Monmouth County Prosecutor's report on Seidle incident

7/25/2019 Monmouth County Prosecutor's report on Seidle incident

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MONMOUTH COUNTY PROSECUTORS OFFICE

INTERNAL REVIEW OF LAW ENFORCEMENT

RESPONSE TO THE KILLING OF TAMARA SEIDLE ONJUNE 16, 2015

June 30, 2016


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Table of Contents

I nt r oduct i on 1

I .

Scope of Revi ew 2

I I . Fact ual Summar y 4

Ti mel i ne of Event s 9

I I I . I nef f ect i ve Communi cat i on & Lack of I nf or mat i on 10

911/ Di spat ch Ti mel i ne 14

I V. Absence of Command & Cont r ol 15

V.

Deci si on Not To Empl oy Deadl y For ce 15

Use of For ce Pol i ci es 16Pr esence of Ci vi l i ans 17Lack of Communi cat i on and I nf ormat i on 18

VI . Di d Phi l i p Sei dl e Recei ve Pr ef er ent i al Tr eat ment ByRespondi ng Pol i ce Of f i cer s? 19

VI I . Hi st or y of Domest i c Vi ol ence 20

At t orney Gener al Di r ect i ve 2000- 3 21Report ed Domest i c Vi ol ence I nci dent s 22DV I nci dent Not Known t o Sei dl e s Agency 28

VI I I . Summar y of Concl usi ons and Act i on Pl an 29


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Introduction

On J une 16, 2015, at appr oxi matel y 11: 28 a. m. , of fdut y Nept une Townshi p Pol i ce Ser geant Phi l i p Sei dl e ki l l edhi s ex- wi f e, Tamar a Sei dl e, near t he heavi l y popul at edr esi dent i al i nt er sect i on of Ri dge and Sewal l Avenues i nAsbur y Par k, New J er sey. Af t er a hi ghspeed car chase t hatcul mi nat ed wi t h Sei dl e cr ashi ng i nt o Tamar a s car, Sei dl ef i r ed a gun i nt o Tamar a s vehi cl e i n t wo separ at e vol l eysand put t he gun t o hi s own head t hr eat eni ng sui ci de. As i ft he sensel ess br ut al i t y of Tamara s mur der i n br oaddayl i ght was not i n i t s own r i ght uni magi nabl y vi ol ent , t hef act t hat Sei dl e commi t t ed t hi s act i n f r ont of hi s 7- yearol d chi l d, who sat i n hi s vehi cl e at t he t i me he f i r ed t hef i r st r ound of gunshot s, shocked t he consci ence of anent i r e communi t y and l aw enf orcement .

The j ust i f i abl e publ i c out cr y over Tamar a Sei dl e smur der at t he hands of a l aw enf orcement of f i cer , who wasswor n t o pr ot ect t he publ i c f r om vi ol ence, necessi t at ed acompr ehensi ve anal ysi s of t he hor r i f i c event s of t hatmorni ng. The Monmout h Count y Prosecut or s Of f i ce ( t hi sOf f i ce) t her eaf t er under t ook a compr ehensi ve r evi ew of t hei ni t i al l aw enf or cement r esponse t o t he unf ol di ng i nci denti nvol vi ng t he Sei dl es car chase and Tamar a s ki l l i ng, andsi mul t aneousl y under t ook a hi st or i cal eval uat i on of anydocument ed domest i c vi ol ence i nci dent s i n t he Sei dl es

past . The goal of t hi s r evi ew, separ at e and di st i nct f r omt he cr i mi nal i nvest i gat i on, was t o det er mi ne whet her al lappl i cabl e At t or ney Gener al Gui del i nes, pol i ci es and l awswer e f ol l owed by t he i ni t i al r espondi ng of f i cer s at t hescene and t he Nept une Townshi p Pol i ce Depar t ment , Sei dl e sempl oyer .

Separ at e and di st i nct f r om t he ef f or t s of our Maj orCr i mes Bur eau t o i nvest i gat e and pr osecut e Phi l i p Sei dl ef or Tamar a s mur der , our Of f i ce s Pr of essi onalResponsi bi l i t y Uni t ( I nt er nal Af f ai r s) si mul t aneousl y

embarked on an i nvest i gat i on t o addr ess t he pol i ce responset o t he scene of t hi s i nci dent . 1 The Pr of ess i onalResponsi bi l i t y Uni t was charged wi t h det er mi ni ng whet herany of t he r espondi ng of f i cer s commi t t ed any cr i mi nal or

1 Sei dl e pl eaded gui l t y t o Aggr avated Mansl aught er and ot her charges onMarch 10, 2016. Thi s Of f i ce wi l l r ecommend t hat he be sent enced t o t hemaxi mum30 years i n pr i son at hi s September 2016 sent enci ng.

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admi ni st r at i ve vi ol at i ons. 2 I n or der t o pr eser ve t hei nt egr i t y of bot h t he cri mi nal i nvest i gat i on of Phi l i pSei dl e, as wel l as t he r evi ew bei ng conduct ed by ourPr of essi onal Responsi bi l i t y Uni t , bot h t eams of assi st antpr osecut or s and det ect i ves wer e wal l ed of f f r om one anot herand conduct ed t hei r i nvest i gat i ons i ndependent of oneanot her . An addi t i onal assi st ant pr osecut or and det ect i veworked excl usi vel y on r evi ewi ng t he domest i c vi ol encehi st or y of Phi l i p and Tamar a Sei dl e.

Thi s Of f i ce wr ot e t o t he New J er sey Di vi si on ofCr i mi nal J ust i ce, Of f i ce of t he At t or ney Gener al , on bot hJ une 23, 2015, and Sept ember 14, 2015, r equest i ng adet er mi nat i on regar di ng our cont i nued handl i ng of bot hPhi l i p Sei dl e s cri mi nal pr osecut i on as wel l as our r evi ewof t he pol i ce r esponse on J une 16, 2015, and t he Sei dl e sdomest i c vi ol ence hi st or y. By l et t er s dat ed August 6,

2015, and Sept ember 15, 2015, t hi s Of f i ce was advi sed byt he At t or ney Gener al s Of f i ce t hat no conf l i ct of i nt er estwas pr esent and t hat t hi s Of f i ce shoul d cont i nue t o handl ebot h i nvest i gat i ons. 3

I. Scope of Review

Once t he New J er sey At t orney Gener al s Of f i ce decl i nedt o super sede t hi s eval uat i on and det er mi ned t hat t heMonmout h Count y Pr osecut or s Of f i ce was t he appr opr i at eagency t o conduct t hi s r evi ew, t hi s Of f i ce commenced i t s

compr ehensi ve r evi ew of t he pol i ce r esponse. As det ai l edbel ow, t he nat ur e of t hi s r evi ew r equi r ed i nt er vi ews of 110i ndi vi dual s, extensi ve r evi ew of document s and vi deof oot age, anal ysi s of r adi o communi cat i ons, t he r e- cr eat i onof a speci f i c t i mel i ne of event s, and sever al ot heri nvest i gat i ve st eps. I n par t i cul ar , t hi s Of f i ce anal yzedal l mobi l e vi deo r ecor di ng ( MVR) f oot age capt ur ed byof f i cer s, as wel l as t he vi deo f oot age capt ur ed byci vi l i ans i n t he ar ea. Thi s Of f i ce r evi ewed al l r adi ocommuni cat i ons and 9- 1- 1 cal l s r el at ed t o t he event s of

2 See Appendi x 1, p. 34 New Jersey Attorney General s I nt ernal Af f ai rsPol i cy & Procedur es, Revised 2014.3 See Appendi x 2, August 6, 2015 and September 15, 2015, l et t ers f r omNew Jersey Divsion of Criminal Justince. Within hours of the June 16,

2015 shooting, this Office submitted a Use of Force notification in

accordance with Attorney General Guidelines. This Office also

sumitted to a conflicts-check and was subsequently notified on June

20, 2015 that our Office was free of conflicts, and should continue

to investigate all matters arising from this incident.

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J une 16, 2015. I nt er vi ews and st at ements wer e al soobt ai ned f r om 110 i ndi vi dual s i ncl udi ng: 34 pol i ce of f i cer sof t he Asbur y Par k Pol i ce Depar t ment and 23 pol i ce of f i cer sf r om t he Nept une Townshi p Pol i ce Depart ment ; 30 i nt er vi ewsof r esi dent s who l i ve i n t he nei ghbor hood dur i ng t hr eesepar at e canvasses; 13 workers empl oyed by Campbel l Suppl y,a company l ocat ed i n t he i mmedi ate vi ci ni t y of t hei nci dent ; 4 ci vi l i ans pr esent i n t he nei ghbor hood t hat day,as a wel l as i ndi vi dual s f r om a near by school , Asbur y Par kFi r e Depar t ment and st af f f r om bot h t he Monmout h Count yPr osecut or s and Sher i f f s Of f i ces. 4 The l aw enf or cementexecut i ves at bot h t he Nept une Townshi p Pol i ce Depar t mentand t he Asbur y Park Pol i ce Depar t ment cooper ated f ul l y wi t ht hi s pr ocess and pr ovi ded al l r equest ed document s, vi deof oot age and most i mpor t ant l y, pr ovi ded access t o t hei rof f i cers and staf f .

The Of f i ce super seded t he I nt er nal Af f ai r s f unct i onsof t he Nept une Townshi p and Asbury Par k Pol i ce Depar t ment sf or t he l i mi t ed pur pose of eval uat i ng t hei r of f i cer sr esponse t o the Sei dl e shoot i ng and ar r est of Phi l i p Sei dl eon t he mor ni ng of J une 16, 2015. Thi s Of f i ce s f i ndi ngsf ocused on whether any of t he r espondi ng of f i cer s commi t t edcr i mi nal conduct t hat shoul d be charged, or commi t t edadmi ni st r at i ve i nf r act i ons t hat war r ant di sci pl i ne. Anysubsequent admi ni st r at i ve act i on t hat may be i mposedagai nst any of t he r espondi ng of f i cer s i s wi t hi n t hedi scr et i on of t he Nept une Townshi p and Asbur y Park Pol i ce

Depar t ment s, who empl oy t he of f i cers. 5 Al t hough t hePr osecut or s Of f i ce has over si ght over al l pol i cedepart ment s i n t he count y, onl y t he empl oyi ng agenci es f orwhi ch t hese pol i ce of f i cer s wor k have t he l egal aut hor i t yt o i mpose speci f i c di sci pl i ne. 6

Thi s Of f i ce concomi t ant l y undert ook a t horoughanal ysi s of Sei dl e s domest i c vi ol ence hi st or y, t o

4 Al t hough l aw enf orcement of f i cers f r ombot h t he Monmout h Count yProsecut or s Of f i ce and t he Monmout h Count y Sher i f f s Of f i ce r espondedt o t he scene of t hi s event , t hei r ar r i val t ook pl ace af t er al l shot shad been f i r ed, and consequent l y, t hei r act i ons at t he scene ar ei mmat er i al t o t he pr esent r evi ew.

5 See Appendi x 3, J une 24, 2015, l et t er s t o Chi ef J ames M. Hunt , J r . ,and Act i ng Chi ef Ant hony G. Sal er no, J r .6 See N. J . S. A. 40A- 118; Borough of St one Harbor v. Wi l dwood Local 59,Pol i cemen s Benev. Ass n of New J er sey, 164 N. J . Super. 375 (App. Di v.1978) ; see al so, Sabi a v. Ci t y of El i zabet h, 132 N. J . Super . 6, 11( App. Di v. 1974) .

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det ermi ne whet her l aw enf orcement agenci es pr oper l y adheredt o l aws and st andar ds i nvol vi ng of f i cer s who engage i ni nci dent s of domest i c vi ol ence. Al l egat i ons made by Phi l i pand Tamar a Sei dl e i n t he cont ext of t hei r di vor ce or anyot her ci vi l act i ons wer e not a par t of t hi s anal ysi s, ast hose f al l out si de the pur vi ew of any l aw enf or cementagency and cannot be ver i f i ed.

The conf i dent i al i t y of I nt er nal Af f ai r s r ecor ds,r el at ed I nt er nal Af f ai r s i nvest i gat i ons and admi ni st r at i vedi sci pl i ne i mposed upon of fi cer s i s r equi r ed i n al l but t hemost l i mi t ed ci r cumst ances. 7 The r evi ew of Phi l i p Sei dl e sI nt er nal Af f ai r s r ecor ds, as wel l as t he di ssemi nat i on ofr el evant i nf or mat i on cont ai ned t her ei n, i s per mi t t ed i n t hedi scr et i on of t he Pr osecut or , pur suant t o t he New J er seyAt t or ney Gener al I nt er nal Af f ai r s Pol i cy & Pr ocedur es. 8Because t he pr osecut i on of Phi l i p Sei dl e i s not yet

compl et ed, wi t h hi s sent enci ng pendi ng, ext r aor di nar yef f or t s ar e bei ng t aken t o ensur e t hat onl y i nf or mat i on,whi ch can be publ i cl y r el eased, i s i ncl uded i n t hi s r epor t ,so as not t o compr omi se t he St ate s cr i mi nal case.

II. Factual Summary

On J une 16, 2015, at appr oxi mat el y 11: 19 a. m. , aci t i zen cal l ed 9- 1- 1 t o repor t t hat she had been i n a mi normot or vehi cl e acci dent i nvol vi ng t wo car s at t he cor ner ofRi dge and Sewal l Avenues i n Asbury Park and needed pol i ce

assi st ance. Al l t hr ee ci vi l i ans i nvol ved i n t he acci dentwere pr esent when Asbur y Park Pol i ce Of f i cer #1 ( APPO- 1)ar r i ved appr oxi mat el y si x mi nut es l at er .

At appr oxi matel y 11: 26: 37 a. m. , one of Tamara Sei dl e schi l dr en pl aced a t el ephone cal l t o a 9- 1- 1 oper at or , andr epor t ed t hat her f at her , Phi l i p Sei dl e, had t hr eat ened t oki l l her mot her , Tamar a Sei dl e. The i nf or mat i on r el ayed t ot he 9- 1- 1 oper at or f r om t he Sei dl e daught er was t hat hermot her was bei ng chased by Phi l i p Sei dl e whi l e Tamara waswal ki ng i n t he ar ea of t he Mt . Car mel Chur ch, whi ch i s

l ocat ed at 1201 Asbury Avenue, Asbury Par k. Unbeknownst t ot he Sei dl e daught er , t hi s l ocat i on was appr oxi mat el y mi l eaway f r om wher e Tamara Sei dl e t hen l ocat ed at t hat t i me,dr i vi ng a vehi cl e i n t he vi ci ni t y of Ri dge and Sewel lAvenues.

7 See Appendi x 1, p. 34 New Jersey Attorney General's Int er nal

Af f ai r s Pol i cy & Pr ocedur es, Revised 2014.

8 Id. at , p. 42.

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The pol i ce of f i cer t hat r esponded t o t he mot or vehi cl eacci dent had j ust st epped out of hi s pol i ce vehi cl e and wasspeaki ng wi t h t he t hr ee ci vi l i ans i nvol ved when, suddenl y,wi t hout warni ng, t wo vehi cl es came around t he cor ner at ahi gh r at e of speed. The f i r st vehi cl e was a bl ackVol kswagen J et t a and t he vehi cl e cl ose behi nd was a gr ayHonda Pi l ot . Bot h had been t r avel i ng sout h on Ri dge Avenueand made a r i ght t urn ont o Sewal l Avenue headi ng west . Thet hr ee mot or vehi cl e acci dent ci vi l i ans and APPO- 1 ar e seenon MVR f oot age j umpi ng out of t he pat h of t he speedi ng car si n or der t o avoi d get t i ng st r uck and i nj ur ed by thevehi cl es. The MVR f oot age cl ear l y demonst r at ed t hat APPO- 1and t he ci vi l i ans appear vi si bl y shocked when t hi s i nci dentt ook pl ace. 9

Wi t hi n seconds of t he t wo speedi ng vehi cl es t ur ni ng

ont o Sewal l Avenue, a cr ash i s heard on t he MVR. APPO- 1 i sseen goi ng i nt o t he mi ddl e of t he i nt er sect i on and l ooki ngt oward t he cr ash when gunshot s are i nst ant l y heard. Thegunf i r e i s audi bl e onl y t hr ee seconds af t er t he crash i shear d. APPO- 1 r eact s and j umps back behi nd hi s pol i cevehi cl e and i mmedi atel y radi oed t hat shot s have been f i r edat Ri dge and Sewal l ! He r epeat s t hat sever al t i mes. Att i mes, APPO- 1 yel l s so f r ant i cal l y t hat t he di spat chercannot under st and t he i nf or mat i on t hat he i s conveyi ng.APPO- 1 t hen r equest s f i r st ai d and st at es, i t s a ser geantf r om Nept une and he s got a gun t o hi s head. Al l of

t hi s i nf or mat i on i s t r ansmi t t ed vi a pol i ce r adi o l ess t hant went y seconds af t er t he f i r st shot s ar e f i r ed. Uponr ecogni zi ng t hat t he shoot er , who now has a gun poi nt ed t ohi s own head, i s Ser geant Phi l i p Sei dl e f r om nei ghbor i ngNept une Townshi p Pol i ce Depar t ment , APPO- 1 yel l s, heyPhi l , dr op t hat gun, Phi l !

Al t hough APPO- 1 r ecogni zed Phi l Sei dl e, he conf i r medi n hi s st at ement t hat he had no gr eat er cont ext f orSei dl e s act i ons; APPO- 1 di d not know at t he t i me i f Sei dl ewas on dut y and/ or i f he was i nvol ved i n some ki nd of

pol i ce act i vi t y. Once Phi l i p Sei dl e put t he gun t o hi shead, APPO- 1 became mor e conf used about what wast r anspi r i ng. APPO- 1 had no i nf ormat i on at t hat t i me aboutwho was dr i vi ng t he J et t a wi t h whi ch Phi l i p Sei dl e wasi nvol ved i n a hi gh speed chase, or i f t her e wer e anypassenger s i n ei t her vehi cl e. APPO- 1 di d, however , wi t nessSei dl e shoot i ng i nt o t he Vol kswagen bef or e Sei dl e put t he

9 See MVR of APPO- 1 (Encl osur e 6 on CD- Rom) .

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gun t o hi s head. APPO- 1 di d not r el ay t hi s cr i t i cali nf or mat i on vi a r adi o communi cat i on or ot her wi se.

Asbur y Par k Pol i ce Of f i cer #2 ( APPO- 2) ar r i ved att he scene appr oxi mat el y t hi r t y seconds af t er Phi l i p Sei dl ehad f i r ed t he f i r st ser i es of shot s. APPO- 2 was i ni t i al l yr espondi ng t o the scene as a back- up of f i cer f or APPO- 1 f ort he unr el at ed MVA, not f or t he shot s bei ng f i r ed by Phi l i pSei dl e. As APPO- 2 was dr i vi ng down Asbury Avenue t owardt he acci dent , he hear d t he gunf i r e, but he was not i n aposi t i on t o see wher e t he gunf i r e was occur r i ng. APPO- 2par ked i n t he mi ddl e of t he i nt er sect i on, at whi ch t i meAPPO- 1 expl ai ned t o hi m t hat Phi l i p Sei dl e was poi nt i ng agun t o hi s head. APPO- 2 l ooked up t he st r eet at t heunf ol di ng i nci dent and made t hat same obser vat i on. APPO- 2bel i eved Phi l i p Sei dl e was sui ci dal at seei ng t he gun t oSei dl e s t empl e, and al so saw a f ew peopl e wal ki ng toward

t he i nt er sect i on of Ri dge and Sewal l Avenues where t hi sevent was unf ol di ng. APPO- 2 i mmedi at el y moved hi s pol i cevehi cl e t o bl ock any ci vi l i ans f r om ent er i ng t hei nt er sect i on and t o secur e t he ar ea.

Appr oxi matel y f i f t een seconds af t er APPO- 2 ar r i ved att he scene, Tamar a Sei dl e s boyf r i end cal l ed 9- 1- 1 t o r epor tt hat Tamara was i n a bl ack J et t a on Asbury Avenue and wasbei ng pur sued by her ex- husband, Phi l i p Sei dl e. He wasunawar e of where on Asbur y Avenue, or i n what t own Tamar awas l ocat ed ( Asbury Avenue t r avel s t hrough Nept une Townshi p

and Asbur y Park) .

At 11: 28 a. m. , appr oxi matel y one mi nut e af t er t hef i r st shot s wer e hear d, t he car door of t he Honda Pi l otopened and a chi l d r an out t oward APPO- 1. I t was at t hatmoment appar ent f or t he f i r st t i me t hat a 7- year ol d chi l dhad been i n t he f r ont passenger seat of Phi l i p Sei dl e svehi cl e as t hese event s wer e devel opi ng. The chi l d r anappr oxi mat el y 80 100 f eet f r om Phi l i p Sei dl e s vehi cl e t oAPPO- 1, and APPO- 1 t hen t ook t he chi l d by the arm t o anar ea behi nd hi s pol i ce vehi cl e. Af t er a f ew seconds, APPO-

1 wal ked the chi l d acr oss Ri dge Avenue headi ng east onSewal l Avenue away f r om Phi l i p Sei dl e, as i s document ed byAPPO- 1 s MVR.

Asbur y Park Pol i ce Of f i cer #3 ( APPO- 3) ar r i ved onscene af t er t he f i r st shot s wer e f i r ed. APPO- 3 par ked ont he east si de of t he i nt er sect i on on Sewal l Avenue. Ther ei s no vi deo of APPO- 3 s ar r i val and no vi deo showi ng t hearea wher e he parked. I t i s i mport ant t o note t hat APPO-

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3 s vehi cl e was not equi pped wi t h an MVR because he i s i n asuper vi sor y posi t i on wi t hi n hi s agency. APPO- 3 had ear l i erbeen at t he Bar ack Obama School f or a f i r e dr i l l , l ocat edat 1300 Bangs Avenue, i n Asbur y Par k, appr oxi mat el y 0. 2mi l es f r om t he shoot i ng, and r esponded t o t he scene when hehear d t he f r ant i c cal l s f r om APPO- 1 r egar di ng shot s f i r ed.When APPO- 3 got out of hi s vehi cl e, he saw APPO- 1 hol di ngt he Sei dl e chi l d s ar m. The chi l d was t hen pl aced i n APPO-3 s vehi cl e and t ol d t o st ay down. APPO- 3 had j ustf i ni shed pl aci ng t he chi l d i n hi s car when t he secondser i es of shot s wer e f i r ed. Thi s occur r ed at appr oxi mat el y11: 29: 20, whi ch i s appr oxi mat el y t wo mi nut es and t hr eeseconds af t er t he f i r st ser i es of shot s wer e f i r ed. APPO- 3r an t owar d APPO- 1 s pat r ol vehi cl e and st ood behi nd i taf t er t he second ser i es of shot s commenced. Af t erappr oxi mat el y t wo mi nut es, APPO- 3 wal ked back t o hi svehi cl e and l ef t t he scene, t aki ng t he chi l d t o pol i ce

headquar t er s. He r et ur ned t o t he scene a shor t t i me l at er .As seen on APPO- 1 s MVR, APPO- 2 had j ust compl et ed movi nghi s vehi cl e t o t he sout h si de of Ri dge/ Sewal l i nt er sect i onand was get t i ng out of hi s vehi cl e when t he second ser i esof shot s began.

The second ser i es of shot s began at t he same t i me t hatAsbury Par k Pol i ce Of f i cer s #4 and #5 ( APPO- 4 and APPO-5) wer e wor ki ng on an unr el at ed nar cot i cs i nt er di ct i ondet ai l wi t h anot her Asbur y Par k Pol i ce Of f i cer . APPO- 4 andAPPO- 5 were i n an unmarked car when t hey hear d t he f r ant i c

r adi o cal l by APPO- 1 f or shot s f i r ed! They par ked ashor t di st ance away and r an t o t he scene to assi st , and ar eseen on APPO- 1 and APPO- 2 s MVRs ar r i vi ng and t aki ng aposi t i on behi nd a t r uck par ked on Sewal l Avenue. Af t erAPPO- 1 del i ver ed t he Sei dl e chi l d t o APPO- 3, APPO- 1r et ur ned t o hi s i ni t i al posi t i on behi nd or near hi s pol i cevehi cl e. Ther eaf t er , APPO- 1 di d not at t empt t o cl ose t hedi st ance bet ween hi msel f and Phi l i p Sei dl e to cont ai n t het hr eat as much as possi bl e.

Af t er t he second ser i es of shot s ended, Phi l i p Sei dl e

r et ur ned t he gun t o hi s head, cont i nui ng t o t hr eat ensui ci de. The st at ement s t aken f r om r espondi ng of f i cer s ar econsi st ent , t hat upon t hei r ar r i val t o t he scene t hey coul dobser ve Sei dl e wi t h t he gun t o hi s t empl e, but were unawareof what had t r anspi r ed pr evi ousl y or even t hat t her e was avi ct i m i n t he Vol kswagen. Onl y APPO- 1, who saw Phi l i pSei dl e shoot i nt o the Vol kswagen, had knowl edge about t hei ni t i al gunf i r e. As st at ed, APPO- 1 di d not communi cat e

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t hi s vi t al i nf or mat i on ei t her over t he r adi o or t o of f i cer sar r i vi ng on scene.

The r espondi ng of f i cer s at t he scene coul d notpi npoi nt pr eci sel y at what poi nt each of t hem became awareof a vi ct i m i n t he Vol kswagen, or when t he i dent i t y of t hevi ct i m was made known t o be Tamara Sei dl e. However , i t waswi t hi n appr oxi mat el y 13 mi nut es t hat Phi l i p Sei dl e accededt o r equest s f r om of f i cer s t o appr oach t he vi ct i m t o r emoveher f r om t he car . Upon r emoval f r om her car , Tamara showedno si gns of l i f e and had no pul se. Dur i ng t hese 13mi nut es, Phi l i p Sei dl e cont i nual l y hel d hi s gun t o hi shead, t hr eat eni ng sui ci de. For sever al mi nut es af t erTamar a had been ext r act ed, of f i cer s cont i nued t o t r y andconvi nce Sei dl e t o put hi s gun down. Sei dl e ul t i mat el yagr eed t o do so af t er bei ng shown pi ct ur es of hi s chi l dr en.He was t hen t aken i nto cust ody approxi mat el y 32 mi nut es

af t er Tamara was t aken f r om t he scene.

As Sei dl e cont i nued t o t hr eat en sui ci de, APPO- 3, acommand l evel of f i cer , l ef t t he scene t o t ake t he Sei dl echi l d back t o Asbur y Par k Pol i ce headquar t er s. APPO- 3r et ur ned appr oxi mat el y 10 mi nut es l at er , but l ef t t he sceneagai n t o t r anspor t APPO- 1 back t o pol i ce headquart er s af t ert he l arger l aw enf orcement r esponse had arr i ved on scene.

The ent i r e event , f r om t he t i me t he Sei dl e vehi cl esare seen speedi ng around t he cor ner and al most hi t t i ng

APPO- 1 and t he ci vi l i ans, unt i l t he t i me Phi l i p Sei dl e i st aken i nt o cust ody, i s appr oxi matel y 48 mi nut es and 7seconds.

I nt er vi ews and f ormal st at ement s t aken f r om 110i ndi vi dual s over t he cour se of t hi s i nvest i gat i on bot hl aw enf or cement and ci vi l i an col l ect i vel y r eveal t hat t heunf ol di ng event was chaot i c. These st at ement s al so makecl ear t hat t he l aw enf orcement of f i cer s who r esponded t ot hi s cr i t i cal i nci dent di d not i ni t i al l y under st and t hatPhi l i p Sei dl e was not engaged i n l egi t i mat e pol i ce

act i vi t y, or t hat he was act ual l y shoot i ng i nt o a car t hatwas occupi ed by hi s ex- wi f e. As wi l l be di scussed wi t hi nt hi s r epor t , t he l andscape i t sel f , heavi l y popul at ed wi t hhomes, ci vi l i ans and l ocal busi nesses, cont r i but ed t o thecompl exi t y of t he si t uat i on and t he concer n by f i r str esponders t hat byst anders and t hose i n t he homes wi t hi ncl ose pr oxi mi t y t o t he cr i me scene wer e i n t he l i ne off i r e.

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Time

11:26:47

11:26:51

11:27:05

11:27:07

9 Seconds

11:27:11

11:27:14

11:27:17

2 Seconds Pass

11:27:19

11:27:25

11:27:27

11:27:31

11:27:47

11:28:17

11:28:20

11:28:30

11:29:00

11:29:00

11:29:06

11:29:20

11:29:28

11:29:31

11:43:10

11:43:30

12:15:12

Note- All times are approximately based off of Mobile Video Recording devices on APPO-1's and APPO-2's police vehicles.

Seidle Incident Timeline - June 16, 2015

Action

14 Seconds Pass

4 Seconds Pass

48 Minutes and 7 Seconds from start to

arrest.The Seidles' vehicles crash.

Standoff ends, Philip Seidle in custody.

31 Minutes and 42 Seconds Pass

3 Seconds Pass

15 Minutes and 56 Seconds between

first shots and medical.

Medical stretcher leaves car with victim.

20 Seconds Pass

Medical stretcher arrives at car of victim.

13 Minutes and 39 Seconds

Standoff begins. Full scale law enforcement officer response.

Gunfire stops.

Second set of gunshots are heard.

APPO-1 calls for Seidle's Daughter to come to him.

Gunfire stops.

8 Seconds Pass

14 Seconds Pass

30 Seconds Pass

APPO-1 unholsters weapon and orders Seidle to drop the gun.

Police Radio call from APPO-1 reporting Seidle has gun to his head.

16 Seconds Pass

2 Seconds Pass

APPO-1 retreats back behind his police vehicle.

4 Seconds Pass

APPO-2 arrives on scene.

6 Seconds Pass

APPO-1 calls shots fired.

2 Minute and 3 Seconds between end of first shots and

beginning of second shots.

3 Seconds Pass

10 Seconds Pass

APPO-2 repositions his vehicle.

30 Seconds Pass

APPO-3 accounted for on scene.

Seidle's Daughter appears on APPO-1's MVR.

APPO-1 arrives at accident scene on Ridge/Sewall.

6 Seconds Pass

APPO-4 and APPO-5 appear in the distance.

APPO-2 finishes repositioning his vehicle.

The sound of a car horn and tires squealing can be heard.

APPO-1 exits police vehicle and moves to front of car.

3 Seconds Pass

4 Seconds Pass

2 Seconds Pass

1st round of gunfire is heard.

Black and silver cars almost hit APPO-1 and MVA involved parties.

3 Seconds Pass

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III. Ineffective Communication & Lack of Information

One of t he cl ear est f i ndi ngs t o emer ge f r om t hi sanal ysi s was t he absence of ef f ect i ve communi cat i on andl ack of i nf or mat i on avai l abl e t o r espondi ng l aw enf or cementof f i cer s r egar di ng t he unf ol di ng event s of J une 16t h:

APPO- 1, who was r espondi ng t o t he unr el at ed MVA andnear l y hi t by t he Sei dl es speedi ng car s, di d notcl ear l y or speci f i cal l y communi cat e pr eci sel y what wasunf ol di ng. He yel l ed i nt o hi s r adi o, shot s f i r ed! r equest ed f i r st ai d and t hen st at ed, i t s a ser geantf r om Nept une; he s got a gun t o hi s head, i t sSei dl e! And, al t hough he communi cated hi s l ocat i on,he was doi ng so i n such a f r ant i c manner t hat i t wasdi f f i cul t f or t hose hear i ng hi s r adi o t r ansmi ssi on t of ul l y under st and what he was sayi ng. Those ar r i vi ngon scene wer e not i nf or med t hat , pr i or t o Sei dl et hr eat eni ng sui ci de, he had shot i nt o a vehi cl e at t hescene.

Whi l e t her e i s no way t o ascer t ai n wi t h cer t ai nt ywhether i mpr oved communi cat i on by r espondi ng of f i cers,especi al l y APPO- 1 and APPO- 3, woul d have changed t heout come of t hi s event , t her e wer e t wo cr i t i calomi ssi ons of i nf ormat i on t hat shoul d have beenr el ayed, but wer e not : 1) Phi l i p Sei dl e shoot i ng i nt ot he bl ack Vol kswagen; and 2) t he f act t hat t hatvehi cl e bei ng shot i nt o bel onged t o Tamara Sei dl e.Those vi t al pi eces of i nf or mat i on coul d have al t er edt he way other r espondi ng pol i ce of f i cer s vi ewed t heunf ol di ng si t uat i on t hat mor ni ng.

o Al t hough APPO- 1 had no way of knowi ng who was i nt he vehi cl e t hat Sei dl e was shoot i ng i nt o, i t wasa cr i t i cal omi ssi on f or APPO- 1 not t o communi cat et hat he had seen Phi l i p Sei dl e shoot i nt o t hewi ndow of another vehi cl e.

o Thi s cri t i cal omi ssi on of i nf or mat i on l ed manyr espondi ng of f i cer s t o i ni t i al l y bel i eve t hatt hey wer e onl y deal i ng wi t h a sui ci dal pol i ceof f i cer . St at ement s obt ai ned by of f i cer sr espondi ng t o the scene af t er APPO- 1 had arr i vedwer e consi st ent i n t hat t hey di d not havei nf or mat i on r egar di ng Phi l i p Sei dl e s act i ons

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pr i or t o thei r ar r i val when t hey obser ved hi mpoi nt i ng a gun at hi s own head.

o APPO- 2 hear d gunshot s as he pul l ed up to t hei nt er sect i on t o assi st APPO- 1 wi t h t he unr el at edmot or vehi cl e acci dent . At t hat t i me, APPO- 1 t ol dAPPO- 2 t hat Phi l i p Sei dl e was hol di ng a gun t ohi s head, whi ch APPO- 2 obser ved. APPO- 2 was i nt he pr ocess of movi ng hi s vehi cl e t o bl ockt r af f i c and pedest r i ans when he hear d, but di dnot see, t he second vol l ey of gunshot s i nt oTamar a s vehi cl e. Al t hough APPO- 2 was on scenewhen t he second round of shot s t ook pl ace, he hadj ust f i ni shed movi ng hi s vehi cl e and di d notobser ve Phi l i p Sei dl e shoot i ng i nt o t he car .Mor eover , he di d not r ecei ve any i nf or mat i on f r omAPPO- 1 t o i ndi cat e t hat Sei dl e had been shoot i ng

i nt o a vehi cl e pr i or t o APPO- 2 s ar r i val .

o I t i s i mpossi bl e t o ascer t ai n, af t er t he f act , i f cl earer more det ai l ed communi cat i ons f r om APPO- 1coul d have changed t he cour se of event s on J une16, 2015. I t i s cer t ai n, however , t hat t heabsence of more det ai l ed i nf ormat i on,speci f i cal l y, t hat Phi l i p Sei dl e was seenshoot i ng i nt o a vehi cl e pr i or t o hol di ng a gun t ohi s head, coul d have al er t ed r espondi ng of f i cer st hat Sei dl e was homi ci dal and not onl y sui ci dal .

APPO- 3 had been the Sei dl es nei ghbor f or more t han adecade. APPO- 3 had vi t al per sonal i nf or mat i on t hatmay have been hel pf ul t o r espondi ng l aw enf orcementhad i t been shar ed. APPO- 3 was t he onl y of f i cer whor ecogni zed t he vehi cl es and knew t hat t he bl ackVol kswagen was Tamara Sei dl e s car . APPO- 3 ar r i ved att he scene onl y seconds bef or e Phi l i p Sei dl e f i r ed t hesecond vol l ey of shot s i nt o t he Vol kswagen.Regar dl ess of whet her APPO- 3 knew t hat Tamar a was i nt he vehi cl e t hat Phi l i p Sei dl e was f i r i ng i nt o, he

knew i t was her car and t hi s was cr i t i cal i nf or mat i ont hat shoul d have been, but was not , r el ayed t or espondi ng of f i cer s.

Al t hough f ami l y members of Tamara Sei dl e were al er t i ngl aw enf orcement vi a 9- 1- 1 t hat she was i n danger , t heshoot i ng of Tamara Sei dl e occur r ed at t he same t i me

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i nf ormat i on was bei ng gat her ed by t he 9- 1- 1 oper at or sr egardi ng t he natur e of t he emer gency. 10

A r evi ew of t he handl i ng of t he 9- 1- 1 cal l s r egar di ngt hi s i nci dent was al so under t aken, bot h as a par t of

t hi s r evi ew and al so separat el y by t he Monmout h Count ySher i f f s Of f i ce t hat over sees t he count y- wi de 9- 1- 1di spat ch. Speci f i cal l y, t he r evi ew sought t oascer t ai n whet her t he 9- 1- 1 cal l s f r om Tamar a Sei dl e sf ami l y and boyf r i end wer e handl ed pr oper l y, andwhet her t her e was any del ay i n r el ayi ng i nf or mat i on t or espondi ng pol i ce of f i cer s r egar di ng Phi l i p Sei dl e spur sui t of Tamara t hat morni ng.

The r evi ew concl uded t hat Tamar a s daught er was on t hephone wi t h t he 9- 1- 1 operat or at t he same t i me the

homi ci de occur r ed provi di ng no oppor t uni t y f ori nf or mat i on r egar di ng Phi l i p Sei dl e s pur sui t t o ber el ayed t o of f i cer s as t hi s event was al r eady i npr ogr ess. Moreover , much of t he i nf ormat i oncommuni cat ed by Tamara s f ami l y was genui nel y r el ayed,but ul t i mat el y pr oved t o be i naccur at e, i ncl udi ng herl ocat i on (Mt . Car mel Chur ch on Pi ne St r eet ) ; t hatTamar a was on f oot ; and t hat i t was not bel i eved t hatPhi l i p Sei dl e was ar med.

Speci f i cal l y, bet ween 11: 26: 37 a. m. and 11: 29: 04 a. m.( 2 mi n, 27 sec) , Tamara s daught er cal l ed 9- 1- 1 andr epor t ed t hat she had r ecei ved a cal l f r om her mot her ,who st at ed t hat her f at her , Phi l i p Sei dl e, hadt hr eat ened t o ki l l her . She r epor t ed t hat her mot herwas on f oot and di d not bel i eve t hat her f at her wasarmed. The l ocat i on pr ovi ded was 805 Pi ne St r eet i nAsbur y Park, whi ch i s t he Mt . Carmel Chur ch.

The f i r st r ound of gunf i r e occur r ed at 11: 27: 14 a. m. ,whi ch i s onl y 37 seconds af t er Tamara Sei dl e sdaught er pl aced t he 9- 1- 1 cal l .

At 11: 27: 19 a. m. , APPO- 1 r adi oed a shot s f i r ed! cal lt o Count y Di spat ch, onl y 42 seconds i nt o t hedaught er s 9- 1- 1 cal l .

At 11: 28: 00 a. m. 11: 37: 43 a. m. , Tamara Sei dl e sboyf r i end cal l ed 9- 1- 1, r epor t i ng t hat Tamara was

10 See p. 14 of t hi s r epor t r egar di ng 9- 1- 1 cal l s.

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bei ng hel d agai nst her wi l l . He coul d not pi npoi ntTamar a s l ocat i on.

At 11: 29: 20 a. m. , t he second r ound of gunf i r eoccur r ed.

11: 30: 47 a. m. 11: 31: 19 a. m. The di spat cher whor ecei ved t he cal l f r om Tamar a s daught er cal l edTamar a s cel l phone. A message was l ef t f or Tamar a t ocal l 9- 1- 1 or t he APPD so t hey coul d det er mi ne herl ocat i on. The di spat cher t hen cal l ed Tamar a sdaught er t o ask i f she had made cont act wi t h hermot her .

Our r evi ew concl uded t hat t here was no mi shandl i ng ordel ay on t he part of t he 9- 1- 1 di spat ch syst em.

Tr agi cal l y, t he i nf or mat i on bei ng conveyed by Tamar a sl oved ones t o 9- 1- 1 di spat ch occur r ed si mul t aneous t ot he phone cal l s.

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Time

11:26:37

11:27:14

11:27:19

11:28:00

11:29:04

11:29:20

11:30:47

11:31:19

11:37:43

Action

5 Seconds Pass

37 Seconds Pass

Tamara's Daughter's 9-1-1 Call Ends

Tamara's Daughter Calls 9-1-1

Seidle 9-1-1 Timeline - June 16, 2015

Dispatcher Calls Tamara's Cellphone and Leaves Message

Tamara's Daughter's 2nd 9-1-1 Call Ends

6 Minutes and 24 Seconds Pass

APPO #1 Radios "Shots Fired"

1st Round of Gunfire is Heard

16 Seconds Pass

1 Minute and 4 Seconds Pass

41 Seconds Pass

2nd Round of Gunfire Heard

Tamara's Boyfriend Calls 9-1-1

1 Minute and 27 Seconds Pass

Tamara's Boyfriend's 9-1-1 Call Ends

32 Seconds Pass

Dispatcher then calls Tamara's Daughter's Phone Back

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IV. Absence of Command & Control

As t he t i mel i ne of t hi s i nci dent demonst r at es, t heevent s unf ol di ng on the morni ng of J une 16t h were chaot i cand sudden. I t i s a basi c tenet of l aw enf or cement and,i ndeed basi c common sense - t hat emergency si t uat i onsbenef i t f r om st r ong, deci si ve l eader shi p. Our revi ewconcl uded t hat APPO- 3, t he t hi r d of f i cer t o ar r i ve onscene, had a responsi bi l i t y as a command l evel of f i cer andt he most seni or l aw enf orcement of f i cer , t o assumeoper at i onal cont r ol of t he si t uat i onupon arrival.

However , APPO- 3 di d not communi cat e vi a radi o t hat heknew t he bl ack Vol kswagen i nvol ved bel onged t o TamaraSei dl e, or el i ci t mor e i nf or mat i on f r om APPO- 1 r egar di ngt he act i ve cr i me scene. I nst ead of t aki ng char ge, APPO- 3

l ef t t he cr i me scene t wi ce once t o t r anspor t t he Sei dl echi l d back t o headquar t ers and on a second occasi on t ot r anspor t APPO- 1 back t o headquar t er s. APPO- 3 s deci si onst o l eave the act i ve cr i me scene on t wo occasi onsdemonst r at ed poor l eadershi p and j udgment and vi ol at edsever al Asbur y Par k Pol i ce depar t ment al pol i ci es. Thi spoor l eader shi p, however , di d not r i se t o t he l evel ofcr i mi nal conduct .

V. Decision Not To Employ Deadly Force

Quest i ons have been r ai sed r egardi ng t he r espondi ngof f i cer s handl i ng of t hi s i nci dent , i ncl udi ng whet herdeadl y f or ce shoul d have been ut i l i zed agai nst Phi l i pSei dl e. Based on a t horough r evi ew of t he evi dence f r omt hi s i nci dent , t he deci si on not t o ut i l i ze deadl y f or ceagai nst Phi l i p Sei dl e was r easonabl e. The r espondi ngof f i cer s abi l i t y t o use f or ce agai nst Sei dl e was l i mi t edbecause of t wo ( 2) over archi ng and f undament al pr i nci pl esi n use of f or ce assessment s:

( A)

Of f i cer s ar e pr ohi bi t ed by St at e l aw and pol i cy

f r om usi ng l et hal f or ce agai nst a per son, orshoot i ng a per son, who coul d be i nj ur i ous onl y t ot hemsel ves; and

( B)

Even dur i ng the br i ef per i od when Sei dl e wasdi schar gi ng hi s gun and not t hr eat eni ng sui ci de,r espondi ng of f i cer s had no abi l i t y or oppor t uni t yt o shoot Sei dl e wi t hout creat i ng a subst ant i al

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r i sk t o i nnocent ci vi l i ans i n t hi s densel ypopul ated nei ghborhood.

A.Use of Force Policies

Most l aw enf or cement pol i ci es are wr i t t en t o addr esssi t uat i ons t hat ar e common, ant i ci pat ed and r ecur r i ng.Exi st i ng l aw enf or cement pol i ci es at ei t her t he St at e orCount y l evel do not ant i ci pat e or encompass t he si t uat i onwhi ch unf ol ded on J une 16, 2015. I ndeed, t he New J erseyAt t orney General s Use of Force Pol i cy and the Monmout hCount y Uni f or m Use of For ce Pol i cy do not per mi t of f i cer st o use deadl y f or ce agai nst someone who i s i nj ur i ous onl yt o t hemsel ves. 11

The l aw enf or cement of f i cer s r espondi ng t o t hi s eventcame upon Phi l i p Sei dl e hol di ng a gun t o hi s head

appear i ng t o be sui ci dal wi t hout t he knowl edge of t hepr evi ous car chase and shoot i ng of Tamara Sei dl e, or t hebenef i t of t i me t o di scer n what t r anspi r ed. APPO- 1 wasder el i ct by not ar t i cul at i ng t o anyone ar r i vi ng on t hescene t hat Phi l i p Sei dl e shot i nt o t he Vol kswagen and t her ewas l i kel y a vi ct i m i n t hat car even i f he di d not knowwho may have been i nj ured.

The t i me between t he cr ash of t he Sei dl es vehi cl esand t he f i r st gunshot s f i r ed by Phi l i p Sei dl e wasappr oxi matel y t hr ee seconds. The t i me bet ween t he f i r st

ser i es of shot s and t he st ar t of t he second ser i es of shot swas appr oxi mat el y t wo mi nut es and three seconds anddur i ng t hat ent i r e i nt er veni ng t i me Phi l i p Sei dl e had hi sgun poi nt ed t o hi s head. Bet ween t he f i r st and secondr ounds of gunf i r e, APPO- 1 was shut t l i ng t he Sei dl es youngdaught er t o saf et y and was hi msel f uncer t ai n of whom Sei dl ehad been shoot i ng at i n t he Vol kswagen. Moreover , t hebackdr op t o t hi s ent i r e si t uat i on was t hat APPO- 1 announcedover hi s r adi o that Sei dl e had a gun t o hi s head l ess t han20 seconds af t er t he f i r st r ound of shot s wer e f i r ed. As ar esul t , t he pol i ce of f i cer s r espondi ng t o t he scene onl y

knew t hat Sei dl e was sui ci dal and had no i nf ormat i onr egar di ng pr evi ousl y t r anspi r i ng event s.

11See Appendix 4, p. 6, #3, New Jersey Attorney Generals Use of Force

Policy, Deadly force shall not be used against persons whose conduct

injurious only to themselves" (also included as Enclosure 12 on CD-Rom).

.

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B.Presence of Civilians

I t i s i mpossi bl e t o eval uat e t he act i ons of t her espondi ng pol i ce of f i cer s wi t hout under st andi ng t he ar eai n whi ch t hi s event t ook pl ace. The homi ci de occur r ed onSewal l Avenue i n t he ar ea of Ri dge Avenue, whi ch i s ahi ghl y popul at ed ar ea wi t h 22 r esi dent i al pr oper t i es and 1l ar ge commer ci al bui l di ng. The sur r oundi ng ar ea al soi ncl udes a pr i vat el y owned pr e- school , as wel l as mor er esi dences and commer ci al pr opert i es.

The most not abl e present commer ci al proper t y i n t hear ea of t he cr i me scene i s Campbel l Suppl y, whi ch l oads i t sdel i ver y t r ucks i n f r ont of t hei r f aci l i t y on Sewal lAvenue. Thi s l oadi ng area i s appr oxi mat el y one hundr ed andt went y ( 120) f eet f r om t he l ocat i on of t he homi ci de. Si xCampbel l Suppl y empl oyees wer e i n f r ont of t he bui l di ng as

t hi s event unf ol ded. At l east t wo ot her ci vi l i ans wer eal so pr esent i n f r ont of t hi s busi ness and a t hi r d per sonwas on Sewal l Avenue j ust west of t he Campbel l Suppl ypr oper t y.

Addi t i onal l y, t hr ee ci vi l i ans wer e on t he f r ont por chof one of t he homes on Sewal l Avenue dur i ng t hi s event .The ci vi l i ans can be seen on APPO- 1 s MVR r eact i ng t o t heSei dl e s car acci dent and ar e al so seen r unni ng i nt o t hei rhouses when t he f i r st gunshot s ar e f i r ed. Mul t i pl ecanvasses of t he nei ghbor hood af t er t he shoot i ng i ndi cat ed

t hat t her e wer e at l east 25 i ndi vi dual s i n t he i mmedi at earea when Tamara Sei dl e was ki l l ed.

The ci vi l i ans who wer e i n f r ont of Campbel l Suppl y aswel l as t hose wat chi ng t hi s event f r om t hei r homes wer e al lconsi st ent i n t hei r st at ement s r egar di ng t hei r concer nabout shot s bei ng f i r ed i n a r esi dent i al ar ea. Oner esi dent was even capt ur ed on her cel l phone vi deo dur i ngt hi s i nci dent st at i ng, They don t want any ext r a bul l et sf l yi ng, mad houses around her e.

Phi l i p Sei dl e was a di st ance away f r om r espondi ngpol i ce of f i cer s, at or near t he r ange l i mi t whi ch pol i ceof f i cer s must r equal i f y wi t h t hei r weapons. 12 One of t hel ongst andi ng pr i nci pal s of f i r ear ms saf et y i s t hat of f i cer s

12 See Appendi x 5, New J er sey At t orney Gener al , Fi r ear ms Qual i f i cat i on,Semi - Annual Fi r ear ms Qual i f i cat i on and Requal i f i cat i on St andar ds f or NJLaw Enf or cement , Revi sed 2003, r equi r i ng qual i f i cat i on at a di st ance of75 f eet .

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must be sur e of t hei r t ar get and what i s beyond i t . 13 Att he Monmout h Count y Pol i ce Academy, t hi s r ul e i s t aught ast arget , backst op and beyond or TBB.

APPO- 1 not ed i n hi s st atement t hat , when consi der i nghow t o respond t o thi s si t uat i on, t hat he was awar e t hatt her e was a busi ness and ci vi l i ans vi si bl e behi nd Phi l i pSei dl e. I n f act , al l of t he pol i ce of f i cer s t hat pr ovi dedst atement s r ei t er ated t hi s same concer n t he densel ypopul at ed r esi dent i al st r eet and t he ci vi l i ans andr espondi ng l aw enf orcement of f i cers who were pr esentout si de as thi s event devel oped. I nvest i gat i ve r epor t snot ed t hat , [ S] ei dl e was t ot al l y sur r ounded and t hatof f i cer s wer e ver y concer ned about t he pl acement of t heof f i cer s because of t he crossf i r e pot ent i al .

I n addi t i on t o those i ndi vi dual s who wor ked or wer e

doi ng busi ness wi t h t he Campbel l Suppl y Company and t henei ghbor hood r esi dent s, was t he 7- year ol d chi l d i nSei dl e s vehi cl e. Of f i cer s l ear ned t he chi l d was pr esenti n Phi l i p Sei dl e s car appr oxi mat el y one ( 1) mi nut e af t ert he f i r st ser i es of gunshot s wer e f i r ed.

The i nvest i gat i on r epor t s and st at ements t aken f r omr espondi ng of f i cer s wer e consi st ent i n t hei rchar act er i zat i on of t he scene as bei ng chaot i c andf r ant i c. One r espondi ng det ect i ve not ed i n hi s r epor t , Iyel l ed f or al l of t he of f i cer s t o wat ch t he crossf i r e and

yel l ed out t hat t he per i met er needed to be ext ended to getci vi l i ans out of t he ar ea.

Photogr aphs of t he ar ea and cr i me scene, as wel l ast he pot ent i al t r aj ect or i es t hat bul l et s woul d have t r avel edbased on t he posi t i ons of al l par t i es, i l l ust r at e t heconcer n t hat ci vi l i ans, r esi dent s and pol i ce of f i cer s coul dhave been easi l y i nj ur ed had deadl y f or ce been ut i l i zed.

C.Lack of Communication and Information

As not ed ear l i er i n t hi s r epor t , accur at e i nf or mat i onwas not ef f ect i vel y communi cat ed dur i ng t hi s i nci dent i ncl udi ng t he f act t hat a domest i c vi ol ence i nci dent was i nprogr ess. Al t hough f ami l y member s of Tamara Sei dl e wereal er t i ng l aw enf or cement vi a 9- 1- 1 t hat she was i n danger ,

13 See Appendi x 6, Monmout h Count y Pol i ce Academy Fi r earms Tr ai ni ngMat er i al .

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her daught er s 9- 1- 1 cal l was i n pr ogr ess f or l ess t hant hi r t y- seven ( 37) seconds at t he t i me t he f i r st ser i es ofgunshot s began. The second r ound of gunshot s t ook pl aceonl y 2 mi nut es and 3 seconds af t er t he f i r st r ound of shot s whi ch was onl y 14 seconds af t er t he Sei dl es daught er s9- 1- 1 cal l ended. I n addi t i on, t he f ami l y pl aced Tamar a sl ocat i on at l east a mi l e f r om wher e t he i nci dent wasact ual l y t aki ng pl ace. The shoot i ng of Tamar a Sei dl e wasoccur r i ng at t he same t i me that i nf ormat i on was bei nggat her ed by t he 9- 1- 1 oper at or s r egar di ng the natur e of t heemer gency.

Onl y one of t he f i r st r espondi ng pol i ce of f i cer s coul dhave ascer t ai ned t hat Phi l i p Sei dl e was i nvol ved i n anal t er cat i on wi t h hi s ex- wi f e APPO- 3 because he had beena nei ghbor of t he Sei dl es and had some i nsi ght r egardi ngt hei r per sonal l i f e. That bei ng sai d, even i n t he f ace of

t hi s addi t i onal i nf or mat i on vi ewed i n t he l ens mostcr i t i cal t o APPO- 3, t her e was l i mi t ed under st andi ng of t hei nci dent t hat woul d have di ct at ed t hat deadl y f orce be usedagai nst Phi l i p Sei dl e. None of t he r espondi ng pol i ceof f i cer s knew who was i n t he bl ack Vol kswagen, why Phi l i pSei dl e had f i r ed i nt o t he vehi cl e, whet her he was act i ng i nhi s of f i ci al capaci t y as a pol i ce of f i cer , or why he had agun poi nt ed to hi s head.

I t t her ef or e was r easonabl e f or t he pol i ce of f i cer sr espondi ng t o t hi s i nci dent not t o empl oy deadl y f or ce

agai nst Phi l i p Sei dl e. The pol i ci es gover ni ng how l awenf or cement of f i cer s must r espond t o i ndi vi dual s who ar esui ci dal , coupl ed wi t h t he densel y popul at ed ar ea wi t hci vi l i ans i n t he backdr op, as wel l as an absence of f act uali nf or mat i on r egar di ng t he i nci dent i t sel f , col l ecti vel ysuppor t t he concl usi on t hat i t was r easonabl e f or t her espondi ng of f i cer s not t o use deadl y f or ce agai nst Phi l i pSei dl e on J une 16, 2015.

VI. Did Philip Seidle Receive Preferential Treatment By

Responding Police Officers?

Ther e i s no i nf or mat i on t o suppor t a premi se t hatPhi l i p Sei dl e r ecei ved pr ef er ent i al t r eat ment by r espondi ngl aw enf or cement of f i cer s. I t i s cl ear , however , t hat t hef act t hat Sei dl e was a wel l - known pol i ce of f i cercont r i but ed t o t he conf usi on and chaos of t he scene.Al t hough many of t he r espondi ng pol i ce of f i cer s knew Phi l i pSei dl e pr of essi onal l y, t her e was an absence of i nf or mat i onr egar di ng what was t r anspi r i ng f r om t he i ni t i al st ages of

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t hi s i nci dent . At t he out set , t her e was conf usi onr egar di ng whet her Phi l i p Sei dl e was engaged i n of f i ci alpol i ce busi ness when he chased another vehi cl e at hi ghspeed, crashi ng i nt o t hat car and f i r i ng i nt o i t s dr i ver ssi de wi ndow. Ther e was al so a consi der abl e l ack of cl ar i t yr egar di ng why a f el l ow pol i ce of f i cer was st andi ng i n t hemi ddl e of t he st r eet wi t h a gun t o hi s t empl e. OncePhi l i p Sei dl e s gun was poi nt ed at hi s head, r espondi ngof f i cer s, i ncl udi ng APPO- 1 who was al r eady onscene whent hi s event began, t r eat ed Sei dl e l i ke any ot her ci t i zen byt r yi ng t o de- escal at e t he si t uat i on and get hi m t o dr op t hegun. As was pr evi ousl y addr essed, gi ven t he i nf or mat i ont hat was known t o pol i ce of f i cer s, as wel l as t he ar ea i nwhi ch i t was unf ol di ng, t he use of deadl y f or ce agai nstPhi l Sei dl e was i l l - advi sed, r egar dl ess of hi s pr of essi onas a pol i ce of f i cer .

I t i s ext r emel y l i kel y t hat t he per cept i on t hat Phi l i pSei dl e may have recei ved pr ef er ent i al t r eatment wasampl i f i ed due t o vi deo f oot age of Sei dl e s surr ender wher ea f el l ow Nept une Townshi p pol i ce of f i cer ( NTPO- 1) wasseen embraci ng hi m. NTPO- 1 was di spat ched t o t he scenebecause of hi s l ong st andi ng per sonal r el at i onshi p wi t hSei dl e. I t was t hought t hat NTPO- 1 coul d use hi s per sonalf r i endshi p wi t h Sei dl e t o get hi m t o r emove t he weapon f r omhi s templ e and get hi s sui ci dal col l eague t o sur r ender . I ti s a common pr act i ce t o empl oy t he use of f ami l y or f r i endst o de- escal at e si t uat i ons i nvol vi ng sui ci dal i ndi vi dual s.

I t i s al so i mpor t ant t o note t hat when NTPO- 1 ar r i vedat t he cr i me scene f or t he pur pose of t r yi ng t o get Sei dl et o put t he gun down. NTPO- 1 was unaware of t he ext ent oft he vi ct i m s i nj ur i es or t hat hi s sui ci dal f r i end, Sei dl e,was i n f act homi ci dal and had j ust ki l l ed hi s wi f e. Uponl ear ni ng, af t er Sei dl e s sur r ender and ar r est , what hadt r anspi r ed pr i or t o hi s ar r i val t o t he scene, NTPO- 1expr essed r egr et and embar r assment at havi ng embracedSei dl e at t he t i me of hi s sur r ender .

VII. History of Domestic Violence

Our i nvest i gat i on r eveal ed 21 i nst ances over 21 year s,begi nni ng i n 1994, i n whi ch ei t her Tamar a or Phi l i p Sei dl ecal l ed t he Nept une Townshi p Pol i ce Depart ment f or pol i ceassi st ance. Seven of t hose cal l s wer e t r adi t i onal pol i cecal l s t hat di d not t ouch i n any way on t hei r r el at i onshi pand cannot be categor i zed as domest i c vi ol ence, but i nst eadi nvol ved i nst ances such as mot or vehi cl e acci dent s or

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cr edi t card f r aud bei ng r eport ed. Ther e wer e seven morecal l s t hat wer e r el at ed t o chi l d cust ody i ssues bet ween t hecoupl e wher e ei t her Phi l i p or Tamar a cal l ed pol i ce t or epor t t hat t he ot her par t y was not compl yi ng wi t h t hei rcust ody agr eement s. Fi nal l y, t her e wer e seven cal l s t hatcoul d be consi der ed Domest i c Vi ol ence I nci dent s accor di ngt o t he NJ At t orney Gener al Gui del i nes. Onl y one of t hesedomest i c vi ol ence i nci dent s i ncl uded t he i nvol vement of t heMonmout h Count y Prosecut or s Of f i ce. These seven i nci dent swere spread out over a per i od of 21 years wi t h many yearsi n bet ween i nci dent s and t hus no di scer nabl e pat t er n ofper si st ent behavi or .

I t i s i mpor t ant t o r ei t er at e t hat al l egat i ons made bybot h Sei dl es f or t he pur pose of l i t i gat i ng t hei r di vor cepr oceedi ng or any ot her ci vi l act i ons and ext r apol at ed byt he publ i c and pr ess i n an at t empt t o under st and the event s

of J une 16t h - wer e not a par t of t hi s anal ysi s. Ci vi l anddi vor ce pr oceedi ngs ar e pr i vat e, per sonal mat t er s and f al lout si de t he pur vi ew of any l aw enf orcement agency. I n t hecase of Phi l i p and Tamar a Sei dl e, t he det ai l s of t hei rdi vorce proceedi ngs were not known t o t he Nept une Townshi pPol i ce Depar t ment or t he Pr osecut or s Of f i ce, st at ement s bypar t i es i n di vor ce pr oceedi ngs cannot be ver i f i ed by l awenf or cement , absent i ndependent subst ant i at i on. Mor eover ,t her e i s no r equi r ement t hat woul d r equi r e t hese i nt i mat e,per sonal det ai l s t o be r evi ewed by any empl oyer publ i c orpr i vat e.

Attorney General Directive 2000-3

At t or ney Gener al Di r ect i ve 2000- 3 di r ect s howi nci dent s of domest i c vi ol ence i nvol vi ng pol i ce of f i cer sar e t o be handl ed. Speci f i cal l y, only when an act ofdomest i c vi ol ence by a l aw enf orcement of f i cer results inthe filing of any criminal charges and/or the issuance of

domestic violence restraining order with the seizure of the

officers weapons is the County Prosecutors Office

notified. 14

14 See Appendi x 7, New J ersey At t orney General s Di r ect i ve 2000- 3, whi chst at es i n per t i nent par t , [ w] henever an act of domest i c vi ol ence asdef i ned i n N.J.S.A. 2C: 25- 19 has been al l eged to have been commi t t ed bya l aw enf or cement of f i cer r esul t i ng i n t he sei zur e of t he of f i cer sweapons, or t he of f i cer has been served wi t h a domest i c vi ol encer est r ai ni ng or der or a domest i c vi ol ence war r ant f or t he sei zur e ofweapons or t her e i s a bai l condi t i on whi ch r equi r es t he surr ender ofweapons, t he of f i cer must : I mmedi at el y r eport t hat f act t o t he

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Thus, even t hough some of t he cal l s t o pol i ce, made bybot h Tamar a and Phi l i p Sei dl e, r el at ed t o pr obl ems i n t hei rr el at i onshi p and wer e domest i c i n nat ur e, t hey di d notr i se t o t he l evel of r epor t abl e domest i c vi ol ence i nci dent sunder t he New J er sey At t orney Gener al Di r ect i ve. Hadei t her par t y f i l ed char ges, or i f Tamar a had obt ai ned adomest i c vi ol ence r est r ai ni ng or der , a ser i es of r esponseswoul d have been t r i gger ed, i ncl udi ng not i f i cat i on t o t hePr osecut or s Of f i ce, t he di sar mi ng of Phi l i p Sei dl e, and ar equi r ed f i t ness- f or - dut y eval uat i on conduct ed by al i censed ment al heal t h pr of essi onal bef or e he woul d beper mi t t ed t o r et ur n t o dut y as an ar med pol i ce of f i cer .Her e, no char ges wer e f i l ed nor r est r ai ni ng or der sr equest ed, ei t her of whi ch woul d have t r i gger ed mandatorynot i f i cat i on t o t hi s Of f i ce.

A.

Reported Domestic Violence Incidents

1)March 27, 1994 The f i r st r epor t ed domest i cvi ol ence ( DV) i nci dent occur r ed when Phi l i p Sei dl ecal l ed t he Nept une Townshi p Pol i ce af t er Tamara wasal l eged t o have t hr own a chai r at hi m as a resul t ofPhi l i p Sei dl e s conduct . Bot h par t i es si gned vi ct i mnot i f i cat i on f or ms, 15 but no cr i mi nal compl ai nt s wer esi gned or r est r ai ni ng or der s obt ai ned by ei t herpar t y. Consequent l y, no not i ce was made t o t hePr osecut or s Of f i ce.

2)March 24, 2001 Seven years l at er , a second DVi nci dent was r epor t ed when t he Nept une Townshi pPol i ce wer e cal l ed by one of t he Sei dl e s chi l dr enat Tamar a s di r ect i on. The chi l d r epor t ed a f i ghti n the home over who was r esponsi bl e f or maki ngl unch. Pol i ce r epor t s i ndi cat ed t hat a screami ngmatch escal ated i nt o pushi ng, wi t h Tamara admi t t i ngt hat she pushed Phi l i p because he was scr eami ng andhi s spi t was hi t t i ng her f ace and Phi l i p pushed herhands out of hi s f ace. Bot h par t i es wer e advi sed of

t hei r DV r i ght s, s i gned t he vi ct i m not i f i cat i on

of f i cer s depar t ment al super vi sor who must pr ompt l y not i f y t hePr osecut or s Of f i ce i n t he count y wher e t he of f i cer i s empl oyed ( al soi ncl uded as Encl osure 15 on CD- Rom) .

15 A vi ct i m not i f i cat i on f or m i s mandat ed by the At t or ney Gener al sGui del i nes on Pol i ce Response Pr ocedures i n Domest i c Vi ol ence Cases,1994.

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f or m, but di d not seek any cr i mi nal char ges or t hei ssuance of a rest r ai ni ng or der .

3)

March 16, 2006 Fi ve more years passed bef ore t hi sDV i nci dent was r epor t ed t o the Nept une Townshi pPol i ce. On t hi s dat e, pol i ce r esponded t o t her esi dence and Tamara descr i bed a verbal di sput ebetween t he coupl e. However , t her e was no physi calevi dence of domest i c vi ol ence, and Tamara st at edt hat Phi l i p never hi t , t hr eat ened or made anyat t empt t o physi cal l y har m her . Agai n, no char gesor a r est r ai ni ng order was sought by Tamara Sei dl e.

4)

February 2, 2012 The DV i nci dent t hat t ook pl aceon t hi s dat e was t he onl y i nci dent t hat i nvol ved t hePr osecut or s Of f i ce. The under l yi ng i nci dent di dnot t r i gger a mandat or y not i f i cat i on t o Pr osecut or s

Of f i ce, however , t he Nept une Townshi p Pol i cenonet hel ess not i f i ed t he Pr osecut or s Of f i ce anyway.

I n t hi s i nci dent , Tamar a cal l ed 9- 1- 1 and pat r oluni t s wer e di spat ched t o t he Sei dl e home. Thecoupl e was separ at ed at t hi s t i me, and Phi l i p Sei dl ehad gone t o t he f ami l y home i n a marked pol i cevehi cl e and t hereaf t er an argument ensued. Al t houghshe deni ed physi cal act s of vi ol ence on t hi spart i cul ar date, Tamara report ed t hat she had beensubj ect ed t o past i nci dent s of physi cal abuse, but

di d not r epor t t hem because she di d not want Phi l i pt o have pr obl ems wi t h hi s j ob as a pol i ce of f i cer .Phi l i p Sei dl e s depar t ment al so l ear ned t hat dur i ngt hi s i nci dent , Sei dl e unsuccessf ul l y at t empt ed t ocancel t he di spat ch of r espondi ng of f i cer s t o hi shome. Sei dl e was admi ni st r at i vel y di sci pl i ned byhi s depar t ment f or i nt er f er i ng wi t h an i nvest i gat i onand suspended f or t wo days.

On t hi s dat e, Tamara agai n decl i ned t o si gn acompl ai nt or seek a r est r ai ni ng or der , but di d say

t hat she woul d make an appoi ntment t o speak wi t h t heChi ef of Phi l i p Sei dl e s pol i ce depar t ment . Ther ei s no i ndi cat i on t hat Tamara ever made anappoi nt ment t o speak wi t h t he Chi ef . Despi t e t hef act t hat Tamar a di d not seek a r est r ai ni ng or derand no compl ai nt s were f i l ed, t he Nept une Townshi pPol i ce Depart ment nonet hel ess deci ded t o di sar mPhi l i p Sei dl e anyway and t o send hi m f or a f i t ness-f or - dut y eval uat i on.

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On Febr uary 8, 2012, Phi l i p Sei dl e was f ound notf i t f or dut y. The physi ci an who eval uat ed hi msuggest ed he under go psychot her apy, whi ch he di dr egul ar l y unt i l he was r e- exami ned on Apr i l 16,2012. At t hat t i me, t he physi ci an s recommendat i onwas t hat Sei dl e was f i t f or dut y, but shoul dcont i nue counsel i ng f or a per i od of at l east t womont hs.

Tamar a was cont act ed by our of f i ce s Pr of ess i onalResponsi bi l i t y Uni t on May 1, 2012, and was askedwhet her or not she had any concer ns about herhusband bei ng r ear med or r etur ni ng t o work. Sheexpr essed no such r eservat i on or f ear , and f ur t hernot ed t hat she and her husband had worked out t hei rdi f f er ences and no l onger had any ani mosi t y t owards

each ot her .

On May 2, 2012, at t he r equest of t he Nept uneTownshi p Pol i ce Depar t ment , t he Pr osecut or s Of f i ceagr eed t o conditionally r e- ar m Phi l i p Sei dl e subj ectt o t he f ol l owi ng condi t i ons:

a. Sei dl e coul d be r e- ar med f or dut y pur posesonl y f or 180 days. He was r equi r ed t o si gnhi s gun i n and out at t he st ar t andconcl usi on of each wor k shi f t i n t he

pr esence of a super i or of f i cer , l eavi ng hi sweapon at t he agency when he was of f dut y;

b. Sei dl e was pr ohi bi t ed f r om any physi calcont act wi t h Tamara Sei dl e whi l e ar med andon- dut y;

c. Sei dl e must cont i nue t her apy unt i l f ul l ydi schar ged by hi s doct or ; and

d. Sei dl e was pr ohi bi t ed f r om possessi ng any

per sonal weapons.

Af t er t he compl et i on of t he 180- day condi t i onalr e- ar mi ng per i od, Sei dl e s depar t ment submi t t ed ar equest i n wr i t i ng t o t he Pr osecut or s Of f i ce aski ngt hat Sei dl e be r e- ar med wi t hout condi t i ons, andi ndi cat i ng t hat al l condi t i ons wer e sat i sf i ed.Subsequent l y, af t er r ecei vi ng i nf or mat i on t hatconf i r med t hat Sei dl e had met al l of t he condi t i ons

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i mposed by hi s condi t i onal r e- ar mi ng and conf i r mi ngt hat hi s t r eat i ng physi ci an concur r ed t hat he was f i tf or dut y, t he deci si on was made t hat he coul d r et ur nt o f ul l dut y.

Our r evi ew di d r eveal one al t er cat i on bet ween t hepar t i es dur i ng t hi s condi t i onal r ear mi ng per i od t hatdi d not r i se t o t he l evel of a domest i c vi ol encei nci dent . On J une 13, 2012, Phi l i p Sei dl e cal l ed t heTi nt on Fal l s Pol i ce Depar t ment t o r epor t t hat Tamar ahad f ol l owed hi m t o hi s gym and t hey had a ver baldi sput e. Repor t s reveal ed t hat Tamar a f ol l owed Phi l i pt o t he gym t o obt ai n pr oof of hi s i nf i del i t y. Tamar al ef t t he gym when Sei dl e cal l ed pol i ce. Phi l i p Sei dl er epor t ed t he i nci dent t o hi s pol i ce depar t ment , but i tdi d not r esul t i n t he f i l i ng of any compl ai nt s or ar est r ai ni ng order whi ch woul d have t r i gger ed mandatory

not i f i cat i on t o t he Pr osecut or s Of f i ce.

On J anuar y 14, 2013, af t er bei ng f ound f i t - f or -dut y on Apr i l 16, 2012 and compl et i ng hi s condi t i onalr e- armi ng per i od, t he Monmout h Count y Prosecut or sOf f i ce sent a l et t er t o t he Nept une Townshi p Pol i ceDepar t ment aut hor i zi ng t he uncondi t i onal r e- ar mi ng ofPhi l i p Sei dl e, r el yi ng on hi s psychi at r i st seval uat i on and af t er cont act i ng Tamar a t o ensur e t hatshe had no obj ect i on or concer ns r egar di ng Sei dl ecar r yi ng a weapon.

5)March 28, 2014 - The next i nci dent ar ose over anar gument concer ni ng vi si t at i on wi t h t he chi l dr en.Tamar a cal l ed t he pol i ce and r eport ed t hat Sei dl ehad been har assi ng her by yel l i ng at her and t ext i ngher . Tamar a i ndi cat ed t hat she want ed t o f i l e acompl ai nt f or harassment , but di d not want at empor ar y r est r ai ni ng or der . The respondi ng pol i ceof f i cer want ed t o t ake pi ct ur es of t he t ext messagest hat she r ecei ved f r om Phi l i p. On t he advi ce of herdi vor ce at t orney, Tamara woul d not per mi t t he

of f i cer t o t ake photos of t he t ext messages. WhenPhi l i p Sei dl e was advi sed t hat Tamar a i nt ended t osi gn a compl ai nt , he began screami ng pr of ani t i es att he of f i cer s who responded.

Tamar a di d not si gn any compl ai nt . However , duet o t he nat ur e of Sei dl e s behavi or t owar ds t her espondi ng pol i ce of f i cer s, an i nt er nal af f ai r s( I A) i nvest i gat i on was opened. The Nept une

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Townshi p l i eutenant conduct i ng t he I A i nvest i gat i onnot i f i ed t he Pr of essi onal Responsi bi l i t y Uni t of t heMonmout h Count y Pr osecut or s Of f i ce r egardi ng t hi si nci dent , even t hough not i f i cat i on was not r equi r edunder AG Di r ect i ve 2000- 3 or ot her count y pol i cy.The Pr of ess i onal Responsi bi l i t y Uni t not i f i ed t hel i eut enant t hat , based on AG Di r ect i ve 2000- 3, i nt he absence of cr i mi nal compl ai nt s or a r est r ai ni ngor der bei ng i ssued, t he pol i ce depar t ment shoul dhandl e t hi s i nt er nal af f ai r s mat t er .

As a r esul t of t hi s i nci dent , Sei dl e was pl acedon admi ni st r at i ve l eave, pendi ng a f i t ness- f or - dut yeval uat i on. Sei dl e was pl aced on pai d l eave, but hewas not di sar med. 16 On Apr i l 2, 2014 and May 29,2014, an eval uat i ng physi ci an f ound Sei dl e f i t t oper f or m hi s dut i es. Our r evi ew r eveal ed t hat t he

f i t ness- f or - dut y eval uat i on l acked t he r equi si t et horoughness. The exami nat i on was per f ormed pr i ort o t he compl et i on of t he i nt er nal af f ai r si nvest i gat i on or i t s f i ndi ngs whi ch wer e r el evant .I n addi t i on, i t does not appear t hat Tamar a Sei dl ewas i nt er vi ewed by the physi ci an, whi ch al so woul dhave been ger mane t o a compl et e underst andi ng of t hei nci dent gi vi ng r i se t o t he f i t ness- f or - dut yeval uat i on.

Phi l i p Sei dl e was admi ni st r at i vel y di sci pl i ned by

t he Nept une Townshi p Pol i ce Depar t ment as a resul tof hi s behavi or t owar ds t he r espondi ng of f i cer s att he scene. Sei dl e suspended f or 30 days, andpr ohi bi t ed f or 90 days of over t i me assi gnment s. I tshoul d be noted t hat dur i ng t he cour se of t hepr esent i nvest i gat i on concer ni ng Phi l i p Sei dl e s DVhi st ory, t he Nept une Townshi p Pol i ce Depart mentupdat ed i t s pol i cy t o r equi r e t hat I A i nvest i gat i onsbe compl et ed bef or e sendi ng an of f i cer t o a f i t ness-f or - dut y eval uat i on. The new pol i cy al so requi r ed ani t emi zed l i st of al l document s sent t o an eval uat i ng

physi ci an t o be mai nt ai ned t o ver i f y that t hephysi ci an has t he benef i t of al l r el evanti nf ormat i on t o conduct an exam.

16 At t he t i me of t hi s i nci dent , t her e was no exi st i ng pol i cy r equi r i ngt hat Phi l i p Sei dl e be di sar med, however , t hi s i ssue i s f ur t heraddr essed at t he end of t hi s r epor t .

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6) July 11, 2014 Phi l i p Sei dl e al l egedl y at t empt ed t ospeak wi t h two of hi s chi l dr en ( ages 23 and 16 att he t i me of t hi s i nci dent ) at t hei r pl ace ofempl oyment . Thi s cont act by Sei dl e was not wel comedby hi s chi l dr en. Thei r empl oyer cont act ed t heNept une Townshi p Pol i ce Depar t ment and t he chi l dr enwer e i mmedi atel y i nt er vi ewed. The chi l dr en askedt hat t he r espondi ng pol i ce l i eut enant speak wi t hPhi l i p Sei dl e and advi se hi m t hat t hey di d not wanta r el at i onshi p wi t h hi m at t hi s t i me. The chi l dr enal so expr essed concer n r egar di ng t he possi bi l i t yt hat Sei dl e woul d be di sci pl i ned and t hey wer ef ear f ul t hat he woul d l ose hi s j ob.

On J ul y 14, 2014, t hr ee days af t er t he l i eut enantspoke wi t h Sei dl e s chi l dr en, Nept une Townshi pPol i ce Chi ef J ames Hunt met wi t h Sei dl e t o di scuss

t he i nci dent . Dur i ng t hi s meet i ng, Sei dl e put hi sgun and gear on t he Chi ef s desk and sai d he wasgoi ng t o r et i r e. Sei dl e was advi sed t o t ake si ckt i me t o consi der hi s opt i ons. As thi s meet i ng wasnot t he r esul t of Sei dl e vi ol at i ng any r ul es orr egul at i ons, t her e was no di sci pl i nar y act i oni mposed. Addi t i onal l y, Sei dl e s conduct at hi schi l dr en s pl ace of empl oyment di d not r i se t o t hel evel of a repor t abl e domest i c vi ol ence i nci dentunder st ate l aw. Al t hough t her e was no pol i cyr equi r i ng i t , Sei dl e was advi sed t hat i f he deci ded

t o retur n t o work, he must be eval uat ed by aphysi ci an t o ensur e he was f i t f or dut y.

The physi ci an who conduct ed t he subsequentf i t ness- f or - dut y eval uat i on on August 18, 2014 al sospoke wi t h t he Sei dl es t her api st and t hei r di vor cemedi at or , and ul t i mat el y concl uded that Sei dl e wasf i t f or dut y. No not i f i cat i on t o t he Pr osecut or sOf f i ce was r equi r ed or made per AG Di r ect i ve 2000- 3.

7)April 29, 2015 I n t he f i nal i nci dent t hat coul d be

char act er i zed as domest i c vi ol ence i nci dent , a cal lf or pol i ce assi st ance was act ual l y made by Phi l i pSei dl e, who compl ai ned t hat Tamara was vi ol at i ng avi si t at i on or der . A l i eut enant and ser geant wer edi spat ched t o Tamara s r esi dence. Tamara al l egedt hat t he pol i ce of f i cer s shoul d not have r espondedt o t he r esi dence and t hat t hei r pr esence const i t ut edharassment . No compl ai nt , however , was f i l ed.

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I t i s common f or part i es who are i n t he pr ocessof obt ai ni ng a di vor ce, or who have unr esol vedcust ody di sput es af t er a di vor ce, t o cont act pol i cedepar t ment s t o cr eat e of f i ci al document at i onr egardi ng such di sput es. There were sevenaddi t i onal cal l s f or ser vi ce r egar di ng cust odydi sput es bet ween Tamara and Phi l i p Sei dl e, dat i ngback t o 2013. Nei t her t hose cal l s nor t headdi t i onal seven cal l s f or t r adi t i onal pol i cemat t er s, i ncl udi ng a mot or vehi cl e acci dent , credi tcar d t hef t and vandal i sm t o a f ami l y car , wi l l bedet ai l ed her ei n as t hey do not const i t ut e i nci dent sof domest i c vi ol ence.

B.DV Incident Not Known to Seidles Agency

Our r evi ew uncovered one domest i c vi ol ence i nci dent

t hat occur r ed i n 2012 that was unknown t o t he Nept uneTownshi p Pol i ce Depar t ment , Sei dl e s empl oyer . On J anuar y27, 2012, an i n- pr ogr ess cal l was made t o t he Ti nt on Fal l sPol i ce Depar t ment by a teenager who i dent i f i ed her sel f ast he daught er of Phi l i p Sei dl e s gi r l f r i end. The gi r lr epor t ed t o the r espondi ng pol i ce of f i cer t hat her mot herand Sei dl e conf r ont ed her r egar di ng mi ssi ng al cohol i n t hehome and, t hereaf t er , a ver bal argument ensued. Dur i ng t hecour se of t hi s encount er , t he gi r l r epor t ed t hat Sei dl e puthi s hands ar ound her neck and pushed her . The gi r l ,however , r ef used t o have EMS r espond and t he of f i cer not ed

i n t he i nci dent r epor t t hat t he t een di d not show any si gnsof i nj ur y t o t he neck or t hr oat . Sei dl e t ol d of f i cer s t hatt he t eenager became agi t at ed when conf r ont ed wi t h t heal l egat i on t hat she t ook al cohol f r om t he home and beganscr eami ng i n hi s f ace. Sei dl e st at ed t hat he used hi s handt o move t he gi r l back f r om hi s f ace.

At t he t i me t hi s i nci dent t ook pl ace, t her e was nopol i cy r equi r i ng t he Ti nt on Fal l s Pol i ce Depar t ment t onot i f y Phi l i p Sei dl e s empl oyi ng pol i ce depar t ment of t hi si nci dent . As det ai l ed l at er i n t hi s r epor t , an updat ed

Ear l y Warni ng Pol i cy has been i mpl ement ed as a r esul t oft hi s i nvest i gat i on and now r equi r es such not i f i cat i on,among ot her st andar ds. I t i s unf or t unat e t hat t hi si nf ormat i on was not r el ayed to t he Nept une Townshi p Pol i ceDepar t ment as i t may have l ed t o Sei dl e bei ng di sar med byhi s empl oyer pr i or t o t he DV i nci dent on Febr uar y 2, 2012.

The t eenager i nvol ved i n t he J anuar y 27, 2012 i nci dent

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shoul d have been gi ven a vi ct i m not i f i cat i on f or m and beenadvi sed of her domest i c vi ol ence r i ght s, whi ch f ai l ed t ooccur . The Ti nt on Fal l s Pol i ce Depar t ment al so f ai l ed t opr epar e any i nvest i gat i on r epor t s concer ni ng t hi s i nci dent .Thi s i nci dent was unknown t o t he Neptune Townshi p Pol i ceDepar t ment or t he Pr osecut or s Of f i ce unt i l i t wasdi scover ed vi a a sear ch of t he count y- wi de di spatch syst emas a par t of t hi s r evi ew.

VIII. Summary of Conclusions and Action Plan

a. I nef f ect i ve communi cat i on and a l ack ofi nf or mat i on cont r i but ed t o conf usi on at t he cr i me scene asevent s unf ol ded on t he morni ng of J une 16, 2015. Al lpol i ce depar t ment s i n Monmout h County have been, and wi l lbe di r ect ed t o re- t r ai n, r evi ew and r ei nf or ce wi t h t hei rof f i cer s appr opr i at e pr ot ocol s and pr ocedur es i n r el ayi ng

i nf or mat i on vi a pol i ce r adi o dur i ng cri t i cal i nci dent s.

b. APPO- 1 shoul d have at t empt ed t o cl ose t hedi st ance bet ween hi msel f and Phi l i p Sei dl e to cont ai n t het hr eat as much as possi bl e when t he shoot i ng began.Al t hough APPO- 1 coul d not have saf el y used l et hal f orcebecause of t he posi t i on of Phi l i p Sei dl e and ci t i zens i nt he ar ea, he shoul d have posi t i oned hi msel f moreef f ect i vel y at t he scene. He al so f ai l ed t o cl ear l ycommuni cat e t hat Sei dl e was f i r i ng shot s i nt o a vehi cl e.Hi s conduct vi ol at ed at l east one of hi s agency s pol i ci es

and pr ocedur es r egardi ng conduct unbecomi ng, and i t wi l l ber ecommended t hat APPO- 1 be di sci pl i ned accor di ngl y by t heAsbur y Par k Pol i ce Depar t ment f or t hi s i nf r act i on. 17

c. APPO- 3 f ai l ed t o t ake cont r ol of t he scene,of f i cer , he shoul d have done so. He addi t i onal l y showedpoor j udgment by l eavi ng t he scene t wi ce whi l e t hi s eventwas ongoi ng. APPO- 3 s conduct appear s t o vi ol at e at l eastt hr ee of hi s agency s pol i ci es and pr ocedur es: conductunbecomi ng; negl ect of dut y; and i nsubor di nat i on. As t heMonmout h Count y Prosecut or s Of f i ce has superseded t he

I nt er nal Af f ai r s f unct i on f or t hi s revi ew, i t wi l l ber ecommended t hat APPO- 3 be di sci pl i ned accor di ngl y by t heAsbur y Par k Pol i ce Depar t ment f or t hese i nf r act i ons. 18

17 See Appendi x 8, Asbur y Par k Pol i ce Depart ment Pol i cy and Pr ocedur es.18 See Appendi x 8, Asbur y Par k Pol i ce Depart ment Pol i cy and Pr ocedur es.

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d.

Gi ven the hi ghl y popul at ed ar ea, pr esence ofci vi l i ans and t he l ack of i nf or mat i on pr ovi ded t or espondi ng l aw enf or cement of f i cer s, as wel l as t hepol i ci es and pr ocedur es i n pl ace r egar di ng i ndi vi dual s whoar e a t hr eat t o t hemsel ves, t he deci si on not t o empl oydeadl y f or ce agai nst Phi l i p Sei dl e was appr opr i at e andr easonabl e under t he ci r cumst ances.

e.

Thi s r evi ew and anal ysi s di scl osed a cr i t i calf l aw i n t he domest i c vi ol ence pol i ci es and pr ocedur es t hatcur r ent l y exi st st at ewi de. I t i s cl ear t hat domest i cvi ol ence i nci dent s t hat do not r i se t o t he l evel of t hef i l i ng of cr i mi nal char ges or a t empor ar y r est r ai ni ng or dermay st i l l cal l i nt o quest i on t he f i t ness- f or - dut y of apol i ce of f i cer . Mor eover , a pol i ce of f i cer who hasnumer ous I nt er nal Af f ai r s compl ai nt s ei t her due t oi nt er nal depar t ment al pol i cy vi ol at i ons or f r om compl ai nt s

by ci t i zens r ai ses a r ed f l ag whi ch may war r ant af i t ness- f or - dut y eval uat i on by the agency.

I n or der t o addr ess t hi s gap i n t he cur r ent syst em, anEar l y War ni ng Syst em i s bei ng i mpl ement ed f or al l l awenf orcement agenci es i n Monmout h Count y. The pol i cy wi l lpr ovi de bot h t he empl oyi ng pol i ce agency and t hePr osecut or s Of f i ce wi t h t he oppor t uni t y t o i nt er venebef ore such an of f i cer pl aces ot her s or t hemsel ves i nhar m s way. 19 The new pol i cy speci f i cal l y i ncl udes:

i )

Mandator y r epor t i ng t o t he Pr osecut or sOf f i ce of al l al l egat i ons r egar di ng pol i ceof f i cer s who ei t her commi t or wer e vi ct i ms ofdomest i c vi ol ence, whet her or not charges ar ef i l ed or a r est r ai ni ng or der i s i ssued;

i i )

Mandator y not i f i cat i on by t he r espondi ngpol i ce agency of any domest i c vi ol ence i nci dentt hat t akes pl ace out si de t he muni ci pal i t y wher et he of f i cer i s empl oyed, whet her or not char gesar e f i l ed or a r est r ai ni ng or der i ssued.

Not i f i cat i on must be made t o bot h t he of f i cer sempl oyi ng agency and t he Prosecut or s Of f i ce;

i i i ) Mandat or y not i f i cat i on t o the Pr osecut or s

19 See Appendi x 9, Monmout h County Uni f orm Pol i cy, Ear l y Warni ng Syst em,J une 29, 2016 ( al so i ncl uded as Encl osur e 18 on CD- Rom) .

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Of f i ce any ti me an of f i cer i s sent f or af i t ness- f or - dut y eval uat i on, r egar dl ess of t heunder l yi ng r eason f or t he eval uat i on;

i v) Mandat or y not i f i cat i on t o t he Pr osecut or sOf f i ce any t i me an of f i cer i s di sar med,r egar dl ess of t he under l yi ng r eason f or t hedi sar mi ng;

v) Mandat ory not i f i cat i on t o t he Prosecut or sOf f i ce any t i me an of f i cer r ecei ves t hr eeci t i zen compl ai nt s wi t hi n a si x mont h per i od,r egar dl ess of t he r eason;

vi ) Mandat or y r et ent i on of an i t emi zed l i st ,wi t hi n t he of f i cer s i nt ernal af f ai r s f i l e, ofal l mat er i al s f or war ded t o t he physi ci an

conduct i ng a f i t ness- f or - dut y eval uat i on andmade avai l abl e t o t he Pr osecut or s Of f i ce uponr equest .

f . The Ti nt on Fal l s Pol i ce Depar t ment has beendi r ect ed t o pr ovi de suppl ement al t r ai ni ng t o i t s of f i cer sr egar di ng t he domest i c vi ol ence repor t i ng pr ocess,i ncl udi ng t he use of vi ct i m not i f i cat i on f or ms andcompl et i ng repor t s as necessar y and requi r ed.

I t i s our swor n dut y t o pr ot ect t he ci t i zens of

Monmout h Count y. Al t hough t he vast maj or i t y of pol i ceof f i cer s i n t hi s count y l i ve t hei r l i ves of ser vi ce i n amanner t hat i s consi st ent wi t h t hei r swor n oat hs of of f i cet o pr ot ect and ser ve, t her e ar e t hose whose act i ons ar e sor epr ehensi bl e t hat i t t ar ni shes t he i mage of t hose of f i cer swho serve wi t h di gni t y and t he hi ghest l evel ofpr of essi onal i sm. I t i s our si ncer e hope t hat t he act i ont aken as a r esul t of t hi s compr ehensi ve r evi ew wi l l enhancepol i ce servi ces t o t he ci t i zens of Monmout h Count y and wi l lpr ovi de needed changes t o exi st i ng pol i ci es t hat moni t orpol i ce of f i cers f i t ness- f or - dut y.

The event s t hat unf ol ded t he mor ni ng of J une 16, 2015wer e ext r aor di nar y and aber r at i onal . The f act ual scenar i ot hat def i ned t hi s i nci dent i s not f ound i n t ext books or i nst at e mandat ed t r ai ni ng st andar ds at our pol i ce academybecause i t coul d not have been ant i ci pat ed. I t wasnecessar y t o vi ew t hi s i nci dent t hr ough a cr i t i cal l ens t odet ermi ne what l essons can be l earned and i mprovement s madet o l aw enf orcement i n Monmout h Count y. I t i s our dut y t o

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7/25/2019 Monmouth County Prosecutor's report on Seidle

Monmouth County Prosecutor's report on Seidle incident

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Transcript of Monmouth County Prosecutor's report on Seidle incident