The second in command of the New Jersey State Police is in trouble after referring to New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin as “that Jew,” according to a New York Post report and others with direct knowledge of the incident contacted by the New Jersey Globe.

Lt. Col. Sean Kilcommons is accused of ordering a state police helicopter to remain airborne so that Platkin’s young son, who had accompanied his father to a “Bring Your Child To Work Day” event at the Department of Law and Public Safety in April, would unable to see inside it.

“I don’t want that Jew kid in the state police helicopter,” The Post quoted Kilcommons as allegedly saying. They referred to a report filed with the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.

According to the Post, Kilcommons told the helicopter to remain airborne until after Platkin’s departure.

“Tell him not to land,” Kilcommons allegedly said, the Post said, citing the OPIA report.

Other children accompanying their parent to work, including police officers, were either denied the promised chance to see the inside of a helicopter, or had to wait until Platkin left.

Governor Phil Murphy said today that he is taking the matter seriously.

“Anti-Semitism of any kind has no place in our society. The alleged comment about Attorney General Platkin and his son, if true, is abhorrent and contrary to the values ​​of the New Jersey State Police and my entire administration,” Murphy said. “As an investigation is ongoing I will not comment further on this matter until the investigation is complete.”

Platkin issued a statement this morning saying he had seen news reports about Kilcommon’s statements but noted he had recused himself from the investigation.

“This behavior, if substantiated, has no place in law enforcement or anywhere in our society,” Platkin said. “But I want to make it clear that we must never tolerate anti-Semitism or bias of any kind. Too often those in leadership feel comfortable dismissing or ignoring allegations of bias, especially when the perpetrators are in positions of power.”

He added, “When allegations of bias are met with silence or, worse, reflexively defended by those in power, rather than seriously and promptly investigated, it sends a clear message to any victim who might come forward: don’t bother.”

There have been other allegations of racist comments made by Kilcommons, the New Jersey Globe has learned, but moves to discipline or fire him have been rejected by state police Superintendent Patrick Callahan, a close ally. Callahan has faced criticism for leapfrogging Kilcommons ahead of others for promotion.

The State Police has been faced with a series of challenges in recent weeks. Two weeks ago, the NAACP’s New Jersey State Conference called for Callahan’s ouster after a scathing report initiated by Platkin’s successor highlighted discriminatory hiring practices and found that internal affairs investigations were biased against some troopers.

Platkin has recommended political reforms.

Last week, a former soldier was sentenced to probation for punching a woman in the face while holding a metal flashlight while she was handcuffed in the back of a police vehicle.

For Platkin, the Kilcommons incident has caused him to double down.

“I’ve been called a lot of names in my life, including a lot of anti-Semitic slurs. While I’m not obsessed with these attacks, I don’t ignore them either,” he says. “Instead of shrugging them off, these experiences drive me to redouble my efforts to eradicate bias and hatred of any kind.”

“And while I am disappointed to learn that a law enforcement leader may have chosen to use his position and the privilege of his authority to harm my son, whom I love more than anything, I will be outraged if we allow him – and millions of children like him – to grow up in a society where attacking someone for who they are or how they worship is accepted or tolerated, Platkin says.

Jersey City Mayor and gubernatorial candidate Steve Fulop said that “bigots don’t belong in law enforcement.”

“Sadly, this is a reminder that anti-Semitism has become more and more widespread, and it must be met with fierce opposition every time we see it.” stated Fulop. “If the allegations are true, dismissal should follow because there is no place for this type of individual who has a career based on the public trust and I feel that when an officer is dismissed for an action that goes against his public trust the officer’s pension should also be considered for termination and that’s what should happen here if that’s true

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said “the allegations concern” and said he was “confident they will receive appropriate scrutiny.”

“This incident is indicative of a deep-seated culture within the state police that needs to be addressed,” said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a candidate for governor. “Such an anti-Semitic comment should be offensive to everyone, and we must demand immediate and lasting action against the individual responsible, as well as against the culture that allows such attitudes to persist.”

Former Senate President Steve Sweeney, also a gubernatorial candidate, said that “if it is substantiated, immediate and swift action should be taken.”

“This language represents a bias that cannot exist among those entrusted with law enforcement,” he said.