PBA: Court’s Failure Led to Police Officer’s Death

The head of the New Jersey's Policemen's Benevolent Association is blasting the state court system for what he says was its failure to track a man on probation who is accused of killing a Newark police officer.

PBA President Anthony Wieners says 24-year-old Jerome Wright was wanted since June for skipping out on probation for a stolen property charge.

Wright faces a felony murder charge in the death of off-duty Newark Police detective Michael Morgan, who was shot during a robbery Monday.

Wieners says at least eight New Jersey police officers have been murdered over 15 years by someone on probation.

New Jersey judiciary spokeswoman Tammy Kendig says probation warrants are enforced by law enforcement, and the PBA's statements are distorting the truth about how the probation system works.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)