Get to the truth

Call us skeptics, but we are having a hard time believing that just by coincidence, a Lakewood police officer who was involved in a situation with a rabbi over the summer is back in the news again and accused of assaulting a resident he was arresting in November.

In June, Police Officer Erik Menck got into a struggle with Rabbi Joseph Z. Bursztyn after the rabbi interfered with Menck during a traffic stop. On Dec. 13, Bursztyn pleaded guilty to a charge of obstruction of the administration of law and was fined $125.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office concluded that a complaint of excessive force signed by Bursztyn against Menck was unfounded.

On Nov. 20, Menck and another officer arrested Nichole Robin-son, 29, at her home in connection with an incident that occurred at a beauty supply shop in town.

Robinson later alleged that Menck used excessive force while he was arresting her. She filed a complaint against Menck and said she plans to sue Lakewood.

A township committeeman, the public safety director and a representative of the prosecutor’s office all confirmed that authorities are investigating Robinson’s complaint. It is important for those authorities to determine quickly if her claims are credible or without merit.

There are several possibilities that come to mind after learning about these two incidents that occurred only a couple of months apart.

One possibility is that Menck is an officer who is prone to use force against people he is arresting when the use of such force is not warranted.

Another possibility is that Menck is an officer who does a difficult job that sometimes requires the use of force to get people to cooperate with the directions they are being given.

A third possibility, and the one to which we are leaning, is that having seen the incident that involved Menck in June, someone is watching his actions very carefully and looking for a way to cause the officer public embarrassment and to bring pressure to bear on him. The news of the Robinson affair is interesting but strikes us as a bit too convenient.

Menck was vindicated in regard to the June arrest of the rabbi. He has not yet told his side of the November arrest to the public. The Tri-Town News would offer him the opportunity to do so, if he chooses.

The charges against Menck have put this officer in the unwanted public spotlight and could have a negative impact on his career in law enforcement.

If Robinson’s charges against Menck are determined to be without merit, Lakewood police officials should swiftly and publicly defend the officer.

If it is determined that he acted improperly during the Nov. 20 arrest, then appropriate disciplinary action must be taken against the officer and reported to residents without delay.