Matthew Platkin, the New Jersey attorney general, recused himself from an investigation of Lt. Col. Sean Kilcomons, deputy superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, who allegedly made antisemitic comments about Platkin and his son.
The police officer made the alleged comment at a “bring your child to work day,” according to the New York Post, which reported that Kilcomons is accused of calling Platkin “that Jew” and allegedly “ordered a department helicopter to stay in the air so the prosecutor’s son couldn’t see inside of it on April 25,” per a report filed with the attorney general’s public integrity and accountability unit.
“I don’t want that Jew’s kid in the State Police helicopter,” Kilcomons is accused of saying.
Platkin stated on Friday that he had seen reports of the alleged comments by Kilcomons.
“This conduct, if substantiated, has no place in law enforcement or anywhere in our society,” the attorney general said. “I have recused myself from the investigation into those allegations, and I will reserve judgment until that investigation is complete.”
“But I want to make clear that we must never tolerate antisemitism or bias of any kind. Too often, those in leadership feel comfortable dismissing or ignoring allegations of bias, particularly when the perpetrators hold positions of power,” he added. “When allegations of bias are met with silence or, worse, reflexively defended by people in power, rather than seriously and swiftly investigated, it sends a clear message to all victims who might consider coming forward: don’t bother.”
He added that he has been called names—“including quite a few antisemitic slurs"—many times.
“While I do not obsess over these attacks, I also do not ignore them. Rather than shrug them off, these experiences drive me to redouble my efforts to root out bias and hate of any kind,” he stated. “While I am disappointed to learn that a law enforcement leader might have chosen to use his position and the privilege of his authority to hurt my son, whom I love more than anything, I will be distraught if we allow him—and millions of kids like him—to grow up in a society where attacking someone for who they are or how they worship is accepted or condoned.”
The Anti-Defamation League’s New York and New Jersey office stated that it is “deeply concerned by the allegations of antisemitic comments reportedly made by law enforcement professionals” about Platkin and his son.
“We expect these allegations will be thoroughly investigated and that appropriate consequences will be levied if they are determined to be accurate,” the ADL stated.
