Meeting Mordaga: a sit down with Hackensack's police director (Part 1 of 3)Friday, June 14, 2013
BY CAESAR DARIAS
CORRESPONDENT
Hackensack Chronicle
HACKENSACK — His resume lists dozens of credentials, awards, and commendations — including recognition from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Jersey Legislature.
Michael Mordaga was named police director of Hackensack in January with great support from politicians, area police officers, residents, and community leaders. RICHARD FORMICOLA/PHOTO
He has worked every kind of case from homicides and gang enforcement to narcotics and counterfeiting.
He has an extensive criminal justice education background and training.
His reputation for chasing bad guys while clinging to the hood of a speeding car and saving babies who aren’t breathing make him seem like a cross between Starsky and Hutch, and a detective from NBC’s Law & Order series. While those cops are fictional, over the course of three interviews over the last two months, Hackensack Police Director Michael Mordaga made it clear that he means business and that his plan to rid the city of bad guys is real.
Moreover, Mordaga enjoys enthusiastic support from the city manager, a city councilman expected to be the next mayor, the police union, and city residents.
When Mordaga was unanimously appointed during a city council meeting in January, the council chamber — which usually veers toward emptiness during meetings — was packed with local and area police and community leaders showing support. Every person who spoke at the standing-room-only meeting praised the appointment of Mordaga.
Four months into his tenure, the support has grown stronger.
Mordaga, a graduate of Hackensack High School, joined the Hackensack Police Department in 1977 as a patrolman and worked his way up to police inspector. He was chief of detectives for the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office from 2002 to 2007.
During an interview on April 2 in Mordaga’s office, the director said he has "a vision" as to how the police department should be administered. His plan includes a comprehensive "quality of life initiative."
Mordaga declared that he wants to depoliticize management decisions, while instilling discipline, professionalism, and fairness to a department rocked over the last two years by lawsuits and the arrest and conviction of its former police chief, Ken Zisa, who is, currently, out on bail pending an appeal.
During the sit down, Mordaga addressed a lawsuit filed against him, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, and the state’s Criminal Justice Division, in August 2012, by the estate of reputed mobster, Frank Lagano — a former Tenafly resident.
The suit alleges that, while Mordaga was chief of detectives for the Bergen County Prosecutor’s office, he pushed Lagano to hire a hand-picked criminal defense attorney and that information leaked by an unknown person led to the shooting death of Lagano in the parking lot of his East Brunswick diner in April 2007.
Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli, who told The Record in December that his office investigated the matter, has strongly denied that the allegations are true and found none of the charges "to be of any merit whatsoever."
Molinelli also told The Record he believes the lawsuit was filed "to put pressure on us to turn over seized assets" that were obtained in 2004 during the gambling, loan sharking and extortion bust known as "Operation Jersey Boyz" — which led to dozens of arrests and the seizure of guns, drugs and more than $1 million. As reported in The Record, no one has served a day in jail.
Mordaga insists that it is all about payback from criminals.
"If you arrest big people you’re going to get big problems," Mordaga said. "Because they don’t like to be arrested. If you don’t rock the boat then you won’t have anything negative."
Regarding the impact of the Lagano estate’s lawsuit, Mordaga said: "I can’t be bought. Period. Someone is out to get even. He was never arrested until I arrested him. The state and the FBI never arrested him."
The lawsuit against the prosecutor’s office has since been dismissed by a federal judge. Mordaga says he expects the same result
Mordaga said he wants to, not only rock the boat in Hackensack but, he’d like to sink drug dealers. He calls it one of his top priorities — along with addressing crime related to the homeless and maintaining a close working relationship with business owners, clergy, and community groups.
While addressing law enforcement issues and supporting cops, Mordaga said he will demand discipline and dedication from the rank and file.
"The department was suffering greatly from a lack of morale," Mordaga said. "We’re going back to the tradition of wearing a hat and tie to show professionalism. It had changed in the last three years."
Mordaga said the police uniform "has a physiological effect. The police department is a semi-military operation. Police officers are armed. With that authority comes rules, regulations and discipline. It’s a sign of authority when interacting with criminals."
Mordaga said he "expects leather gear to be polished. Everyone has to have the same appearance."
The director was quick to say that "the majority of the rank and file adhere to rules."
Those that do not follow the rules will suffer the consequences, according to Mordaga.
"Rules and regulations are very important to follow," Mordaga said. "Moving forward they’re going to be strictly enforced. The most important aspect is that it’s done fairly and impartially. There will be no politics as long as I’m here — no outside interference in the police department. That was one of the assurances I was given by the city manager."
Stephen Lo Iacono, Hackensack city manager, said he agreed with Mordaga.
"Absolutely," Lo Iacono said last week when asked about his no-politics assurance to Mordaga. "I feel very strongly about that, personally."
Mordaga said he will not allow anybody to be targeted, hired, or promoted because of politics.
"Any infraction is significant," Mordaga said. "However, someone is going to be charged only if they break them. We will put people in certain positions because of their ability and performance."
Mordaga said he aims to restore esprit de corps.
"I have a vision," Mordaga said, who declined to discuss the previous leadership in the police department. "It’s good for the men and women of the Hackensack Police Department to have pride in their department and actually come to work and enjoy their job. Since I’ve been here, what I’ve witnessed is I see professionalism. I see them working as pros. Police officers are out there doing their job. I couldn’t ask more of them."
Mordaga said the number of arrests and traffic summonses would increase due to the newly recouped morale.
"When it comes to any workplace, if the morale is down, if the employees are not happy in the workplace it’s going to affect the job they do," said Mordaga. "If they’re happy they work a lot different."
Mordaga said he has "realigned" his supervisors.
"Each tour has a lieutenant in charge of the tour and a sergeant supervising on the road," Mordaga said.
Asked who is his No. 2 man in the department, Mordaga said there is no deputy. However, it must be noted that, the council-elect announced on May 30, it will restore the position of police commissioner without any supervisory power over Mordaga.
Mordaga said an improved police department will allow him to bust more drug dealers. There will be "strict narcotics enforcement," Mordaga said.
"The bulk of crimes are directly linked to narcotics," he said. "It’s very, very important, especially in a city environment."
See next week’s issue of the Hackensack Chronicle for Part 2 in the series on Michael Mordaga.
Email: hackensack@northjersey.com
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