A New Jersey state legislator has been brought up on charges by the police officers union for not putting loyalty to that union above his duties as an elected official. Assemblyman David P. Rible is retired from the Wall Township Police Department but remains a member of the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association. Assemblyman Rible recently voted for public union pension and benefit reform. An executive committee member of the NJPBA issued union charges against Rible for that vote with a reminder to the Assemblyman that he took an oath to his union before he took an oath the the 220,000 New Jersey residents he represents. In a letter to Rible the union official underlined the following from the union’s membership oath: “and I do further promise — and declare I will not — by word, deed, sign or token — injure a fellow member of this Association.” Rible is demanding a public hearing on the charges. This raises a serious question — are union members fit for public office?
