In an unprecedented development, Hudson County is witnessing simultaneous votes of no confidence against two of its top public safety officials: Union City Police Chief Anthony Facchini and Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea. These actions have raised significant concerns about internal department morale and public perception of law enforcement leadership.

Union City Police Chief Anthony Facchini

Chief Facchini, appointed in 2022, is currently facing a no-confidence vote initiated by the Union City Police Department’s Policemen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) Local 8. While specific details of the allegations have not been publicly disclosed, sources indicate that a majority of the association’s members are prepared to participate, reflecting deep-seated dissatisfaction within the ranks.

Jersey City Public Safety Director James Shea

Concurrently, the Jersey City Council has passed a resolution expressing no confidence in Public Safety Director James Shea. The resolution, approved by a 6-1 vote, cites concerns over Shea’s lack of responsiveness to council inquiries and perceived shortcomings in addressing public safety issues. Councilman Frank Gilmore, who sponsored the resolution, emphasized a “clear pattern of continuing to ignore the council” regarding safety measures for residents. 

Implications for Departmental Morale and Public Perception

Votes of no confidence are significant indicators of internal unrest within law enforcement agencies. They often stem from perceived leadership failures, mismanagement, or ethical concerns. Such votes can severely impact departmental morale, leading to decreased productivity, increased attrition, and a breakdown in the chain of command.

For the public, these votes can erode trust in law enforcement, fostering skepticism about the integrity and effectiveness of those sworn to protect and serve. Communities may question the commitment of their leaders to uphold justice and ensure public safety, leading to strained community-police relations.

The Role and Impact of No-Confidence Votes

A vote of no confidence serves as a formal expression of dissatisfaction by subordinates or governing bodies toward a leader. While typically symbolic, such votes can prompt administrative reviews, policy changes, or even the resignation or removal of the official in question. The International Association of Chiefs of Police notes that while these votes do not have legal force, they carry substantial weight in assessing a leader’s effectiveness and the overall health of an organization. 

Consequences for Professional Careers and Reputations

Enduring a no-confidence vote can have lasting repercussions on an official’s career and reputation. It publicly signals a breach in trust and questions the individual’s leadership capabilities. Such a vote can hinder future career prospects, diminish professional credibility, and lead to increased scrutiny from both the public and oversight bodies.

Conclusion

The concurrent no-confidence votes against Chief Facchini and Director Shea underscore significant challenges within Hudson County’s public safety leadership. Addressing the underlying issues prompting these votes is crucial for restoring internal morale, maintaining public trust, and ensuring the effective administration of justice.

Recent reports indicate that a Union City High School (UCHS) teacher was abruptly terminated last week under suspicious circumstances. Allegations suggest that top school officials are actively concealing the details, potentially covering up inappropriate relationships between the teacher and students. This incident is part of a disturbing pattern spanning over 20 years, where Union City Board of Education (BOE) officials have been implicated in covering up teacher sexual misconduct—AND A JUDGE JUST RULED THEY CAN BE HELD LIABLE! 🚨

👀 WHO KNOWS & IS KEEPING QUIET?

🔴 Superintendent Silvia Abbato 🏫

🔴 Mayor & State Senator Brian Stack 🎩

🔴 UCHS Principal Ryan Lewis 📚

🔴 Union President Barbara Pinzon ⚖️

💥 THE LAW IS CLEAR—THEY MUST REPORT OR FACE PENALTIES!

📜 In New Jersey, anyone who suspects child abuse, including educator misconduct, is legally required to report it IMMEDIATELY to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP). ❌🚔

❌ Failure to report is a criminal offense punishable by:

⚠️ Up to $500 in fines

⚠️ Up to 6 months in jail

⚠️ Disciplinary action for knowingly covering up misconduct

📢 JUDGE RULES: UNION CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION CAN BE HELD LIABLE!

In a BOMBSHELL RULING, Hudson County Superior Court Judge Kalimah Ahmad ruled last week that the Union City Board of Education CAN be held liable for a teacher’s sexual assault of two students dating back to 2004. This proves what many in the community have known all along—THEY HAVE BEEN COVERING FOR PREDATORS FOR DECADES!

Judge Ahmad revealed shocking facts in the ruling, exposing how Union City school officials ignored multiple warnings about teacher Francisco Realpe, allowing him to remain employed even after teachers and supervisors flagged his disturbing relationships with students.

👉 “The Board ignored their suspicions towards Defendant Realpe, did not investigate into Defendant Realpe’s relationships with multiple underage students, and allowed him to remain employed until his termination in 2005,” wrote Judge Ahmad.

👉 Jessica Garcia, one of Realpe’s victims, finally saw justice when the judge DENIED the Union City BOE’s motion to dismiss her case. “I had such a feeling of not just relief, but validation, to read the Court Order, especially seeing, in all capital letters, the word DENIED,” said Garcia.

👉 Realpe was eventually sentenced to four years in prison in January 2023, but HOW MANY OTHER TEACHERS HAVE BEEN PROTECTED JUST LIKE HIM? HOW MANY VICTIMS NEVER GOT JUSTICE?

🚨 AND NOW, MAYOR BRIAN STACK JUST HIRED AN ACCUSED RAPIST AS SCHOOL SAFETY DIRECTOR?!? 🚨

🔴 In a gut-wrenching slap to every woman in this country, Mayor Brian Stack and the Union City Board of Education have just hired retired Union City Lieutenant Sergio Rojas as the new Director of Safety for Union City schools!

🚨 Who is Sergio Rojas?

✔️ He has been accused of raping a female police dispatcher while he was a sergeant.

✔️ The victim was retaliated against.

✔️ The semen-stained chair with evidence was allegedly destroyed on orders from Mayor Brian Stack.

✔️ Instead of being held accountable, Rojas was PROMOTED to Lieutenant.

✔️ And NOW, Stack just gave him a job protecting OUR CHILDREN?!? 😡

🔥 THIS IS INSANE! THIS IS CRIMINAL! ROJAS MUST BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY! 🔥

This is not just negligence—this is deliberate, systemic corruption that enables sexual predators while silencing victims. 🚨 The entire Union City Board of Education must be removed, Mayor Brian Stack must resign, and the FBI must investigate every official involved in this cover-up!

⚠️ CALL TO ACTION: DEMAND JUSTICE NOW!

❗ If you have ANY information about inappropriate relationships between teachers and students OR if you know which administrators are covering it up, you must come forward NOW! ❗

📞 CONTACT LEROY TRUTH IMMEDIATELY!

📲 Call or Text: 305-707-8325 📱

📩 Email: LeroyTruth247@gmail.com ✉️

🚨 CONTACT THE FBI—DEMAND AN INVESTIGATION! 🚨

📞 FBI Newark Field Office: (973) 792-3000 ☎️

💻 Submit an anonymous tip online: FBI Tip Line 🌍

🔥 SHARE THIS MESSAGE—OUR CHILDREN DESERVE PROTECTION! 🔥

The people of Union City deserve better. We MUST hold these corrupt officials accountable! No more secrets. No more cover-ups. No more silence!

👊 THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW! PROTECT OUR CHILDREN! 🚔⚖️

Cliffside Park officials are facing a lawsuit from former EMT Timothy Horner, who alleges he was fired in retaliation for raising concerns about politically motivated and improper directives from EMS leadership. Horner, a military veteran, was hired as an EMT in June 2023 but was terminated in January 2024 after being suspended for questioning these directives. The lawsuit, filed on March 3, names EMS Director Michael Russo, Assistant Director William Bringas, and dispatcher Danielle Betts as defendants.

Horner claims that in October 2023, he was offered a full-time position as part of a “quid pro quo” arrangement after he questioned a directive to transport a political associate of Russo to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Montvale. The trip left Cliffside Park without ambulance coverage for nearly four hours. Horner argued that the directive violated public policy and proper patient care standards.

In another incident in September 2023, Horner was dispatched to a home for an intoxicated individual, where a Cliffside Park police officer allegedly told him the person was a relative of a “high-ranking, elected official in the borough.” Horner was instructed to take the person inside their home and leave them there despite the individual’s impaired state. After raising concerns that the directive violated patient care standards and could affect his EMT certification, Horner requested a meeting with Russo—but the meeting was never scheduled.

The lawsuit alleges that Horner faced retaliation after raising these concerns. In October 2023, he was directed to transport someone to the VA Clinic in East Orange for a non-emergency appointment. Russo allegedly told Horner to use emergency lights despite no medical need and instructed him not to maintain a patient chart or generate a bill. When Horner objected, the offer for full-time employment was withdrawn. He was later accused of being insubordinate and abandoned his post, leading to a two-week suspension. Horner says the stress from the situation triggered a serious medical condition requiring emergency care.

An anonymous EMS source has since criticized Assistant EMS Director William Bringas, alleging that Bringas’ career was politically handed to him despite lacking real EMS experience. According to the source, Bringas quickly became director of EMS in West New York and then in Cliffside Park due to political connections. “He has zero real EMS experience and should be the last person advising on patient care,” the source stated.

The source highlighted a broader issue within municipal EMS agencies, where political influence undermines proper patient care. “Political connections should never determine how EMS operates,” the source said. “Every patient should be treated equally and held to the highest medical standards, regardless of race, gender, or political affiliation.”

Horner’s lawsuit underscores concerns about the politicization of EMS leadership and raises questions about accountability and ethical practices within Cliffside Park’s emergency services.