After supervising drunken cop multiple times, Mark Hussey promoted to Deputy Chief/Chief of Patrol

Mark Hussey, who was promoted to Deputy Chief in October 2014, was named Chief of Patrol for the Jersey City Police Department just over a year after participating in the alleged cover-up of Sgt. Vincent Corso’s DUI in Robbinsville, NJ – at least the third time he supervised Corso, or was a defendant in a case involving Corso, which led to a lawsuit for Jersey City taxpayers.

Left to Right: Vincent Corso, (unnamed as professional courtesy), Mark Hussey, and Robert Kearns

Left to Right: Vincent Corso, (unnamed as professional courtesy), Mark Hussey, and Robert Kearns

In light of the alleged cover-up of Jersey City Police Department (JCPD) Sgt. Vincent Corso’s DUI in Robbinsville, NJ, it’s since been learned that then-Captain Mark Hussey was the JCPD supervisor contacted when Corso was taken into custody – not the first time Hussey was Corso’s supervisor, or named as a defendant in a case involving Corso, where Jersey City taxpayers could be held liable.

The extent of Corso and Hussey’s personal relationship is unknown, but a picture recently obtained by Real Jersey City, featured in this article, and likely more than a few years old, appears to depict Hussey in uniform with an alcoholic beverage alongside Corso and now-Lt. Robert Kearns.

As previously noted by Real Jersey City, Kearns is the brother-in-law of Corso. Kearns and Corso are also currently the President and 1st VP of the Jersey City Police Superior Officers Association (JCPSOA).

Since the night Corso was taken into custody in Robbinsville, Hussey has been promoted to Deputy Chief, and according to documents obtained by Real Jersey City, Hussey has replaced Deputy Chief Joseph Delaney as Operations Division/Patrol Bureau Commander (Chief of Patrol) effective March 27, 2015.

McGOVERN VS. CITY OF JERSEY CITY

On November 27, 1997, Corso and other JCPD officers were involved in an off-duty dispute at the New Park Tavern that led to the assault of Hudson County Sheriff’s Officer Sean McGovern.

According to an amended complaint, as McGovern was being assaulted by then-JCPD Officer Richard “Rick” Garrison – supposedly over pleasantries exchanged between McGovern and a young woman with Garrison – Corso and two others jumped in. The attack caused McGovern “great pain and physical damage,” including “striking him in the head causing a severe cut to his face” and a severe bite to McGovern’s nose.

Of note, according to the Jersey Journal, Garrison is infamous for being in a seven-vehicle crash over the course of several blocks in Bayonne that claimed the life of an 82-year-old woman.

The complaint also claimed Corso “intentionally and maliciously kicked [McGovern] in his face and head causing him to incur multiple broken teeth and various other injuries.”

Corso, who was off-duty at the time, had to pay $15,000 out of his own pocket as part of a settlement.

Hussey, who was named as a defendant, but not specifically mentioned in the complaint, along with others, “conspired by virtue of their actions on November 27, 1997 and subsequent days, to obstruct the ability of [McGovern] to receive his due process rights by a fair investigation, apprehension, and prosecution of the actors and events relating to the assault.”

Jersey City taxpayers, following a settlement with the city, paid out $175,000 to McGovern – which then-Councilman Steven Fulop approved.

McGovern vs. City of Jersey City Settlement

McGovern vs. City of Jersey City Settlement

CORSO’S ALLEGED ROBBINSVILLE DUI

As previously reported by Real Jersey City, according to Robbinsville Township Police Department (RTPD) Sgt. Eric Bakay’s police report – who was briefed at the scene after Corso was taken into custody – he also detected “a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from [Corso].”

Bakay states that it was his decision “to contact a supervisor of the Jersey City Police Department to advise him of the situation (in hopes that a fellow officer would be detailed to respond to RTPD Headquarters to take custody of MR. CORSO’S handgun, uniforms and to ensure that MR. CORSO was taken home safely without further incident).”

After initially contacting RTPD Lt. Michael Polaski, Bakay contacted then-Captain Hussey regarding someone from the JCPD taking custody of Corso.

Hussey assured Bakay that “he would be detailing an officer to respond to RTPD to assist with our requests,” and soon thereafter Hussey advised that a JCPD sergeant would be responding. The sergeant who responded to the RTPD requests was then-Sgt. Robert Kearns, accompanied by Lt. James Carroll.

Of note, Kearns was promoted to Lieutenant by Mayor Steven Fulop in October of 2014.

Depending on the outcome of ex-Chief Robert “Bubba” Cowan’s lawsuit, Jersey City taxpayers could once again be held financially liable.

KILLING OF MICHAEL ANGLIN IN 2000

As previously reported by Real Jersey City, Corso infamously shot and killed fifteen-year-old Michael Anglin on January 28, 2000.

From Corso’s own admission, under questioning from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office (HCPO), it has come to light that he was at a local tavern hours before the shooting of Anglin.

Details from a lawsuit that was eventually settled for $2.4 million, costing Jersey City taxpayers $1.2 million, reveal that Corso was at Lambert’s Tavern – while on an off-duty assignment – hours before the fatal encounter with Anglin.

According to numerous sources, Lambert’s Tavern was once a popular bar for JCPD officers and local politicians on West Side Ave. near Armstrong Ave. in Jersey City.

Corso stated that he was at the tavern for only fifteen minutes the night of Anglin’s death, met with another officer, Bill Rauley, and only ordered “a soda, a coke, or something like that.”

The off-duty assignment, according to Corso, was from 3 P.M. to 9 P.M., and part of work created by an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) where officers “speak to proprietors of stores on certain areas of the city’s South District.”

After the off-duty assignment, but before his regular patrol assignment from 11 P.M. to 7 A.M., Corso claimed he went to eat dinner at home with his girlfriend.

To Corso’s “belief,” when he returns for roll call at 11 P.M. his desk man is then-Lieutenant Hussey.

NO RESPONSE FROM FULOP ADMINISTRATION, JERSEY CITY POLICE SUPERIOR OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

Jersey City Spokesperson Jennifer Morrill, as well as a representative of the JCPSOA, did not return an email seeking comment regarding the picture featured in this article, and whether it was appropriate for Hussey to appear to be drinking in uniform.

In addition, Morrill did not comment as to why Deputy Chief Delaney was replaced by Hussey as Chief of Patrol, and whether the city took into account his role – as well as whether he went through proper protocol – regarding Corso being taken into custody by the RTPD.

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