Caren ‘I’m Commissioner’ Turner says cops need to work on their ‘tone’

Watch the full 16-minute video here

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Caren Z. Turner, the new poster child for “Do you know who I am?” disease, just received a brand new honor. It comes, thanks to Turner’s public response to her aggressive and arrogant display of entitlement captured in a Tenafly (NJ) Police Department dash-cam video released this week. By the power vested in me, I’ve bypassed the official nominating committee and have immediately inducted Caren “Don’t call me ‘Miss’, I’m commissioner” Turner into the Tone Deaf Hall of Fame. Her story will be portrayed prominently in the “Andrew Jackson Memorial Botched Damage Control” wing of the HOF. Watch for the opening of this new and inspiring display in Spring of 2019.

Previously – Must see video: A really bad case of ‘Do you know who I am?’ disease

We know, and have documented many times, that it’s not unusual for someone who has screwed up very publicly and completely to make things worse by offering a defensive response that blames others. What makes Turner’s response (below) so significant is that these words comes from a woman who chaired the ethics committee as a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and is the chief executive of Washington, D.C.-based Turner Government and Public Affairs. Keeping all that in mind as you read Turner’s ridiculous response, you will understand why I used my authority as a TDHOF commissioner (don’t EVER call me “Mr.”) to make this direct induction. I imagine the video and her response to the publicity will do wonders for her business. You can’t buy publicity like that.

MISS (don’t call her “commissioner” any more) Turner, if you are reading this, I hope you will leave the comfort of your three homes – where you are comfortably surrounded by only the best and brightest from Yale and Harvard –  and join your many fans for the ceremony at the TDHOF in Washington on Easter weekend next year. We’ve arranged a police escort to the ceremony, with a pair of officers assigned, who you may verbally badger and abuse to your heart’s content. We’ve asked Tenafly Police Department Police Department Officers Matthew Savitsky and Tom Casper to join you in cutting the ribbon at the ceremony. And finally, fitting your status (in case anyone hasn’t heard, I should remind you Turner has three homes and a child in an Ivy League school), we have reserved the Presidential Suite at the Four Seasons Hotel. Just show your gold badge at the front desk so they know who you are

Statement from Carmen Z. Turner:

Last month, my daughter and three of her friends were in a car that was pulled over by a Tenafly police officer for non-moving violations, including having tinted windows. The officers subsequently decided to impound the vehicle, leaving the four young adults on the side of a busy highway.

Concerned, I hurried to the scene to assist them. As a parent, I was upset and uncomfortable with the unfolding events. I let my emotions get the better of me and regret my tone toward the police officers and use of off-color language. For this, I apologize.

However, at no point did I violate the Port Authority’s Code of Ethics or ask for special treatment for anyone involved, nor did I suggest, in any way, that I would use my position at the Port Authority to affect the outcome of the violations issued to the driver. My resignation from the Port Authority is a recognition that this unfortunate incident could and should have been avoided.

As a long-time Tenafly resident, I have always taken an active role in the community, including working with law enforcement officials, and I encourage the Tenafly Police Department to review best practices with respect to tone and de-escalation, so that incidents like this do not recur.