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'Death Race' Troopers May Face Charges

Pair has been suspended since April while Attorney General's Office conducts investigation into high-speed escort.

 

The two state troopers allegedly involved in a high-speed luxury car escort down the Garden State Parkway in March could be criminally charged Friday and one of the troopers has resigned, according to NJ.com.

New Jersey State Police Sgt. Nadir Nassry and Joseph Ventrella were suspended without pay in April, the Attorney General's Office has said. Ventrella was a member of the force for six years and was assigned to the Troop B Tactical Patrol Unit. Nassry, 47, of Phillipsburg, was a trooper of 25 years and was assigned to Totowa Station.

NJ.com reported Thursday that the suspended troopers could face third- or fourth-degree criminal charges after they were allegedly caught on video camera escorting luxury cars to Atlantic City at a high rate of speed. The escort has been nicknamed "Death Race 2012" and an eyewitness report of the rally was submitted to state police by Madison resident John Kennedy.

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office launched an investigation into the incident.

“We will not tolerate any conduct by a member of the State Police that puts the public in jeopardy, as this unauthorized caravan had the potential to do,” Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said in a press release.

Related Topics: Death Race, High-Speed Escort, and New Jersey State Police

Ann Masullo

8:04 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

The State should definitely lose his pension. He endangered so many lives and we are the ones that pay for his pension. He should have known what he was doing

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Tommy P

10:20 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

No employee should EVER lose any portion of THEIR pension due to wrong doing. They are paid for their work. Then again, no public employee should have a pension to begin with, at least not one "guaranteed" by tax payers.

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Robert Simpson

11:35 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

In the private sector, someone who was fired or quit after ten years of service could not collect their pension until they were eligible for SS. Pensions should not be any better than what can be earned in the private sector.

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Terry Gilespie

11:36 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

For your information, Troopers pay into their pension, it is not "given" to them.

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Nichole L

1:20 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012

@ Robert
1. Pensions in the private sector vary by company. At my husband's company, they have to put in 15 years.
2. Someone in the public sector also cannot collect until after 10+ years (depending on the job). I am a teacher. If I quit before my 25 years, I cannot collect anything beyond what I, myself, put in.

Please know what you're talking about.

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Tommy P

6:45 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012

Public pensions are not self funding, the state contributes and guarantees it. In NJ we are violating our Constitution by doing so.

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Ridgewood Mom

7:39 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012

The state pays salaries and benefits to employees who, in turn, work and provide a benefit to the state, society and the economy.

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Robert Simpson

9:07 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012

All pensions must comply with Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)

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Madison Cyclist

9:22 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012

Wrong. Certain private pension plans are subject to ERISA. Public pension plans are not subject to ERISA.

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Robert Simpson

9:56 am on Saturday, July 28, 2012

So.....In the private sector, under most circumstances, if I was eligible, I would have to be 65 to collect my pension. If I were a teacher, I could, under the best circumstances, start collecting my pension at age 47?

Justice

8:46 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

What is the difference between these troopers and the ones that were involved in Governor Corzine's motor vehicle incident?

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Tee Smyth

9:44 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

Who did these luxury cars belong to? Why were they being escorted?

Bill

9:31 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

The trooper that was driving Corzine was a trained professional and was on official business. Whether that business justified traveling at that speed is questionable, and some disciplinary sanctions would probably be appropriate. But it's not comparable to a trooper leading a bunch of civilians, most of whom probably have no more training than their high school driver's ed course provided, on a high speed joyride.

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Mike

9:44 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

Wasn't this aiding and abetting comission of a crime (reckless driving, reckless endangerment, speeding, etc.)? Isn't that a crime? Maybe the thief trooper who stole $7K in gas over 3 years was filling tanks for these millionaire boys.

Had public school teachers done their jobs better these troopers would have had the judgment and discipline not to have done this.

Nassry was paid $113K last year; Ventrella $76K.

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Nichole L

10:51 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

Typical. Blame teachers, not, I don't know, their PARENTS???

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Tommy P

11:18 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

I am not sure that you pin this on teachers. Isn't it more plausible that the problem is within the culture of law enforcement? The Internet is littered with examples of cops who believe they are above the law, break it, then never get charged or disciplined.

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Terry Gilespie

11:38 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

Why is the salary of the Troopers relavant?

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Timothy J Richmond

3:10 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012

What the hell do teachers have to do with this? The jails are not filled with people that had bad public school teachers. That comment made no sense at all.

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Ridgewood Mom

8:04 pm on Friday, July 27, 2012

Compensation last year:
Stephen J Hemsley $279,342 per day
Edward A Mueller $180,273 per day
Robert A Iger $146,082 per day
George Paz $141,150 per day
Lew Frankfort $135,479 per day
Ralph Lauren $117,808 per day
John C Martin $117,041 per day

Tee Smyth

10:07 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

I see. I read an article in the record stating that Brandon Jacobs was a part of the caravan.

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Rosie

10:13 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

Who is Brandon Jacobs?

Tee Smyth

10:07 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

I see. I read an article in the Record stating that Brandon Jacobs was a part of the caravan.

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Rosie

10:17 am on Friday, July 27, 2012

We drive the Parkway quite often having a condo at the shore. I see many, many things. People talking on their cells and swaying back ad forth because they cannot control their cars. Definitely a driving hazard!!!! This incident, to me, sounds like another one of these dangerous hazards that I experience on the Parkway. If one of us would have done this, we would have definitely wound up in jail, lost our license and a fine, for sure. Who were these people that they were escorting. From what I am reading, they chose to escort them on their own. GREAT!!!! Another way of showing the rich that their crap does not stink. This was dangerous and it should be treated as it would have been treated for an ordinary driver. In fact, all of the people escorted should be hit with penalties for speeding on the Parkway. Why has this not been done?

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John Davies

10:41 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Tommy P what are you drinking? Whatever it is, it's affecting your thinking!

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Tommy P

11:04 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

John, thank you for the kind thought. I made a number of comments which one did you find objectionable?

Brett Kaiser

1:39 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

This SO blown out of proportion....

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Wilbur

7:58 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Absolutely NOT blown out of proportion. These troopers did wrong, and endangered the public while doing so. We rely on law enforcement to do the right thing, and show good judgement. These guys did neither. I'm all for second chances, but this was so egregious that these guys deserve to be released from service and forfeit their pensions.

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john q public

8:44 am on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Where the troopers following orders?

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John Q. Public

6:47 pm on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

The real John Q Public wants to know who you are

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