Jersey Journal
Copyright 2007 The Jersey Journal LLC
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HUDSON COUNTY, N.J. — While the nation was in grief over the 9/11 attacks, some of Jersey City’s finest and bravest were charging the Federal Emergency Management Agency $2 million worth of questionable overtime and emergency personnel during the three months following the collapse of the Twin Towers.
A federal audit of the $6 million FEMA paid to the Hudson County seat shows city police officers and firefighters billed for hundreds of thousands of dollars in overtime without proper justification and with questionable links to the city’s heightened emergency status following 9/11.
FEMA concluded that police officers wanted to be paid federal funds to attend funerals, charity events and city parades. Also, some overtime claims challenged credibility. At least three officers reported they worked consecutive 24-hour days without ever sleeping. While federal authorities demanded repayment, city officials said they stood behind their figures as submitted.
The dispute was put on hold for two years while the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office investigated whether some officers committed a crime.
Last month, although admitting that it appears that “people took advantage of the situation,” Hudson County Prosecutor Edward DeFazio declined to file charges against anyone because there was no evidence of any criminal intent.
Court records show that at least eight of the 11 officers interviewed were granted limited immunity in exchange for statements, and no grand jury was convened. There was some criticism that the criminal investigation lagged for months, and one police officer, a probe target, never provided a statement.
DeFazio said each of the officers said their claims were first approved by superiors. He said there was nothing that could prove the work was not done. DeFazio’s office and Jersey City brought their evidence to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which also declined to press charges.
While it should be pointed out that the suspect overtime came under a previous administration, the present occupiers of City Hall further cloud the issue by refusing to make public a number of documents related to the issue.
FEMA has already withheld $1.5 million for other city claims and is waiting to resolve the issue of owed monies.
While no one is being held accountable, it does not mean judgment will not be rendered. The people of this city will make up their minds about those people who “took advantage of the situation.”