TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal and Senate Transportation Chair Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr. that would prohibit the New Jersey Transit Corporation from issuing a law enforcement badge to NJ Transit board members, Port Authority Commissioners and local and state elected officials cleared the Senate Transportation Committee.
“The only people who should be issued a law enforcement badge are individuals who are trained to be law enforcement officers. I am glad that that distinction will be clarified in this piece of legislation,” said Senator Gopal (D-Monmouth).
“This legislation protects both our law enforcement officers and the general public. Only those who actually have proper training and credentials should be issued a law enforcement badge,” said Senator Diegnan (D-Middlesex).
The bill, S-2858, would define “law enforcement officer” to mean a person empowered to act for the detection, apprehension, arrest, conviction, detention, or rehabilitation of persons in violation of the law.
The bill was released from committee by a vote of 5-0, and next heads to the full Senate for further consideration.