Friend or Foe? - The Voice of Lakewood

Lakewood Police Chief Faces Backlash for Praising Fight for Jackson

Lakewood Police Chief Greg Meyer, long regarded as a friend of the Jewish community, is facing backlash after posting a message of approval on a social media livestream by a Jackson political group that has been accused of antisemitism.

“Nice job,” Meyer commented on a Facebook livestream featuring the three Fight for Jackson candidates. (The Facebook account he used has the name “Gregory Howard”—Meyer’s first and middle names—displays his photo, and says he is the Lakewood police chief.)

Meyer moved from Lakewood to Jackson 13 years ago.

Fight for Jackson is a ballot line on which mayoral candidate Elliott Shem-Tov and Council candidates Chris Pollak and Amanda Trombetta ran in this year’s election. It is opposed to the Orthodox Jewish community and its institutions in Jackson. The candidates and commenters on their social media speak against shuls, mikvaos, yeshivos, and Hatzolah in their town and rail against the real estate industry, development, and the alleged creeping influence of Lakewood.

The post by the chief has alarmed members of the Lakewood Jewish community. Many have told The Voice they feel stunned and betrayed by Meyer’s apparent support for antisemites.

Meyer did not respond to The Voice’s request that he explain his post.

Lakewood Police Department spokesman Capt. LeRoy Marshall also did not respond to The Voice’s request for comment.

One longtime askan told The Voice, “As someone who has known the chief for years as a friend of the Jewish community, his expressing support for such a political platform is hurtful and shocking. And it is absolutely befuddling how a veteran public official can get himself involved in yet another controversy on social media,” a reference to a 2018 incident in which a video posted to social media allegedly shows an open can of beer in Meyer’s vehicle.

A Township official told The Voice they concurred with these sentiments, adding, “I look forward to Chief Meyer explaining the post.”

Some in Lakewood have expressed outrage and believe Meyer should not be permitted to continue serving as police chief in a heavily Orthodox Jewish town. The Township Committee may fire him for “misconduct, or disobedience of rules and regulations,” though it is unclear whether writing “Nice job” on a political livestream on social media qualifies.

The post remained up for days before Meyer removed it.

Meyer, 63, faces mandatory retirement in two years.

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