Port Authority police officers worried about “hazardous conditions” on the George Washington Bridge were told not to reopen the lanes on the second day of traffic gridlock, according to new details on the BridgeGate scandal reported by the Bergen Record.
When a police officer raised the concerns about traffic, his supervisor reportedly told him to “shut up” and to not discuss the lane closures over police radios.
According to accounts given to the Record by the attorney representing the Port Authority police officers, Police Lt. Thomas “Chip” Michaels, who grew up with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), gave the Port Authority orders on the lane closures on the very first day.
Several officers also heard gossip that the lane closures were part of a disagreement between Christie and Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich.
Read the Record’s full report on the police officers’ account here.
