UPDATE: Police Chief Says He Is 'Disappointed' That Private Phone Call Was 'Exploited'

During a public Township Committee Meeting Tuesday night, Police Chief Eric Mason read a statement voicing his disappointment over the fact that someone released a tape of an eight-year-old phone call with his son, in which Mason jokes that his day was going well because he "didn't have to kill any white people."

Mason, who returned from a week-long vacation this week, was out of the country when the controversy erupted, just hours after he announced his plans to retire as police chief and take on the full-time role as township administrator.

Less than one day after the announcement was made on Feb. 28, a surfaced that includes audio from the phone call between the police chief and his son. The video, placed on Youtube by someone calling himself or herself GazeeboBricks, features photos of Mason as audio from the call between him and his son Christopher plays in the background. According to the township attorney, the call was made shortly after Mason was named Police Chief in 2003.

Mason said the contents of the phone call do not reflect his performance as the police chief or the interim township administrator. The chief also said he "regrets" if anyone was offended by the comments.

"The comments depicted in a personal telephone conversation between me and my son over eight years ago are not indicative of the career I have had or the person that I am," Mason said. "I regret if anyone was offended and I am disappointed that someone would try to exploit a personal conversation from over eight years ago for their personal gain."

While the identity of the individuals who obtained the recording of the phone call from the police department is not known, it appears to reflect a joke between a father and son meant to diffuse a tense situation in the wake of Mason's appointment as the first African American police chief in a town that, according to the 2000 census, was 93 percent Caucasian.

Mason said the call was private and he believes the peope responsible for releasing the tape were attempting to divide the township and embarrass him.

"As any parent knows, a conversation between a father and a son is very personal. I also regret that this private conversation has been exploited by someone attempting to divide our community and to cause embarrassment to me," Mason said Tuesday night. "I have been blessed to lead this community as chief of police, emergency management coordinator, and interim administrator. I will continue to honor my service as a future township administrator and as always, I will do my best for the Township of Cranford."

Mason's brief statement was met with applause by members of the public who attended the Township Committee meeting.

During a conference meeting of the governing body on Monday night, residents questioned the process used to appoint Mason , on a full-time basis.

During the workshop, former Mayor Mark Smith asked officials if any consideration was given to the governing body's bylaws before taking action to appoint Mason as the full-time township administrator — a position he has held in an acting capacity since September of 2011.

"As I understand it, the Township Committee did not adopt bylaws this year," Township Attorney Philip Morin said.

Bylaws were also not adopted in 2011. If the governing body doesn not adopt a new set of bylaws, officials said, the previous rules remain in effect. Smith repeatedly asked the governing body to outline the procedure that was used to hire Mason as the full-time township administrator.

Mayor David Robinson has said that the job opening was not advertised publicly. Instead, officials discussed the issue several times and consulted with the League of Municipalities to discuss "best practices" and obtain guidance. One piece of advice from the League indicated that "the best candidate is the person the governing body feels most comfortable with," Robinson said.

Township Commissioner Lisa Adubato Nesi said that the existing bylaws do not require that the open position be advertised. The decision to hire Mason as the full-time administrator was unanimous.

"What I drew on for the decision that I made...with where the township is right now, is that knowledge of the township was paramount," Mayor Robinson said. "Bringing someone from the outside didn't sit too well with me."

When Smith again asked for the exact steps taken by the Township Committee to fill the township administrator position, none of the members of the governing body were able to give a description of the procedures, only to say that a "robust procedure" was followed.

"If it was unanimous, if it was robustly discussed, it should be discussed in public as well," township resident Rita Labruto said during the meeting Monday. When no council member explained the process, Commissioner Kevin Campbell suggested that the mayor give an explanation of the procedure "at a later date."

"We have nothing to hide," Campbell said.

Mason took over the duties of township administrator as residents struggled to begin rebuilding in the wake of Hurricane Irene. Mason's retirement from the Police Department will go into effect on May 31. The 34-year veteran of the took over the duties as township administrator when former administrator Marlena Schmid was placed on involuntary administrative leave in early September of 2011. Schmid is no longer employed by the township.

This is not the first time a police chief has stepped into the role of township administrator. In 1999, former Police Chief Harry Wilde served in the position following the resignation of John Laezza. Wilde served as the administrator until Schmid was hired.Mason joined the Cranford police force in 1977. He was named chief in July of 2003. In 2010, he was named president of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police.

Robinson has said that the governing body spent a "fair amount of time deliberating this appointment" and that Mason has "earned the right to be considered township administrator."

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