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AG reprimands ex-trooper boss who demanded files
Samson readies new probe of Santiago's big office furniture bill
Wednesday, November 20, 2002
BY JONATHAN SCHUPPE
Star-Ledger Staff
Attorney General David Samson yesterday reprimanded former State Police Superintendent Joseph Santiago for ordering subordinates to turn over confidential investigative files on him and his top staff.
Samson said there was no legal basis to file criminal charges against Santiago, despite a report by the state's top government investigator saying the former superintendent had broken several laws. The attorney general concluded that the violations were not criminal, and that there would be no point in pursuing civil remedies because Santiago has already resigned.
But Samson also announced that he was launching a new review of Santiago's conduct, this time looking at his spending of more than $100,000 on furniture to outfit his executive offices last summer.
In a letter sent to the former superintendent yesterday, Samson said Santiago's attempts to review the investigative files could have led to internal disciplinary charges if he were still a state employee. Santiago resigned Oct. 18 amid a public furor over the files.
The files included allegations from unnamed State Police sources that Santiago was chummy with organized crime figures and engaged in other illicit activities as director of the Newark Police Department. State officials said the allegations were not substantiated, and Santiago has said they were fabricated by troopers opposed to his becoming the first nontrooper to lead the agency.
Santiago could not be reached for comment yesterday; his lawyer, Michael Critchley, declined to comment.
The head of the Office of Government Integrity, Edward Neafsey, found earlier this month that by writing a Sept. 19 memo demanding the investigative files, Santiago violated state ethical standards and broke federal and state laws regarding access to confidential law enforcement documents.
In his letter of reprimand, the attorney general told Santiago: "Your actions evinced gross mismanagement and were clearly inappropriate."
Samson ordered a copy of the letter, along with the Office of Government Integrity report, placed in Santiago's state personnel file, which would be available to any future employer checking on his background.
In addition, Samson ordered Neafsey to look into whether Santiago acted improperly in furnishing his office during his brief tenure as superintendent.
In the months before his resignation, Santiago spent about $125,000 to move his office from one building to another within the State Police's West Trenton headquarters, according to state documents. The largest chunk was for furniture -- about $105,000 -- including a $3,000 pedestal desk, a $1,000 leather chair and a $1,500 buffet credenza. Several of the purchase orders fell just below a state ceiling that requires approval from the state Treasury.
Santiago and his supporters have said there was nothing improper about the purchases, and that other state officials were aware of them.
Jonathan Schuppe covers criminal justice. He can be reached at
jschuppe@starledger.com or (609) 989-0398.
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