An investigation has uncovered racist and antisemitic text messages exchanged among police officers in Freehold and Marlboro, raising concerns about bias within local law enforcement. The messages, which included slurs targeting Black, Asian, and Jewish communities, came to light during an unrelated investigation by ABC 7 On Your Side.
The discovery was made when cell phone data was collected as part of an inquiry into a police-involved car crash. It remains unclear how ABC7 obtained the texts, but their contents have prompted backlash and renewed scrutiny over law enforcement accountability.
“I’m not racist. I hate everyone. If anything, Jews is one ‘race’ I hate. I don’t have a problem with Black people. They make there own problems and names,” a Freehold police officer wrote, according to ABC7.
In a different text from a Marlboro cop, the police officer wrote, “Next I’ll be cleaning the floors or some [expletive] like I’m the [expletive] hired [expletive] or something,” in a message targeting Black people.
Following the revelations, the Marlboro Police Department confirmed that one of the involved officers was fired. Captain Stephen Levy said that upon learning of the allegations, the department immediately suspended the officer and conducted an internal investigation before deciding to terminate them. Meanwhile, Freehold Township Police Chief George Baumann declined to comment on the matter after being contacted by Patch.
expletivified
Baumann has been antisemitic his whole life. We lived around the corner from him & his hatred of jews and blacks was apparent…. Like father like son.