Miguel Feliz struggled to extinguish his burning flesh after a car crash in Jersey City June 4, 2017. He needed help from the police. Instead he was kicked. Andrew Ford
"Protecting the Shield" is an investigative series that examines the price the public pays when bad cops remain on local police forces. Read the entire series at app.com/series/theshield.
New Jersey governments across the state, from the smallest towns to some of the largest cities, have spent at least $42.7 million this decade to cover-up deaths, physical abuses and sexual misconduct at the hands of bad cops.
The abuses have left a staggering toll: at least 19 dead; 131 injured; 7 sexual transgressions, plus dozens of other offenses ranging from false arrest to harassment, the two-year investigation by the Asbury Park Press found. In many cases, local police departments knew about, even tolerated, violent behavior before the cops killed or maimed innocent people, the Press found.
The damage is concealed by government officials who use a veil of secret settlements and nondisclosure agreements to silence victims. Investigations of rogue cops are routinely hidden from the public by police, elected officials and even the courts, the Press found.
For more on the investigation, watch the video below to hear Investigations Editor Paul D'Ambrosio explain the findings and goals of "Protecting the Shield."
Editor Paul D'Ambrosio reviews the processes, findings and goals of the Protecting The Shield investigation. Ryan Ross
The series examined more than 30,000 pages of legal and public documents; surveyed all 466 police agencies about their drug-testing policies; and conducted interviews with killer cops, police chiefs and officers, elected officials, psychologists and policing experts.
The series not only exposes weaknesses in the secretive internal affairs police oversight system but recommends five solutions to fixing the system, from making hidden lawsuit settlements public to ensuring bad cops never work in policing again.
For more on the investigation, watch the video below to hear from the reporters that produced "Protecting the Shield."
The team behind 'Protecting The Shield' reflects on some of the findings they uncovered during two years of investigation. The investigative series comes to APP.com Jan. 22. Ryan Ross
Key links in the investigation
Part 1: An overview of the investigation
Part 2: Inside death by cop
Part 3: A look at sexual abuse by cops
Part 4: High cost of pushing out honest cops
Part 5: How much it costs to push out bad cops
Part 6: How many cops are not drug tested
Part 7: How bad cops are made
Special Report: An interview with killer cop Philip Seidle
Special Report: What killed Timothy Harden during police restraint?
Conclusion: Five proposals for fixing the system
Event: Meet the reporters behind the "Protecting the Shield" series Feb. 12
The Asbury Park Press wants to hear from you. What are your thoughts on the series? What are your ideas for fixing the system? What have your experiences been with New Jersey law enforcement, for better or for worse? Share it on your preferred social network with the hashtag #theShield.
Asbury Park Press reporters dug into more than 30,000 public records for two years to produce “Protecting The Shield.” These same journalists report daily as watchdogs in the public interest: examining tax spending, exposing wrongdoing, highlighting advances and often inspiring change that makes New Jersey a better place to live. Follow their work at APP.com and support local journalism today.
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THE TEAM
Click a team member’s name to view their full profile of work.
ANDREW FORD reporter
Andrew Ford is an investigative reporter for the Asbury Park Press, he has reported on policing issues and breaking news for about six years. Ford joined the Asbury Park Press in 2014. He has won several state press association awards and won a New York City Deadline Club award for his narrative, the "Long Fall" series.
KALA KACHMAR reporter
Kala Kachmar has been a reporter at the Asbury Park Press since 2014. She has extensive experience in state and local government reporting in multiple states. She's also worked on a variety of investigations, including systemic problems with New Jersey's municipal courts, veterans’ healthcare system abuses and police misconduct.
KEN SERRANO reporter
Ken Serrano has been a reporter at the Asbury Park Press since 2011. He has done a variety of investigative work, including projects on drug trafficking and the opioid epidemic.
ALEX N. GECAN reporter
Alex N. Gecan has been a reporter for the Asbury Park Press since 2016. He covers breaking news, crime and criminal justice.
SUSANNE CERVENKA reporter
Susanne Cervenka has been a reporter at the Asbury Park Press since 2013. She has reported on local and state government for more than 15 years, including deep dives into property taxes, pensions and policing.
PAUL D'AMBROSIO editor
Paul D’Ambrosio is the investigations director for the Asbury Park Press. He has written extensively about New Jersey corruption and tax issues and has won more than two-dozen national awards including the prestigious Selden Ring and Farfel prizes. He and his team were finalists for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize Gold Medal for Public Service.
Digital development, graphics and design by Felecia Wellington Radel