A tipster reported that Lt. Col. Sean Kilcomons called Attorney General Matt Platkin “that Jew” during a “take your child to work” event in April. (Photo courtesy of New Jersey State Police)
New Jersey authorities are investigating a report that the state police’s second-in-command made an antisemitic remark about Attorney General Matt Platkin and his young son during a “take your child to work” event in April.
Platkin and Gov. Phil Murphy on Friday denounced the alleged remark, which comes as civil rights leaders and police reformers have pressed Murphy to fire Col. Patrick Callahan, the state police superintendent, and his second-in-command, Lt. Sean Kilcomons, after recent reports documented deep-rooted racism and other problems in the 3,300-officer agency. The remark was first reported Thursday by the New York Post.
“Antisemitism of any kind has no place in our society. The alleged comment about Attorney General Platkin and his son, if true, is abhorrent and contrary to the values of the New Jersey State Police and my entire administration,” Murphy said.
Attorney General Matt Platkin speaks during a news conference on Oct. 24, 2024, in Trenton about voter protections. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor)
Platkin said in a statement that he has recused himself from the investigation.
“I will reserve judgment until that investigation is complete,” Platkin said. “But I want to make clear that we must never tolerate antisemitism or bias of any kind. Too often, those in leadership feel comfortable dismissing or ignoring allegations of bias, particularly when the perpetrators hold positions of power. When allegations of bias are met with silence or, worse, reflexively defended by people in power, rather than seriously and swiftly investigated, it sends a clear message to all victims who might consider coming forward: don’t bother.”
An anonymous tipster reported the alleged remark in a recent letter sent to the state’s public integrity and accountability office, which Platkin oversees and investigates reports of public misconduct and corruption. It’s unclear when exactly the letter, which the New Jersey Monitor obtained Friday, was sent but it bears a “received” stamp dated Oct. 2.
The anonymous tipster made a wide range of explosive accusations against Kilcomons, four other high-ranking state police officials, and a civilian fitness instructor the agency recently hired.
But the antisemitic remark at issue allegedly occurred on April 25, when the tipster said Kilcomons directed a state police helicopter to continue flying instead of landing for employees’ children to see the chopper up close — at least until Platkin and his son left.
“I don’t want that Jew’s kid in the State Police helicopter. Tell him not to land,” the complaint alleges Kilcomons said.
Spokespeople for the state police did not respond to a request for comment.
Callahan joined the state police as a trooper in 1995, became superintendent in 2017, and named Kilcomons his second in command about three years ago, a promotion that prompted a discrimination lawsuit.
Platkin said he has endured being called antisemitic slurs — “and many names” — before.
“While I do not obsess over these attacks, I also do not ignore them. Rather than shrug them off, these experiences drive me to redouble my efforts to root out bias and hate of any kind,” he said. “While I am disappointed to learn that a law enforcement leader might have chosen to use his position and the privilege of his authority to hurt my son, whom I love more than anything, I will be distraught if we allow him — and millions of kids like him — to grow up in a society where attacking someone for who they are or how they worship is accepted or condoned.”
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