Time to reveal details of internal investigation

In an ongoing matter of public interest, the News Transcript stands with the Latino LeadershipAlliance of New Jersey and we join its attempt to find out what has transpired in a matter that has lingered over Freehold Borough since Jan. 29, 2008.

On that night Freehold Borough police officers stopped a vehicle that matched the description of a vehicle that was being sought.

Before the matter was concluded, a Freehold Township woman and her son had been arrested and charged with various offenses, and they in turn had made allegations of police brutality against an officer.

The vehicle that was stopped by the officers was not the vehicle that was being sought.

The incident made headlines and generated intense interest at the time it happened and then it faded away. It should not be allowed to disappear without a trace.

Shortly after the incident occurred, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office determined that Freehold Borough Patrolman Chris Colaner — who was accused of police brutality — had not committed a crime during the incident.

If only the wheels of justice turned that quickly for Migdalia Irizarry and her son. The charges that were brought against them that night by the police have never been adjudicated.

Why? We don't know. Inquiries made by a News Transcript reporter about this situation have been bounced from municipal court to the prosecutor's office, and back to municipal court. No one, it seems, knows anything.

In the wake of the allegations that Irizarry made against the Freehold Borough police officers following the Jan. 29, 2008, incident, an internal investigation was launched by the department.

The News Transcript published articles in February 2008 and July 2008 in which Freehold Borough Police Chief Mitchell Roth acknowledged that an internal investigation was under way.

Was that internal police department investigation ever completed? If it was completed, what did that investigation conclude? If it wasn't completed, why not? These questions deserve answers, and no one in a position of authority in Freehold Borough seems to want to answer any questions about this case.

Why? We don't know.

On June 1, Colaner was promoted to the rank of sergeant and that prompted the Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey to release the following statement: "The decision to promote Patrolman Christopher Colaner was premature and insensitive and sends a terrible message to the community at large. Chief Roth has yet to publicly comment on the outcome of an internal investigation of Patrolman Colaner with regard to allegations that he acted improperly during a motor vehicle stop in January 2008.

"The public deserves to know the outcome of the investigation before a promotion is given to Patrolman Colaner. The failure to address such an issue speaks to the arrogance of power by borough officials."

It is time for the Freehold Borough police brass to reveal the findings of the internal investigation.

It is time for the charges against Irizarry and her son to be heard in court. If they are guilty as charged, they should pay the penalties.

This case has gone unresolved for an unacceptable amount of time. It is time for answers to be presented in a public forum.