L.A. Parker: Nucera’s not the only problem in Bordentown
Frank Nucera, a former Bordentown top cop under federal investigation for hate crimes, sounded like a oneman Ku Klux Klan wrecking crew with extensive use of the N-word.
His use of N-words in myriad clever ways may earnNucera a special invitation to visit Charlottesville, Va., or Shelbyville, Tenn. or any next destination for white supremacists.
By the way, Nucera does not represent the vast majority of Bordentown residents. Used to be one of the 10 percent of black residents while living in a rental property on Farnsworth Ave.
Nucera, 60, does connect to the Bordentown Police Department which faces severe scrutiny as the U.S. Attorney’s Office delivered allegations of deplorable racist behavior by the former police chief.
A federal complaint alleged that Nucera slammed a handcuffed African-American into a doorjamb during a 2016 arrest and that the police chief repeatedly reference black people as “niggers.”
Nucera surrendered yesterday to officials at his Bordentown home then appeared before a federal court judge in Camden. Nucera was released on a half-million dollar unsecured bond.
Nucera retired from the Bordentown police department earlier this year.
U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick noted the “conduct alleged is disturbing.” He added that Nucera’s behavior served as a “shocking breach of the duty of every police officer to provide equal justice under the law and to never mistreat a person in their custody.”
Burlington County Prosecutor Scott A. Coffina offered praise for the conduct of the other Bordentown officers.
In a statement, Coffina said he was “heartened that the FBI’s thorough investigation concluded that this behavior was confined to the individual who has been charged [and] is not a reflection of the culture of the Bordentown Township Police Department, its current leadership, or the dedicated officers on the force.”
Come on, Prosecutor Coffina. Let’s not get filled up with ourselves that we distort the reality of this despicable situation. Many readers were born at night but not last night.
Nucera joined the Bordentown Police Department in 1983 and considering his vitriol likely arrived at headquarters with bad feelings about black people.
Saying that the FBI discovered only Nucera as complicit in the embarrassing hate speak sounds unrealistic. Sure, a Bordentown police officer who taped his boss and potentially others who may have come forward deserve our support but it’s difficult to believe that this behavior surfaced suddenly in 2015 or that it had no effect on rank and file officers, positively or negatively.
People tell me all the time that 95 percent of police officers come from good stock which always receives a personal reply about how those outstanding law enforcement officers should remove the people who give them a bad name.
The many times I’ve been up and down Route 206 which cuts through the heart of Bordentown Twp., police have pulled me over one time without any serious incident.
In fact, that stop showcased what occurs when police and pedestrian or motorist display equal respect for each other.
So, no, this column is not a rant against all Bordentown police officers although Nucera should have been ousted from his position as police officer and police chief.
Racism and discrimination possess long shelf life as a cross between mold and bed bugs, difficult to get rid of without a serious plan of attack.
Attorney General Christopher Porrino should examine every aspect of the Bordentown Township Police Department’s law enforcement efforts after this serious breach of trust.
Nucera represented a malignant tumor, let’s make sure the FBI removed every bit of this cancer and that a socially healthy and professional force develops.