News

 By Tim O’Meilia

A 20-year Manalapan resident has filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, claiming that the town’s police force engages in racial profiling.
    In a Dec. 27 two-page letter to FDLE’s top official, Kersen de Jong said the police chief and an officer had both told him in separate conversations that 1,400 traffic stops made by Manalapan officers in 2011 were designed to keep potential troublemakers out of town.
    “My sense is I don’t seek any money. What I want to see done is to improve the system and stop this nonsense,” de Jong said. He also submitted 37 pages of research and emails he has compiled since April.
    Manalapan’s Police Chief  Carmen Mattox did not respond to a Dec. 31 request for comment, but Town Manager Linda Stumpf said she spoke with an FDLE representative early Dec. 31 and was told that no complaint had been made.
    “As far as the town is concerned, no complaint has been filed,” she said. She said she would respond if a complaint is filed.
    An FDLE spokesman could not confirm Dec. 31 that the complaint had been received. The documents were scheduled for delivery that day.
    In his complaint, de Jong said he met with Mattox Sept. 28 to discuss the traffic stops. He quoted Mattox as saying, “I want to know who is in town and I want those people out of town as quick as possible.”
    de Jong’s complaint said he spoke with Police Officer William Shepherd Nov. 7. He quoted Shepherd as saying, “Policy has always been to stop as many cars as possible … and sometimes being ordered to stop all cars after sunset … you know, we need to keep the riffraff out … when blacks congregate you know something is coming down … since the Lantana Bridge was closed we have much less traffic, and on riffraff coming from Lantana, and less stops … When the Lantana Bridge opens up again (2013) we have to start stopping as many cars as possible so word gets out to riffraff in Lantana: Do not drive into Manalapan.”
In the past few months, de Jong has circulated several emails to commissioners, town staff and residents making similar allegations. He met with town officials Dec. 5 and was advised to make a written complaint to FDLE since the town has no internal affairs division. de Jong declined to meet with FDLE or FBI officials when he was contacted by them at Mattox’ request. Mattox and Shepherd have both denied the statements attributed to them.
    “I haven’t seen the actual complaint, but I’ve seen some of his emails that weren’t actually factual,” said Mayor Basil Diamond. He noted that Mattox and Shepherd denied making the statements.  
    de Jong also asked the FDLE to look into several other issues if the agency decides it has jurisdiction. He contends:
• The town mislabeled police log incidents as “criminal events” to inflate the town crime statistics and mislead townspeople into supporting a change to the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office.
• The town has not met requirements in documenting its anti-profiling and anti-discrimination efforts and training.
• Mattox is not qualified to be chief since he lacks a four-year degree. Stumpf said town policy does not require a four-year degree, but a combination of study and experience.
• The recently filled lieutenant’s position was not posted for qualified town officers.
• He was misled about Shepherd’s employment.
     De Jong is a disability rights advocate and president of the Netherlands American Trust Inc., which supports youth education programs. Before he retired in 1999, he was managing director of the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce in the U.S.