NBC 4 New York: After 9 Months, Federal Probe of GWB Closure Finds No Link to Christie, Federal Sources Say

Governor Christie just may have been telling the truth, He may not have known anything about he George Washington lane closures last year, but it should be kept in mind that this was an anonymous sources in the Federal prosecutors office that leaked this information. No official word was released by Prosecutor Fishman's office. Chris Christie's administration is still under investigation for other Port Authority shenanigans.

From NBC4 New York:

The U.S. Justice Department investigation into New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s role in “Bridgegate” has thus far uncovered no information he either knew in advance or directed the closure of traffic lanes on the George Washington Bridge, federal officials tell NBC 4 New York.

The September 2013 closures -- where several entrance lanes to the George Washington Bridge in Ft. Lee were shut down causing a traffic nightmare for commuters -- has been the subject of several federal and state investigations.

Federal officials caution that the investigation begun nine months ago is ongoing and that no final determination has been made, but say that after nine months authorities have uncovered no information Christie either knew in advance or ordered the closure of traffic lanes.

According to one former federal prosecutor, who had no involvement in any of the probes into the bridge closure, investigations of this kind will often turn up a solid connection early in the inquiry.

“My experience with federal law enforcement is that once you reach critical mass if you don’t have it within nine months or so you’re not likely to ever get it,” former federal prosecutor Robert W. Ray said.

When the final report is issued, Christie may still face complications from the scandal, said Lee Miringoff, Director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion....


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NJ WATCHDOG: State 'Repossesses' Disability Pension From Reality TV Repo Cop

It's about time the state pension board did something to stop this kind of abuse, examples such as Derrico's case are far too common and cost tax payers millions of dollars annually - MM

For Immediate Release:


Joe Derrico – the disabled New Jersey cop turned roughhousing repo man on reality TV – took a hard punch from a state pension board.

The board stripped Derrico of his $69,703 a year tax-free disability pension and declared him fit to return to work for the Hamilton Township police. The action was prompted by an investigative report by New Jersey Watchdog and NBC 4 New York two months ago.

Derrico's disability pension was based on his claim he could no longer work as a patrolman because he had twice injured his leg while making arrests.

One year after retiring, Derrico was brawling on television as a cast member of "Bear Swamp Recovery" – a truTV cable network reality show on vehicle repossessions by the "baddest towing team in Jersey."

During the "Monster Truck Showdown" episode, Derrico runs after a truck, pulls a man down from the driver's seat, throws him to the ground and climbs into the cab. In another scene, Derrico is wrestling with opponents.

The full story is now online at New Jersey Watchdog at http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2013/07/15/derrico/

NJ WATCHDOG: Reality TV Rumble Stars 'Disabled' Cop Inbox x

For Immediate Release:

Reality or Fake, Police Disability Pays!


On television, Joseph Derrico pursues a monster truck on foot, pulls the driver out of the vehicle and tosses him to the ground. He is on truTV's "Bear Swamp Recovery," a reality show on vehicle repos by the "baddest towing team in Jersey."

Yet Derrico collects a police disability pension of nearly $70,000 a year. In the eyes of the State of New Jersey, the retired Hamilton Township cop is "totally and permanently disabled" by a leg injury.

No stranger to trouble, Derrico was a criminal defendant when he retired in 2010. A Mercer County grand jury indicted Derrico on a felony charge of theft by receiving stolen property.

The patrolman escaped with his pension intact – thanks to a secretive deal with Mercer County Prosecutor Joseph Bocchini, who dropped the case when Derrico retired

If convicted, Derrico could have lost his pension. Instead, he has collected $180,000 in tax-free disability pay from the state Police and Firemen's Retirement System. If he reaches his life expectancy of age 80, Derrico's bad leg and behavior will be good for $2.5 million.

Bocchini claims his office has no record of the indictment or dismissal of charges against Derrico. In response, New Jersey Watchdog is suing the prosecutor in Mercer County Superior Court to produce the records or an explanation of why they no longer exist.

The Derrico case illustrates the inherent weaknesses of a $200 million a year disability pension system that's prone to abuse by police and firefighters in New Jersey.

Check out the full story – a joint investigation by New Jersey Watchdog (http://newjersey.watchdog.org) and NBC 4 New York – at http://newjersey.watchdog.org/2013/04/28/fake-or-reality/.