Jerry Speziale: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia


Article Images

Content deleted Content added

Tag: Reverted

Line 87:

In 2010, Speziale was appointed to the role of Deputy Police Superintendent of the [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department]].<ref name="nypost"/>

Speziale's civil complaint reported similar conduct and inIn April 2018, the Port Authority Inspector General's Office began investigating claims about special treatment Radio Host Rush Limbaugh said he received from Port Authority Police Superintendent Michael Fedorko on April 12, 2018, by receiving a police escort, lights and siren from Newark Liberty Airport to downtown Manhattan. Port Authority protocols prohibit providing a police escort for a celebrity.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sheldon |first1=Chris |last2=McCarthy |first2=Craig |date=2018-04-21 |title=Did Rush Limbaugh get rush-hour police escort from Newark to NYC to attend gala? |url=https://www.nj.com/news/2018/04/draft_port_authority_police_superintendent_under_i.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512174251/https://www.nj.com/news/2018/04/draft_port_authority_police_superintendent_under_i.html |archive-date=2019-05-12 |website=[[NJ.com]] |publisher=[[Advance Publications]]}}</ref> On May 7, 2018, Michael Fedorko's police escort of Rush Limbaugh from Newark Airport to Manhattan stirred controversy. Fedorko abruptly announced his retirement, less than a week after news reported investigators were looking into a recent "lights and sirens" escort provided for Rush Limbaugh. The Port Authority's ethics policy states it's a conflict of interest for a Port Authority employee to use his or her position to achieve or appear to achieve personal financial gain or other advantage. The agency's Inspector General had opened an investigation into the escort Fedorko gave the conservative radio show host from Newark Liberty International Airport to Manhattan, where he was a last-minute speaker at a charity dinner.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Brian |date=2018-05-07 |title=Port Authority Superintendent Resign Rush Limbaugh Police Escort |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/port-authority-superintendent-resign-rush-limbaugh-police-escort/133634/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920122945/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/port-authority-superintendent-resign-rush-limbaugh-police-escort/133634/ |archive-date=2021-09-20 |website=[[NBC New York]]}}</ref>

In May 2014, Speziale sued the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in federal court, alleging that the Port Authority had retaliated against him after he uncovered wasteful spending by the authority. In the suit, Speziale claimed that the Port Authority had confiscated his work vehicle, denied him security credentials for Port Authority facilities, denied him medical leave benefits, and subjected him to "daily harassment, intimidation, and demeaning conduct" after he reported misspending to his superiors and that Superintendent Michael Fedorko used police emergency lights going through a red light and being issued an automated red light ticket in Newark, NJ, which was allegedly illegally dismissed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharp |first=John |date=2014-05-08 |title=Prichard police chief's lawsuit against New York/New Jersey Port Authority generates buzz |url=https://www.al.com/live/2014/05/prichard_police_chiefs_lawsuit.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830134806/https://www.al.com/live/2014/05/prichard_police_chiefs_lawsuit.html |archive-date=2022-08-30 |website=[[AL.com]] |publisher=[[Advance Publications]]}}</ref><ref name="Speziale vs. Port Authority">{{Cite web |title=Speziale vs. Port Authority of New York/New Jersey et al |url=https://www.law360.com/cases/536a89c289517466de000005 |url-access=limited |website=[[Law360]]}}</ref><ref name="cbslocal.com">{{Cite web |date=2014-05-07 |title=Former Port Authority Official Jerry Speziale Sues Agency, Alleges Retaliation Over Whistleblowing |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/former-port-authority-official-jerry-speziale-sues-agency-alleges-retaliation-over-whistleblowing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220830135125/https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/former-port-authority-official-jerry-speziale-sues-agency-alleges-retaliation-over-whistleblowing/ |archive-date=2022-08-30 |website=[[CBS New York]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-08 |title=More Corruption Alleged at NY Port Authority |url=http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/05/08/67689.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923224431/http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/05/08/67689.htm |archive-date=2015-09-23 |website=[[Courthouse News Service]]}}</ref> The case was put on hold in January 2016, because it involves witnesses in the criminal case related to the [[Fort Lee lane closure scandal]] and has been reopened in January 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Ben |date=2016-01-22 |title=Paterson police director's lawsuit against Port Authority is placed on hold |url=https://www.nj.com/passaic-county/2016/01/paterson_police_directors_lawsuit_against_port_aut.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512180146/https://www.nj.com/passaic-county/2016/01/paterson_police_directors_lawsuit_against_port_aut.html |archive-date=2019-05-12 |access-date=November 2, 2017 |website=[[NJ.com]] |publisher=[[Advance Publications]]}}</ref><ref name="cbslocal.com" /><ref name="Speziale vs. Port Authority" />

Speziale's civil complaint reported similar conduct and in April 2018, the Port Authority Inspector General's Office began investigating claims about special treatment Radio Host Rush Limbaugh said he received from Port Authority Police Superintendent Michael Fedorko on April 12, 2018, by receiving a police escort, lights and siren from Newark Liberty Airport to downtown Manhattan. Port Authority protocols prohibit providing a police escort for a celebrity.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sheldon |first1=Chris |last2=McCarthy |first2=Craig |date=2018-04-21 |title=Did Rush Limbaugh get rush-hour police escort from Newark to NYC to attend gala? |url=https://www.nj.com/news/2018/04/draft_port_authority_police_superintendent_under_i.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512174251/https://www.nj.com/news/2018/04/draft_port_authority_police_superintendent_under_i.html |archive-date=2019-05-12 |website=[[NJ.com]] |publisher=[[Advance Publications]]}}</ref> On May 7, 2018, Michael Fedorko's police escort of Rush Limbaugh from Newark Airport to Manhattan stirred controversy. Fedorko abruptly announced his retirement, less than a week after news reported investigators were looking into a recent "lights and sirens" escort provided for Rush Limbaugh. The Port Authority's ethics policy states it's a conflict of interest for a Port Authority employee to use his or her position to achieve or appear to achieve personal financial gain or other advantage. The agency's Inspector General had opened an investigation into the escort Fedorko gave the conservative radio show host from Newark Liberty International Airport to Manhattan, where he was a last-minute speaker at a charity dinner.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Brian |date=2018-05-07 |title=Port Authority Superintendent Resign Rush Limbaugh Police Escort |url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/port-authority-superintendent-resign-rush-limbaugh-police-escort/133634/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920122945/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/port-authority-superintendent-resign-rush-limbaugh-police-escort/133634/ |archive-date=2021-09-20 |website=[[NBC New York]]}}</ref>

===Prichard, Alabama police===