Police Union claims Parkway shooting justified

The State Troopers Non-Commissioned Office Association defended the officer who fatally shot Maurice Gordon on the Garden State Parkway

“Any loss of life is tragic, and this is no exception. It is clear, however, that Sergeant Wetzel’s use of force was reasonable under the circumstances,” NJ-STNCOA President Pete Stilianessis said.

State Police Sgt. Randall Wetzel fatally shot Gordon in the early morning of May 23 on the Garden State Parkway near Bass River.

The incident began after Gordon was stopped for speeding for what the Attorney General’s Office said was the second time that night. He told Wetzel his car had become disabled, and it remained partially in the left lane after Gordon pulled over.

Wetzel invited the Poughkeepsie, New York, resident to wait for a tow truck inside of his police cruiser. Gordon acquiesced and remained in the vehicle for roughly 20 minutes before hurriedly exiting after being handed a mask.

Gordon then moved to open the door — Stilianessis claimed this pinned Wetzel against a concrete barrier, but this is not seen on dashboard camera footage released by the Attorney General’s Office.

Wetzel more than once ordered the motorist to “get in the car. Get in the fucking car.”

The New-York native walked around to the back of the vehicle as Wetzel repeated his orders before attempting to enter the driver’s seat of the police cruiser.

As he attempted to climb into the vehicle, the Attorney General’s Office said, the officer pepper sprayed him.

The two engaged in a physical struggle that ended with Wetzel firing six shots from his service weapon after Gordon attempted to enter the driver’s seat for a second time.

Stilianessis claimed Gordon had been attempting to draw the officer’s weapon, but that isn’t clear from the dash cam footage.

The recording shows Gordon and Wetzel engaged in a physical altercation in the moments immediately preceding the New York resident’s death, but other details are difficult to make out.

“It is important for the public to remember that each police interaction must be considered in its individual circumstances,” Stilianessis said. “I fully support our Troopers, like Sergeant Wetzel who followed his training, acted to deescalate the situation and did everything he could to avoid this outcome.”

The case will go to a grand jury, which will decide whether the state pursues criminal charges against Wetzel.

Note: Video and audio recordings and other materials released by the Attorney General’s Office Monday can be found here.