleged antisemitic comments. The New York Post last week reported on an anonymous complaint that Lt. Col. Sean Kilcomons referred to Platkin as “that Jew” and told a helicopter pilot to not land at a “Bring Your Child to Work Day” event that Platkin and his son attended.
Politico reported, however, that no helicopter was scheduled to land at the event and that some troopers didn’t think the allegation made sense. New Jersey Globe sources have disputed that.
Colleagues have come forward with other allegations, though. Several state troopers, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the New Jersey Globe that they’d witnessed Kilcomons use a racial slur to refer to Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Murphy, speaking with reporters Monday, said he wasn’t aware of those allegations.
“I would just say that there’s an investigation ongoing, which I’m not going to comment on.” Murphy said. “But as a general matter, any racist, any antisemitic, any amount of words in those lanes are completely and utterly unacceptable.”
Platkin has recused himself from the investigation into the alleged antisemitic remarks.
The controversy comes after a third-party report alleged “deep-rooted” discrimination within the state police. Among other things, the report found that senior troopers used DNA testing and fingerprints to locate their accusers in anonymous complaints.
Callahan last week released a statement repeating a zero-tolerance policy for discriminatory remarks and also suggested the tipster could face defamation charges if the investigation doesn’t find Kilcomons used antisemitic remarks.
“I am confident that a thorough and fair investigation will reveal the truth,” Callahan said. “Should these allegations prove unsubstantiated and an attempt at defamation, I trust that the Office of Law Enforcement Professional Standards will take decisive action to address any disinformation and hold accountable those responsible for spreading it.”