Three unions representing state troopers have sued Attorney General Matt Platkin to block his investigation into whether the State Police intentionally cut back on traffic stops in response to claims of racial profiling.
In the lawsuit, which was first reported by the New Jersey Monitor, the unions argue the investigation is retaliatory and unconstitutional because the police agency is already under strict oversight. The unions are asking a judge to dismiss subpoenas issued by Platkin’s office.
The legal clash follows a 2023 report that said troopers disproportionately stopped and used force on Black and Hispanic drivers. Last year, an investigation by The New York Times discovered traffic stops dropped significantly during the eight months after unions warned troopers their stops would be looked at more closely. The unions denied any wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of state lawmakers introduced a bill last month to remove the state police from the attorney general’s oversight.
