ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A police union that represents the majority of the “rank and file” correctional officers at the Essex County Correctional Facility has issued a statement in support of the prison’s director, Ron Charles.
On Wednesday, Essex County chief of staff Philip Alagia provided Patch with a copy of a “letter of support and confidence” in Charles from David Matos, president of State Policemen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 382 (read it below).
According to Alagia, the union makes up more than 87 percent of all the law enforcement employees who work at the prison.
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“We greatly appreciate the hard work of all the officers and superiors who have chosen to make a career in corrections,” Alagia said. “We commend PBA #382 for their letter of support and their continued efforts to work collaboratively to solve the issues we face.”
The letter comes a month after a different police union that represents supervisors with the Essex County Department of Corrections (DOC) announced a vote of “no confidence” in the county and prison administration, including Charles.
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That union – the New Jersey Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 106 – alleged that issues include unpaid training, improper promotions, questionable deals with outside companies, and illegal audio surveillance. Spokespeople have complained about ongoing violence at the prison, with victims including inmates and staff alike. See Related: Violence Continues At Essex County Prison: Inmate Death, Fires, Fights
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The union also accused Charles of being “seldom if ever” actually at work since he returned from retirement to helm the department in 2022 – leaving many of his duties in the lap of a deputy director. Read More: Police Union Declares ‘No Confidence’ At Essex County Prison
The Essex County DOC is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in New Jersey. It is responsible for overseeing the state’s largest county prison, the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark. See Related: Long-Awaited Review Offers Deep Dive Into Essex County Jail
PBA: ‘SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE IN RON CHARLES’
On Aug. 21, the president of PBA Local #382 offered a different analysis of Charles’ performance at the prison.
The letter from Matos reads:
“On behalf of PBA local 382 who represents over 600 rank and file correctional police officers within the Essex County Department of Corrections. I want to express our support and confidence in Ron Charles as the director of the Essex County Department of Corrections. We should take pride of his journey through the ranks of our department, culminating in his current role as director, which is a testament to his dedication, knowledge, and expertise in our profession.
“Throughout his career and recent tenure as director, he has consistently demonstrated fairness and compassion in his interactions with our members, which has not only made a significant positive impact on our members, some personally, but to our union as a whole as well. Director Charles has promoted an environment of trust, respect, and equality within our department, which has not always been the case. He stands for what is right and fair.
“I can personally attest to the countless late night and early morning calls he has taken from me on behalf of my officers. His willingness to be there for us, no matter the hour, speaks volumes about his commitment to our well-being. His willingness to meet with us on labor/ management issues, showcases his commitment to addressing our concerns. While we understand that labor/ management may not always see eye to eye, we appreciate that our voices are heard under his leadership. His approach which is to encourage a collaborative environment, where both sides can work together towards common goals speaks volumes.
“Director Charles has set a high standard for our department and directing a department, which has a facility of over 900 employees and 2,200 inmates is never easy task and at times requires bold leadership and unpopular decision making. Changing the culture of any agency is not an easy task. We support his vision for transforming it into an even more effective and efficient organization.
“As we continue to face challenges in our line of profession, we are confident under his guidance, together we will navigate them successfully. We look forward to continuing to work alongside him to uphold the values and integrity of our service.”
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