Bologna in Background: Bologna

Joseph Bologna was recently given a meritorious promotion.  Joseph Bologna seems to have unbelievable good fortune come his way.    Bologna now heads the background unit, which was removed from Internal Affairs.  The problem is that Joey was rejected on his background for the FBI Academy for Commander Training.  That’s right.  The FBI didn’t want him on their grounds.  Bologna couldn’t pass the muster on the FBI’s background.

The PPD may have removed the unit from Internal Affairs because may Bologna would have been unable to pass the background for Internal Affairs.

Having Joe Bologna in charge of the Background and Recruitment Unit is like having Stevie Wonder in charge of Driver’s Training or Chief Inspector Carl Holmes in charge of the Special Victims Unit or  Inspector Tony Washington in charge of the EEOC Unit.

Sergeant Joseph Bologna, supervised a group of cops, who were accused of a litany of misconduct.  His squad were the subject of a Pulitzer Prize winning series “Tainted Justice” written by Philadelphia Daily News reporters, Barbara Laker and Wendy Ruderman.

Many of their colleagues were outraged when then Sergeant Bologna’s squad received no criminal charges, but one, Jeffrey Cudjik was fired and several others received internal disciplinary action, including Bologna.  Cudjik was reinstated after winning an arbitration.

The Philadelphia Daily News reported “Officer Robert McDonnell will be suspended for 30 days and transferred to a different squad for fabricating evidence on a search warrant, Ramsey said.

Officer Richard Cujdik, Jeffrey Cujdik‘s brother, will be suspended for two days and transferred to another squad for searching a bodega owner’s van without a warrant, he said. His supervisor at the time, Capt. Joseph Bologna, will be suspended for three days for failure to properly supervise.

Tolstoy (Thomas) will be suspended for 30 days for giving gifts to informants and lying to investigators about it.

Jeffrey Cujdik’s misconduct was the most extensive and thus his punishment the most severe.”  It should be noted that Officer Richard Cujdik is married to Assistant District Attorney Gwen Cujdik.

The entire crew sat inside on desk duty for five years, except Lucky Joey.  Bologna continued to climb the ranks of the department.  Lucky Joey was promoted to Captain on the last days of the Civil Service list for the rank of Captain.  It was questionable because the next day the new list was published and Joey was DEAD LAST on that list.

Where’s the Logistical Officer for the PPD?  Who would put a person like this in charge of a unit that is charged with performing background investigations when he was unable to pass one himself?

Why wouldn’t Staff Inspector’s who were not promoted because they were “meritorious” be given the opportunity to hold this position.  They’re certainly more palatable and guess what, many are graduates of the FBI Academy.

Former Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said this squad left a “black mark” on the Police Department.  Ramsey expressed his frustration that after the Feds declined prosecution that the gem of a DA, Seth Williams, also declined to even look at it.  Ramsey was frequently frustrated.

Lucky Joey must feel very lucky.  Joey worked in the 24th District with FOP President John McNesby as well as most of the officers who were in Narcotics squad in question.

I know if a candidate is questioned about their background and fails, they could easily lawyer up and drag Joey into a deposition and have him explain why he can judge  when himself, is unable to pass a background check with the FBI.  It’s coming.  Especially if that candidate can pass an FBI check.