Murphy Comments on Minimum Wage Hike

Rise in Minimum Wage to $11/Hour Directly Benefits Nearly 200,000 New Jerseyans

TRENTON

– Governor Phil Murphy welcomed New Jersey’s second statewide minimum wage increase from $10 to $11 per hour, taking effect today, January 1, 2020. The increase is part of a gradual increase in the minimum wage to $15/hour under legislation signed by Governor Murphy in February 2019. When Governor Murphy took office in 2018, the State’s minimum

wage was $8.60 per hour.

CNBNews graphic files

“New Jerseyans working full-time deserve fair, livable wages,”

said Governor Murphy

. “With our second statewide minimum wage increase, we are following through on our commitment to give more workers the opportunity to join the middle class, which will strengthen our economy over the long-term.”

“Paying workers a fair wage for their work promotes economic and employment stability, and gives lower wage earners a chance to achieve economic independence”

said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo

. “It helps both employers and employees to have a workforce that feels adequately compensated and able to afford basic necessities such as rent, groceries, and electricity.”

“This is the next step in my continued fight to elevate New Jersey’s minimum wage to $15 an hour with a multi-step plan that puts more take-home-pay into the hands of working people and more money into the state’s economy,”

said Senate President Steve Sweeney

, who authored the prior laws that increased the minimum wage as well as the constitutional amendment requiring cost-of-living increases. “Increasing the pay of minimum wage workers is not only the right thing to do, it is a smart way to fuel economic growth and productivity. Steady increases will provide greater economic fairness for minimum wage workers, helping to improve their standard of living and their quality of life so they can better support themselves and their families. This is also a step forward in bridging the wealth gap as we strive to build a high-wage economy that respects the dignity of each and every worker.”

“With the new year comes a new minimum wage in New Jersey as we increase it to $11-an-hour,”

said Speaker Craig Coughlin

. “Too many workers aren’t earning enough to make ends meet, but, that is changing for New Jersey residents and future generations, as we continue to gradually raise the minimum wage and help alleviate poverty across our great state.”

Currently, approximately 192,000 workers in New Jersey make between $10 and $10.99 per hour, according to U.S. Census Bureau Monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) data, and will therefore directly benefit from the increase.

Seasonal and small employers were given a longer timeline under the law to reach $15 per hour in order to lessen the impact on their businesses. Agricultural and tipped workers are guided by separate minimum wage timetables.

As of January 1, 2020, seasonal employers and those with fewer than six workers must pay a minimum wage of $10.30 per hour.

To view the full minimum wage chart, click

here

Two Suspects Involved in Home Invasion in Gloucester Township; Home Owner Murdered

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP NJ –Rosealee Gomez, 36, of Franklinville, NJ, and Chamberlin Robinson, 41, of Vineland, NJ, were each charged in connection with a home invasion in Gloucester Township. Gomez was charged with one count of Felony Murder and Burglary, and Robinson was charged with one count of Murder, according to Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins.

On October 23, 2019, at approximately 9:50 p.m., the Gloucester Township Police Department responded to reports of shots fired on Yorkshire Road in Gloucester Township. When officers arrived, they located the victim, Kevin Carter, 26, of Gloucester Township, on the ground suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that Kevin Carter was killed during an alleged home invasion.

Rosalee Gomez was apprehended by the United States Marshals Service (USMS) at her residence in Franklinville on December 31, 2019. She was remanded to the Camden County Jail pending a pretrial detention hearing. Chamberlin Robinson is currently being held in the Cumberland County Jail on an unrelated matter.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing. Authorities are still seeking additional information.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Jeremy Jankowski at (856) 580-5950 or Gloucester Township Police Detective Scott Obermier at (856) 228-4500.

Information may also be emailed to

ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org

All persons charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Released Thursday, January 2, 2020.

Apparent Murder-Suicide in Burlington Township Under Investigation

January 2, 2020

Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Burlington Township Public Safety Director Bruce Painter announced that an apparent murder-suicide is being investigated at a Burlington

Township apartment complex.

The bodies of Kristopher Corry, 30, and Tianna Drummond, 28, were discovered inside of their unit at the Willow Pointe Apartments on Salem Road at approximately 8:45 a.m. today by Burlington Township police officers who were asked by a neighbor to conduct a wellness check.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the decedents were in a relationship.

The case is being investigated by detectives from the Burlington Township Police Department and the Prosecutor’s Office.

Autopsies will be performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood. More information will be released as it becomes available.

Scammer Sentenced: Woman Part of Group that Staged Car, Home Accidents for Insurance Payouts

source Department of Justice

Swerving to avoid a deer. Tripping over a dog and falling down the stairs. Losing control on a dark road and hitting another car. These all seem like strokes of bad luck.

FBI investigators, however, determined the series of “accidents” were scams designed to collect insurance payments. The elaborate ploy wasted first-responder resources and cost innocent homeowners, motorists, and taxpayers millions of dollars.

Sandra Talento and her family members were part of the long-running scheme staging accidents for insurance payouts.

“It was a tight-knit group of family and friends,” said Special Agent Ryan Butler, who worked the case out of the FBI’s Seattle Field Office. “They recruited others—often people they knew needed money.”

In the case of car accidents, the group would pre-arrange who would be the “at-fault” driver and who would be the “victim” driver. The crashes were staged at night, when there would be no witnesses. To increase the insurance claims, there were multiple passengers.

The scammers went to great lengths to make the passengers appear injured. Participants would also have their heads cut with razor blades or their bodies bruised in advance of the crashes. The group occasionally used car crash “victims” who had pre-existing but unaddressed injuries.

“Sometimes they would say, ‘If you need to get that knee or shoulder fixed, go along with us, and we’ll get it fixed for you,’” Butler explained.

After arriving at the hospital via ambulance, participants then lied about their symptoms and pursued as much medical care as possible.

“It’s all complete greed. And when the insurance companies make these payouts, it raises premiums for everyone.”

Ryan Butler, special agent, FBI Seattle

Talento herself often played a victim, using different names. She also ensured the other participants went to as many follow-up doctor appointments as possible. This drove up the value of the insurance settlements.

The insurance companies paid out large settlements to the participants—about $5.6 million over six years. They staged at least 33 accidents during that time frame, both in the Spokane area, where Talento lived, and in surrounding states.

FBI investigators worked closely with the National Insurance Crime Bureau to examine claims. Investigators also reviewed participants’ financial records. Lower-level participants agreed to cooperate with the FBI and plead guilty.

And while the participants were paid, Talento and her husband reaped most of the rewards. They lived a lavish lifestyle, owning a large home, fancy cars, and a yacht. The government will pursue asset forfeiture to recoup some of the couple’s ill-gotten gains.

“Fortunately, in this case we’re not aware of anyone being seriously injured in any of these crashes, and everyone was a willing participant,” Special Agent Butler said. “But it’s a dangerous practice, and it does happen where they will hit innocent third parties.”

Talento, 58, pleaded guilty to mail fraud, wire fraud, health care fraud, and related charges. She was sentenced to nearly six years in prison in November.

Her husband, the accused ringleader of the group, faces charges but is currently considered a fugitive, according to court documents.

“It’s all complete greed,” Butler said. “And when the insurance companies make these payouts, it raises premiums for everyone. The fake accidents also take police officers and EMTs away from real emergencies.”

Resources

Woman Sentenced to 70 Months in Federal Prison for Role in $5.6 Million Staged Accident Scheme

OFFICER DOWN: Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson, Shot and Killed During a Traffic Stop

Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson

Panola County Sheriff\’s Office, Texas

End of Watch

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Panola County, Texas

–Deputy Sheriff Chris Dickerson, age 28, was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on FM 10 near FM 2260 in Gary City at 2:00 am.

During the stop the driver suddenly exited the vehicle and opened fire with a semi-automatic rifle, shooting Deputy Dickerson six times. Nearby residents who heard the gunshots found Deputy Dickerson in the roadway. He was transported to a local hospital where he died a short

time later.

The subject who shot him fled to Shreveport, Louisiana, where he was apprehended by a police canine after being involved in a vehicle crash. He remains in custody awaiting extradition on capital murder charges.

Deputy Dickerson was a U.S. Army veteran. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.

Via

Officer Down Memorial page

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BREAKING NEWS

published Gloucestercitynews.net | January 1, 2020

Camden City Closes the Year with a Homicide

CAMDEN CITY, NJ (January 1, 2019)–Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer and Camden County Police Chief Joseph Wysocki reported a homicide that occurred in Camden on

December 31, 2019.

The Camden County Police Department responded to reports of a man who appeared unresponsive in a vehicle on Morgan Boulevard in Camden at approximately 3:00 p.m. Officers located the victim, Nathaniel Brown, 51, of Lindenwold, in a vehicle suffering from an apparent gunshot wound.

Nathaniel Brown was taken to Cooper University Hospital where he was pronounced deceased at approximately 3:27 p.m.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and there is no further information being released at this time. No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Detective Matt Barber at (856) 225-5166 or Camden County Police Detective Sean Miller at (856) 757-7042.

Information may also be emailed to

ccpotips@ccprosecutor.org

Released Wednesday, January 1, 2020.

Maple Shade PD Reminds Residents Alarm Systems Must Be Registered with MSPD Beginning Each Year

MAPLE SHADE NJ–The Maple Shade Police Department would like to remind all homeowners and business owners that burglar alarms, fire alarms, robbery hold up alarms, and duress alarms, etc, must be registered with MSPD. Registration expires on December 31st.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to renew. If you are already registered remember to contact us whenever there is a change in emergency contact information, phone numbers, etc.

Don\’t have an alarm system? If you do not have an alarm system then please fill out an emergency contact form instead. This will allow us to contact you if police respond to an emergency at your business or residence and you are not there. There is no fee to file an emergency contact form.

This allows us to better serve you and make Maple Shade a safer community. The alarm registration form and emergency contact information form can be downloaded here

Forms

Full text of the alarm ordinance can be found here

https://ecode360.com/6925745

Do you find these NIXLE messages helpful? Please inform your family and friends and encourage them to sign up. Just text MAPLESHADEPD to 888777 or sign up at

https://www.nixle.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/MAPLESHADEPD

If you need to contact the Maple Shade Police Department remember one call does it all! Call us 24/7/365 at 856-234-8300

Address/Location

Maple Shade Township Police Department

200 N Stiles Ave

Maple Shade Township, NJ 08052

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-234-8300

Non-Fatal Police Shooting in Woodlynne

WOODLYNNE, NJ (Dec. 30, 2019)–Acting Camden County Prosecutor Jill S. Mayer reported a non-fatal police involved shooting in Woodlynne on Sunday evening December 29, 2019.

Preliminary investigation indicates that on Sunday, December 29, 2019, at approximately 10:57 p.m., officers from Woodlynne Police Department were dispatched for a report of an armed robbery at a gas station in the area of Mt. Ephraim and Ferry Avenues in Woodlynne. Upon arrival, the officers were advised by the victim of the direction where the suspect fled and encountered a male matching the description of the suspect. The male appeared to be armed with a handgun and fled the scene on foot. After a brief foot chase and refusing multiple orders to drop the weapon, one of the officers fired a single round striking the suspect.

The suspect told police that he discarded the weapon and provided its location. The weapon was then located nearby. Following his arrest, the suspect was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment.

The suspect was identified as Jai Wood, Jr. (age 24) of Camden. Wood was charged with Armed Robbery and Resisting Arrest. Additional weapon charges are pending.

The involved officer’s identity will not be released at this time. This investigation is being conducted pursuant to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office Law Enforcement Directive No. 2019-4 and remains ongoing.

Released Monday, December 30, 2019.

Lindenwold Chief of Police Thomas J. Brennan Retires

LINDENWOLD, NJ (December 30, 2019)—-The Lindenwold Police Department announces that Chief Thomas J. Brennan (photo)will retire on December 31, 2019, after thirty years of dedicated service to the community. Chief Brennan began his law enforcement career with the Camden County Sheriff’s Department in December 1989. On January 27, 1992, Chief Brennan was hired by the Lindenwold Police Department.

Over the course of the next 27 years of his career Chief Brennan steadily rose through the ranks. He was promoted to Sergeant in June 1999, Lieutenant in March 2007 and ultimately Chief of Police on April 4, 2012.

During his successful career Chief Brennan also served on the Community Policing Bicycle Unit, Tactical Entry Team, and Internal Affairs Unit. Over the past seven years, Chief Brennan demonstrated progressive leadership by utilizing new technology to enhance the department’s operations by upgrading to a new records management system, utilizing social media to enhance the agency\’s community policing outreach and implementing a body-worn camera program.

Chief Brennan’s signature accomplishment was his commitment to the principles of community policing and his desire to engage with the community. During his time as Chief of Police, he implemented a new School Resource Officer Program, Juvenile Police Academy, Coffee with a Cop Program and reinstituted the National Night Out Event. Chief Brennan was also very proud to have overseen the expansion of the Police Department which modernized our administrative facilities.

All of us here at the Lindenwold Police Department would like to thank Chief Brennan for his dedicated service to the community and his guidance and leadership to the agency. We would also like to congratulate him on a successful thirty-year career and wish him and his family many years of health and happiness in retirement.

Captain Michael McCarthy Jr. will be sworn in as Chief of Police on January 4, 2020.

Thank you Chief Brennan

Address/Location

Lindenwold Police Department

2001 Egg Harbor Rd

Lindenwold, NJ 08021

Contact

Emergency: 9-1-1

Non-emergencies: 856-784-7566

Yuma Mayor Withdraws Proclamation Thanks to Trump’s Successful Efforts to Confront Border Crisis

WASHINGTON — Today, Mayor of Yuma, Arizona, Douglas Nicholls, at a meeting with Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) Ken Cuccinelli, withdrew an April 2019 local State of Emergency proclamation regarding the ongoing security and humanitarian crisis on the Southwest border.

Mayor Nicholls officially issued the proclamation on April 16, 2019, after the historic flow of illegal immigration caused thousands of illegal aliens to be released into his city. The mayor credits successful efforts by the Trump Administration in confronting the crisis, including initiatives implemented by DHS and the Government of Mexico, that have substantially relieved the city’s burden in caring for the overwhelming number of illegal immigrants.

“The president’s strategy to address the crisis at the Southern border, particularly Central American families illegally flooding across the border, has worked and we are seeing an impact in border towns across the country,” said Acting Deputy Secretary Cuccinelli. “The number of Central American family units apprehended has decreased by 85% since the height of the crisis in May. And thanks to a number of policies we implemented, we have ended catch and release and are returning, removing and repatriating more aliens from the border than ever before. Now, communities like Yuma are directly seeing the effect of our efforts. We are pleased to stand alongside Mayor Nicholls and to work together to secure the border and protect the American people.”

“I am grateful to be able to withdraw the Proclamation of Emergency due to the Trump Administration\’s policy changes that diminish the flow of the migrant family units to the Yuma area and prevent releases into the Yuma community,\” said Mayor Nicholls.

On September 23, DHS officially announced that it ended widespread catch and release for Central American families arriving at the border. We are now removing, returning, and repatriating more illegal aliens, including Central American families, faster than ever before, and illegal border crossing cases are completed faster than ever before. Under the Trump Administration, those who present themselves as families after crossing the border illegally will no longer be released into the United States. There has never been a time when illegally crossing the border is less likely to succeed than right now.

This can be attributed to the following efforts by DHS and the Trump Administration:

Under the Migrant Protection Protocols, more than 53,000 migrants have now been returned to Mexico to await their immigration hearings

With electronic nationality verification for northern triangle countries, we have been able to repatriate aliens from these countries within hours of their arrival at the border,

The Trump Administration has signed more than a dozen agreements with Central American countries to increase border security, combat transnational criminal organizations, and enhance economic development in the region.

We have now built nearly 100 miles of new border wall, including wall in the Yuma sector.

November marked the sixth month in a row that enforcement actions at the border declined due to decreased migration flows. Defying seasonal trends for the past seven years, CBP reports an overall decline in illegal cross border activity in November compared to October. Enforcement actions along the Southwest border involving family units declined nearly 4% to 13,154 and enforcement actions involving single adults were down 8.4% to 25,755. CBP’s Southwest border enforcement actions in this fiscal year to date are 29% lower than for the same period last fiscal year.

Topics:

Border Security

Disasters

Keywords:

Border Security

Immigration