GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (November 2, 2024)(CNBNews)--In March, six months ago, CNBNews reached out to Harry J. Delgado, Ed.S., who serves as the immediate past chair of the  Accreditation Program Director for the New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police. The inquiry focused on the troubling situation involving William E. Cleary Sr. and his son, William E. Cleary Jr.

CNBNews Opinion

These two individuals faced charges for allegedly stealing a broken children's
bench that had been discarded in a trash pile behind Cold Springs Elementary School, as well as for trespassing on public school grounds.

CNBNews also requested that the New Jersey Office of State Comptroller, an independent agency, investigate their arrest. 

An Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request revealed a striking statistic: the Clearys were the only individuals ever charged with trespassing in the school's three-decade-long history. Cleary Sr. notified the police and promptly returned the broken bench to the school within mere hours after discovering that it had not been intended for disposal.

RELATED: 

CNBNews Editor Faces Trespassing, Theft Charges

 Delgado plays a vital role in overseeing police departments across New Jersey, ensuring they uphold their professional duties with integrity and accountability. The New Jersey Association of Chiefs of Police, an organization dedicated to promoting ethical conduct in law enforcement, prominently features its mission on its website. They are committed to "promoting and enhancing the highest ethical and professional standards in law enforcement at all levels throughout New Jersey."

In light of this commitment, we find it deeply troubling that an 80-year-old man, who has devoted his life to the important work of reporting the news, has been arrested. This incident appears to conflict with the principles outlined by the Police Chiefs Association. Given the circumstances, it should have been a priority for the NJ Comptroller's Office to thoroughly investigate this situation too, reassuring the public that justice would be served.

From the beginning, CNBNews's view was unmistakable that Cleary's arrest was a blatant violation of his civil rights, undermining the fundamental principles of the Association's mission. We feel the organization should have thoroughly investigated the circumstances surrounding Cleary's arrest, especially considering that no crime had been committed. Furthermore, the New Jersey Office of State Comptroller must intervene to examine the events that transpired during this alarming incident.

Cleary Sr. has dedicated over fifty years of his life to journalism, passionately informing the residents of Gloucester City and the neighboring communities about vital news and events. The press serves as a voice for the people, and by unjustly targeting Cleary, authorities were effectively launching an attack on the public’s right to information and representation. Instead of being charged with theft and trespassing, Cleary should have been afforded the benefit of the doubt, with recognition of his longstanding contributions to the field of journalism and the community he serves.

Cleary’s most recent letter appears below.

Dear Mr. Delgado,

I understand that you or representatives from the New Jersey State Association of Police Chiefs visited Gloucester City last month to evaluate the Gloucester City Police Department. I obtained this information from a press release written by Gloucester City Police Captain Jason Flood, which was published on CNBNews.

This visit served as a significant opportunity for your organization to investigate the troubling circumstances surrounding the arrest of my son and me on October 10, 2023. A diligent and thorough investigation would uncover the true motivations behind our arrest and reveal the individuals responsible for initiating the false charges against us.

In my letter from March 2024, I expressed my profound concern about the baseless allegations of theft and trespassing that were thrust upon us by senior members of the Gloucester City Police Department. These accusations, which received approval from Police Chief Brian Morrell, have inflicted considerable stress and confusion upon us. Furthermore, I allege that Mayor Dayle Baille, along with city council members John Johnson, and George Berglund were aware of my arrest, highlighting the unexpected entanglement of political figures in this distressing scenario.

The ongoing rescheduling of our hearing dates over a span of six long months has significantly intensified our already precarious situation, leading to an alarming increase in our legal fees. As we grappled with the daunting prospect of facing substantial fines of $10,000 and the very real possibility of a six-month jail sentence, we were enveloped in an overwhelming sense of pressure and anxiety. In the end, feeling trapped by the circumstances, we felt we had no choice but to accept a plea deal for a lesser charge of “violating the noise ordinance.” This resolution struck us as deeply unjust, given the gravity of what we were facing.

Looking back on this troubling experience, I had hoped for at least a simple acknowledgment of my previous letters—just a brief note to indicate that my concerns were being heard. Instead, I find myself disheartened and frustrated by the complete lack of response. 

Were you aware that a similar case involving the son of a sitting city councilman, who is also employed by the city, was dismissed from the court system? The man was dispatched to a local property to cut the grass? In a puzzling turn of events, this individual entered the homeowners' locked residence through a window, brazenly removing property that did not belong to him. He was subsequently charged with burglary, but shockingly, his case was transferred from the local courts to Camden County Superior Court, where it was dismissed without a clear explanation. This raises an important question: why was his case sent to the county courts and dismissed while my son and I continued to face charges in municipal court? It would be worthwhile to pose this question to the Police Chief/who also has been the temporary Acting City Administrator for the past four years.

Related: 

Son of Gloucester City Councilman Arrested for Burglary, Case Dismissed

The same individual, whose father is the city councilman, was also apprehended for shoplifting at a local food market. He allegedly took two cans of bake beans and didn't pay for them. After the store owner called the police the individual returned to the store with a police officer. Allegedly the police officer asked the store owner, if the man paid for the beans would you drop the charges."  No charges were filed against him.

I have long observed a disturbing two-tier justice system such as the ones described above, operating in Gloucester City. A "regular Joe" would never receive the preferred treatment that the councilman's son received. And, those in positions of power seem to target anyone who dares to disagree with their policies. If you have the audacity to voice your concerns or write about their decisions, be prepared for the fallout that may follow.

 

Related: "Justice Must Be for All, Not Just a Few."

 

The treatment my son and I endured at the hands of those in authority is nothing short of alarming. It’s disheartening to witness behaviors typically associated with corrupt regimes in Third World countries occurring right in our own Gloucester City. The reality that certain individuals in our community wield the power to unjustly prosecute innocent people, all without fear of repercussions, is deeply concerning and demoralizing. It is truly heartbreaking to see the justice system weaponized against me in my hometown. 

Additionally, I am convinced that the critical articles I have authored, both in the past and the present, for the Gloucester City News and CNBNews, have stirred powerful individuals to exploit the situation in order to tarnish my reputation. My son, tragically, fell victim to circumstances beyond his control—caught in the wrong place at the wrong time in an unfair and chaotic scenario. Mr. Delgado, if you had taken the initiative to interact with me or to dig deeper into the troubling facts surrounding the unfounded accusations against both my son and myself, you would have unearthed a disconcerting pattern: a deliberate practice of granting preferential treatment to close allies of those in power, frequently at the expense of ordinary citizens who are simply seeking justice.

It never ceases to amaze me how those in positions of authority, both in this city and beyond, are so threatened by my words and the potential reach of my writing. They wield power over various aspects of life, yet they seem to live in fear of me. Not long ago, a former sheriff warned me that if I didn’t retract an article in which he was mentioned, he would publicly disclose damaging information about my family, including a tragic incident where a relative attempted suicide and alleged claims of my past visits to a notorious drug house from 45 years ago. If those allegations held any truth, then why has there been no action taken by the police?

Throughout my lengthy career as a journalist, I have dedicated myself to reporting with integrity and fairness, striving to sidestep favoritism and bias. I readily acknowledge that I am not infallible and that I have made mistakes along the way, but those missteps were never due to a lack of effort or earnest intention.

 Peter Millett, Britain’s ambassador to Liberia, wrote: “The backbone of any democracy is an independent, professional and responsible media. Their role is to inform, criticize, and stimulate debate.”

“Those in the public eye should not fear or be defensive about the press. If a politician dislikes criticism from the press, he is definitely in the wrong job. As a British politician said many years ago: “For a politician to complain about the press is like a ship’s captain complaining about the sea.”

Yours truly,

William E. Cleary Sr., CNBNews Editor

Publisher Emeritus Gloucester City News/Camden County Record

Member of:

The Society of Professional Journalist

Internation Freelanmce Photographers

New Jersey Press Association

U.S. Press Corps

New Jersey News Commons

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