It was only after the Inspector Generals office sought an interview with Turner that she resigned. Caren Turner (right) issued the statement Wednesday, a day after the Tenafly Police Department released the dash-cam video showing her outburst In her statement, Turner apologizes for letting. At one point, Turner seems to become confused. The Tenafly Police Department released the video Tuesday showing Caren Turner attempting to pull rank on the officers. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. I'm not so nice.'. Police dashcam video of the incident went viral. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, said the referral was necessary because Ms. Turner, in a statement about the episode she released publicly, denied that she had violated the Port Authoritys code of ethics or had asked for special treatment. She just seemed out of control with her emotions. Turner, in the statement also encouraged the Tenafly Police Department to review best practices with respect to tone and de-escalation, so that incidents like this do not recur.. You may shut the f*** up and not tell me when I can take my kid and her friends who are Ph.D. students from MIT and Yale," she said. Caren Turner. "They remained polite, focused and professional.". Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) and Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) on July 26 introduced the bill, which would bar the badges for Port Authority Commissioners, NJ Transit board members and all local and state elected officials except for county sheriffs. Turner shows them something -- later identified in a police report as a Port Authority gold badge -- and says, "I am the commissioner of the Port Authority, and I am heading up over 4,000 police officers, OK?". The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. We cannot allow our state and municipal employees and representatives to take advantage of their positions.. "She asked, and I told her. Listen to The Rubin Report now. The Port Authority Board of Commissioners on Thursday voted unanimously to censure Caren Z. Turner, once a prominent fundraiser for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, and referred the. Police called a tow truck to impound the car and issued several summonses to the driver. As Turner and Officer Savitskywalk off camera to inspect the car as it's loaded onto a tow truck, Turner makes one final threat. At one point in the video, she instructed the police officers to address her as commissioner.. During the conflict with police officers, Turner threatened them to use the favor of the Chief of Port Authority of Tenafly. Turner resigned on April 20, and in their resolution Thursday, the commissioners said they would have asked her to resign had she not done so. "Trust me, I'm very involved. After the internal investigations of the agency about Turner, she resigned from her post as commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. TENAFLY, New Jersey (WABC) -- A former Port Authority commissioner has issued a response after she was seen on video berating police officers during a traffic stop in New Jersey. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. "No, you don't need to know," the officer said. "Unethical and even criminal wrongdoing by past Port Authority leaders has badly damaged the agency's reputation," the board's censure resolution against Turner acknowledges. She didn't seem dangerous. There is an elevated level of authority associated with these badges, Gopal said. As a crime of the second degree, official misconduct carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison without parole, and carries a maximum of ten years. Turner wascaptured on police dash cam ranting at two police officers on Route 9W March 31, yelling at them, "You may shut the f--- up!" "You know what, Matt? Caren Z. Turner abruptly resigned on Monday as the Port Authority said that it was investigating allegations that she'd violated the board's code of ethics. Port Authority Chairman Kevin O'Toole said the board had sent letters of apology to Tenafly officers Matthew Savitsky and Tom Casper, as well as Chief Robert Chamberlain. You're being very demanding with me," the officer says. Yet the Port Authority board was so impressed with the police departments performance and tone, that on Thursday it passed a resolution praising the department for its officers demeanor. Moment Fourteen: 'I will be speaking to the chief of police.'. Mark Zinna, the former Tenafly Borough Council President who served as acting Mayor in 2017 is now calling for official misconduct charges to be brought against Turner. "Your daughter was very nice as well," said the officer. But that didn't happen. Soon after, Port Authority commissioners voted to get rid of their badges. "You may shut the f--- up and not tell me when I may take my kid, and her friends, who are PhD students at MIT and Yale. Unethical and even criminal wrongdoing by past Port Authority leaders has badly damaged the agencys reputation, said Kevin OToole, the bi-state agencys new chairman, reading from a resolution that ultimately won unanimous board approval. On Thursday, the former commissioner was formally censured by the Port Authority board, in a highly critical condemnation that cited her for a litany of ethics rules violations, in connection with the Easter weekend traffic stop caught on a police dashcam video that has since gone viral. He added in a statement to News 4 Wednesday that he was "extremely proud of the composure, poise and restraint" the two officers showed in the video. Turner demands that she should be told what the "problem" is. The astonishing patience of the Tenafly officers is only beginning to be tested. Caren Turner, who is a Port Authority commissioner refused of wrongdoing by crying. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Turner does not relent, however, and presses him: "I just want to know why.". Turner says sarcastically, "I'm so sorry, thank you for your concern for my safety. According to the agency report, she resigned from the post after deep thinking and an internal investigation. It's notthem.'. An appointee of New York Gov. Call it the ultimate "Do you know who I am" PR disaster. He has since recused himself on four occasions, which include an item today pertaining to insurance coverage for the World Trade Center.. "I'm commissioner. I'm very involved. "I know Louis, what's his name? The video showed that a Democrat lobbyist was shouting at the responding officers and saying may you shut. Chris Christie had engineered a scheme to close lanes at the George Washington Bridge to punish the mayor of Fort Lee, who'd declined to endorse Christie's re-election that year. No one answered the door at her listed home address. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Discover Caren Turner's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. "I was sitting there watching, I saw the argument continuing and realized it was going to escalate," Don Morgan of Tenafly Auto Collision told News 4. The censure was unanimously approved, across state and party lines. Learn How rich is She in this year and how She spends money? Mr. Horwitz is now chairman of the boards committee on governance and ethics, a position Ms. Turner held at the time of the traffic stop. At this, she begins to verbally berate the officers as "pathetic" and unleashes a torrent of profanity. He said, I dont say anything about your behavior, but you are demanding more than our approach. Chris Christie, and has served on finance committees for Hillary Clinton and Gov. Turner told the men they were a "disappointment" and that she would be reporting them. Even asthe car is towed away, Turner continues to demand information from Officer Savitsky about where it will be impounded. "I've got all your information, sweetheart," responds Turner, "I know Sikoryak" apparently dropping another name, that of Tenafly Police dispatcher, George Sikoryak. Turner, a Democratic lobbyist and, until recently, a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey board member, became an unwitting YouTube star when, on March 31, she rolled up on a. By signing up to the Blaze News newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from Blaze Media that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. yet before even greeting anyone or identifying herself as a Commissioner at the Port Authority, Turner demands to know what's going on. That is why I used some harsh words and tone. April 25, 2018 / 10:48 AM "No, no, no. All rights reserved, UPDATE: Port Authority Chief in Viral Cop Rant Issues Her First Statement on Controversy, NBC 4 to Exclusively Air and Stream Live Coverage of 262nd St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17, Nasty Winter Storm Eyes NYC Area: Heavy Rain, 40 MPH Winds, Snow Expected Over 12-Hour Siege, This 26-Year-Old Pays $0 to Live in a Luxury Tiny Home' She Built for $35,000 in Her Backyard Take a Look Inside, Port Authority commissioner Caren Z. Turner was captured on police dash cam ranting at and cursing at police officers in Tenafly in March, Her daughter was in a car that had been pulled over; she yells at the cops, "You may shut the f--- up! When Commissioner Horwitz spouse accepted a job at Westfield, which manages the retail complex for the World Trade Center, in October 2017, Commissioner Horwitz immediately notified Port Authoritys leadership and informed them he would from that point forward recuse himself from all matters pertaining to Westfield or the World Trade Center, Port Authority spokesman Ben Branham said in a statement. All rights reserved. Just so there's no discrepancies," says the officer, Matt Savitsky, with the calm righteousness of a man who knows all of this is being filmed, and that Commissioner Turner is not going to come out of this one looking good. We will redouble that work. "You may tell me nothing.". The eighth-minute video clips showed that Turner reached the spot where police officers pulled her daughters friends. The woman scolded the officers for inconveniencing her and the four "Ph.D. students" from "Yale and M.I.T." Turner soon begins demanding to know why the driver was stopped. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Trust me. In an interview with NJ Advance Media on Tuesday, Tenafly Mayor Peter Rustin said that he'd not spoken to Turner since the traffic stop. Turner now threatens to speak not just to the chief of police, but to the mayor of Tenafly, Peter Rustin, as well. They soon found that the car's registration was expired, and the driver had no insurance card to present, which prompted them to have the vehicle impounded. Turner is told to leave the roadside to ensure her safety. She has already worked on the finance committee of Hillary Clinton and her partner Jon Corzine. "I'm very disappointed in the way you're acting. I need to know!'. But whatever you call it, you can't look away. ", As she continues to complain, the officer suggests they move the conversation to another location because they were on a high-speed road. Turner then delivers her first name-drop, saying that she's there not just as their ride, but "as a concerned citizen, and a friend of the mayor.". And she is not directly in charge of them in any way, shape or form. "What's the problem?" Chris Christie (R) appointed Turner as a Port Authority commissioner in March 2017. "And then-commissioner Turner forfeited that trust with her actions on March 31, 2018.". Fugitive in $18 million COVID fraud scheme extradited to U.S. In deep trouble, I reached there to pick them up. Further, OToole, the Ports chairman, said he sent personal letters to the two officers involved, and to the police chief, and that he and the Port Authoritys deputy inspector general apologized to the police chief in person. What are you talking about?" TENAFLY, New Jersey (WABC) -- A commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has resigned after video surfaced of her conduct at a police stop involving her daughter in New. ", The officer reiterates that she can ask the driver of the vehicle herself why the car was pulled over. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Trust me. Unethical and even criminal wrongdoing has badly damaged the reputation of this agency, Mr. OToole said, in explaining the censure. Then Turner threatened them by using her relations with the mayor and chief of police. "You may not tell me when to take my child," said Turner. But it is a credit to the Tenafly Police Department that she did not succeed.. Turner, a 60-year-old Democratic lobbyist who served as ethics chair of the Port Authority, is seen in the video introducing herself to the officers who pulled over the car, saying, "I'm here as a concerned citizen and friend of the mayor.". Andrew Cuomo, Horwitz used to chair the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics. Turner continued boasting about her position, when a police officer said this car was not registered then she said tell me first why you pulled my daughters friend. I'm 'Commissioner.' A former commissioner of the Port Authority, who headed the agency's ethics committee, was censured in a unanimous vote Thursday for berating two Tenafly police officers during a traffic stop involving her daughter the day before Easter. The Port Authority called the findings of the investigation "profoundly disturbing." "After Commissioner Turner became aware of the investigation, she resigned," it said in a statement. And we will not go back to what once was.. TENAFLY, N.J. -- A Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioner who abruptly resigned last week was caught on camera cursing at two police officers during a traffic stop. The tense exchange continues for several minutes. Finally, the officer told Turner she could take her daughter and her friends home. "Let's hear -- why were they pulled over, first of all?" ", He says, "I'm just a little disappointed that --", She interrupts, "You don't get to be disappointed in me. "I'm not so nice. Turner becomes combative. Tenafly Police Chief Robert Chamberlain said Wednesday he was "extremely proud of the composure, poise and restraint" the officers showed in the video. There is no need for municipal and state officials to carry such badges; it opens the door for officials to abuse their badges and their power. "That's fine. ", She later says, "The police have all been in my home, and in my second home, and in my third home in Tenafly.". This isn't going to go down nicely," warns Turner. Former Port Authority commissioner Caren Turner seen arguing with Tenafly Police officers following a traffic stop on March 31. After days of silence, former Port Authority commissioner Caren Z. Turner, who resigned last week, responded Wednesday to the public outcry over her intervention, caught on a police dashcam,. ", The officer reiterates that she can ask the driver of the vehicle herself why the car was pulled over. The video also shows the Democratic lobbyist becoming increasingly agitated with the responding officers. ", Turner vows to meet with the Tenafly police commissioner over the traffic stop, and then tells the officer, "I hope you have a really nice holiday weekend, because you just ruined it for a lot of people. The agency hurried to head off any further damage to its image. "There's a problem with you describing it because you don't feel confident why these people are being pulled over," Turner says. "What does that have to do with anything?" The Associated Press contributed to this report. "No I'm not," Turner said. The officer tells her, "I just don't appreciate your demeanor. Shame on both of you. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. A spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said in a statement to News 4, "The Board takes its recently adopted Code of Ethics for Commissioners extremely seriously Commissioner Turners resignation was appropriate given her outrageous conduct.". Who is Caren Turner and why did she become the focus of a viral dashcam video. Turner says. Caren Turner was born on 4 July, 1957 in American, is a Democratic lobbyist and former commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Police dashcam video of the incident went viral nationally. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. "I have seen situations like this before," he said. (Image source: Video screenshot). She also served as the bistate agency's ethics chair. My resignation from the Port Authority is a recognition that this unfortunate incident could and should have been avoided.". You're picking them up. Thank you.". All rights reserved. The board also commended the Tenafly officers, Matthew Savitsky and Tom Casper, for remaining polite, focused and professional while Ms. Turner spoke to them in an insulting and condescending manner and used foul language. | Getty. But she added: "at no point did I violate the Port Authority's Code of Ethics or ask for special treatment for anyone involved, nor did I suggest,in any way,that I would use my position at the Port Authority to affect the outcome of the violations issued to the driver. Turner could not be reached for comment Tuesday. She was never charged by police with any wrongdoing. One of the officers said its a ridiculous way to talk and behave with us. To replace Turner on the board, Daniel Horwitz, a white collar defense attorney, has been elevated from vice chair to chairman of the ethics committee. (They do not.). NEW YORK --In a sharp rebuke of a former commissioner forced to resign over an obscenity-laced tirade caught on video during a routine police traffic stop, Port Authority officials publicly. Recently, adopted codes and conduct by commissioners, the board is looking toward them very consciously and arranging a separate committee to review the results of the investigation by the inspector general and is ready to take strict action at Thursdays board meeting. ", When she asked again why the car was pulled over, the other officer addressed Turner as "miss. "As a long-time Tenafly resident, I have always taken an active role in the community, including working with law enforcement officials, and I encourage the Tenafly Police Department to review best practices with respect to tone and de-escalation, so that incidents like this do not recur," she said. In which she was trying to rank over police officers who pull over a car in which her daughter was a passenger. But the Turner was stepping forward and the officer said, keep distance, please. OToole said he took his badge out just once to show his kids, who thought it was cute.. Unfazed, the officer offers his own badge number and even his first name. By Claude Brodesser-Akner | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Turner said she's "heading up over 4,000 police officers" and insisted it was her "business" to know exactly why the college students were pulled over and repeatedly dropped names of elected officials. People cross the line and don't know when to stop. Turner interrupts him, "No, no, no, don't call me 'Miss.' ", Moment Six: 'I am a commissioner of the Port Authority. How dare you to tell me, Miss. Caren Turner, the former chairman of the Port Authority's Governance and Ethics Committee, belittled the Tenafly officers who pulled over the driver of a Toyota Corolla with Nevada plates, which was carrying three passengers, includingTurner's adultdaughter, over Easter weekend. He also thanked the Port Authority "for their professionalism and prompt attention to the matter.". All of that because of the male driver with Nevada plates who was pulled over because part of his license plate was obscured. Moment Thirteen: 'You may shut the f--- up.'. The first officer, perhaps because this is a total non-sequitur, is unmoved. Moment Eleven: 'It's not they. She was at the department for approximately one hour.". After former Port Authority commissioner Caren Z. Turner ended her tirade at Tenafy police during a roadside traffic stop involving her daughter, she had a little more to say. Turner resigned Monday when she learned she was being investigated by the Port Authority board A Port Authority of New York and New Jersey commissioner caught on camera delivering an. The Turner episode was an embarrassment for an agency that's struggled to rebuild its public reputation in the wake of the 2013 Bridgegate scandal. Thank you. 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