New Jersey white city councilman outraged mayor enlisted a Black woman to lead the police force

A white city councilman in New Jersey is outraged that the mayor enlisted a Black woman to lead the police force, calling it a “slap in the face” the Trentonian reports.

South Ward Councilman George Muschal, claims that Trenton’s mayor Reed Gusciora only appointed a Black police director, Carol Russell, for “political gain.”

“He’s the mayor. He can choose who he wants,” the South Ward councilman told The Trentonian in a phone interview Monday.

“But the bottom line is the men in blue look at him for leadership. Putting somebody in that position who wasn’t [a leader] in the police department is a slap in the face to everybody in rank-and-file.”

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Many have said Muschal’s criticism has racial undertones after he accused the mayor of “lowering the standards” for the “the highest position in the police department,” because of the appointment.

“So, I’m a racist every time I make a decision that people don’t agree on?” Muschal asked. “Is that how you want to paint this picture? Because I said she’s not qualified? Come on,” the former Trenton cop turned statesman said. Instead, Muschal contends that he’s defending “what’s right.”

Gusciora responded saying:

“What political gain? Can somebody diagram that out for me?” the mayor said.

“I just don’t buy into the conspiracy theories of the grassy knoll. I’ve been a legislator. Sometimes it’s their political calculations to make sure they get in your paper. I’m advancing her because it’s the right thing to do. It’s time to do something different. We need to break the good-old-boys network.”

The mayor shot down notions that his appointment had self-serving intentions behind it.

“I love what I’m doing, and I think I can make an impact in the city of Trenton and I want to be part of something here,” he said.

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