"This report indicates that the State Police has made major progress in a number of important areas," Samson said. "I share Governor McGreevey's belief that the New Jersey State Police is one of the finest police forces anywhere. I also share a commitment with the Governor and Superintendent Santiago to fully implement the reforms under the Consent Decree in order to ensure that all troopers continue to meet the high standards of honor and service that have been hallmarks of the force."

The independent monitors, Dr. James Ginger and Albert Rivas, Esq., conducted their reviews in April and May 2002 of the three Troop E stations (Garden State Parkway) and seven stations of Troop A in South Jersey (Bellmawr, Bridgeton, Buena Vista, Port Norris, Tuckerton, Woodbine and Woodstown). They reviewed videotapes of numerous traffic stops conducted during the reporting period.

Samson observed that the monitors highlighted the state's completion of 468 internal affairs investigations during this period. With 243 new cases opened, that meant a reduction of 225 in the number of cases pending. The monitors reviewed 213 of the finished cases and concluded that "all were completed in accordance with established standards and practices." The reduction in cases represented a turnaround from prior reporting periods, which had seen an escalating backlog. During the fifth reporting period, the monitors reported that the number of pending cases increased by 116. Samson noted that the monitors called this development "significant and substantial."

"This aggressive push to resolve complaints against troopers through high-quality investigations reflects one thing - accountability," Samson said. "This report recognizes that we are developing a culture of accountability at State Police, from the individual trooper on up through the chain of command."

The monitors reported that members of the monitoring team who reviewed videotapes of traffic stops were "impressed with the professional quality of the vast majority of interactions reviewed this reporting period." They attributed the progress seen in a number of areas to new supervisory practices and completion of agency-wide training focused on eliminating racial profiling. Supervisors now are required to review videotapes of all motor vehicle stops involving consent searches and regularly review videotapes of a larger number of routine stops, the monitors observed. They noted that the State Police has increased the level of on-the-road supervision with the new position of "road sergeant."

"The results of these changes are tangible," the report states."The number of consent searches requested by the New Jersey State Police continues to decline, from 59 in the previous six months to 20 during this reporting period. Perhaps more importantly, 'find rates' for those searches have also improved - indicating that consent requests are being made more frequently of those who possess contraband or evidence, and less often of those who do not."

The monitors reported that the find rate for consent searches involving black motorists was 40 percent; the find rate for white motorists was 46 percent; and the find rate for Hispanic motorists was 75 percent.

Samson said the monitors identified several areas where continued improvements are appropriate. The monitors have consistently found State Police training to be of high quality, but found a limited number of members have been promoted without receiving required supervisory and leadership training prior to their promotion. However, Samson noted that all of these members will receive the required training in the next few months. The monitors reported that the State had greatly improved record keeping at the academy and was working "diligently" to address academy staffing issues. They particularly noted the hiring of a nationally recognized firm to evaluate manpower needs and a 26 percent increase in staffing levels at the academy since the last monitors= visit. Samson said the State will continue to focus on training issues, as it did during the last reporting period, because better training will result in better performance.

The monitors also noted a delay in the implementation of the sophisticated computer system (MAPPS) designed to help supervisors monitor the activities and conduct of individual troopers. The complex system, designed for the Department of Law and Public Safety, is the first of its kind in the world. Santiago reports that the new computer system will be ready for testing in two stations in Troop A in September and will be implemented statewide after successful testing.