NJ GOV. OUSTS POLICE SUPERINTENDENT

(TRENTON) - New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman ousted the head of the state
police after a published interview quoted him as saying he believes most of
the nation's cocaine and marijuana business is conducted by minorities.
Whitman said State Police Superintendent Carl Williams' reported comments
are inconsistent with efforts to enhance public confidence in the state
police. Williams is quoted as saying minority groups are most likely to be
involved with cocaine or marijuana, predominately white motorcycle gangs
control the methamphetamine market, and Jamaicans more or less control the
heroin trade.

Williams said he has never in his 30 years as a state trooper known an
officer who profiled based on skin color or nationality, but said profiling
by looking for signs that a person might be a lawbreaker is good police work.

In 1996, a state judge ruled the State Police were using racial profiling
to stop black motorists on the southern end of the New Jersey Turnpike. The
issue boiled over again last April when troopers shot three unarmed
minority men during a stop on the turnpike. The officers claim the van was
trying to back over them.