Pubdate: 1 Mar 1999 Source: United Press International Copyright: 1999 United Press International Note: Headline by MAP Editor NJ GOV. OUSTS POLICE SUPERINTENDENT (TRENTON) - New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman ousted the head of the state police after a published interview quoted him as saying he believes most of the nation's cocaine and marijuana business is conducted by minorities. Whitman said State Police Superintendent Carl Williams' reported comments are inconsistent with efforts to enhance public confidence in the state police. Williams is quoted as saying minority groups are most likely to be involved with cocaine or marijuana, predominately white motorcycle gangs control the methamphetamine market, and Jamaicans more or less control the heroin trade. Williams said he has never in his 30 years as a state trooper known an officer who profiled based on skin color or nationality, but said profiling by looking for signs that a person might be a lawbreaker is good police work. In 1996, a state judge ruled the State Police were using racial profiling to stop black motorists on the southern end of the New Jersey Turnpike. The issue boiled over again last April when troopers shot three unarmed minority men during a stop on the turnpike. The officers claim the van was trying to back over them. - --- MAP posted-by: Mike Gogulski