Crossroads: Conflicted Journey of a New Jersey State Trooper
One man's journey to expose internal NJ State Police corruption
About Me
- Dr. Brian Lee Royster is a graduate of Essex County College having obtained an Associate in Science (A.S) in Physical Education in (1993), and an Associate in Science (A.S) in Social Science in (1994). He went on to attend Montclair State University and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (B.A) in (1997). He also obtained a Master of Arts in Education (M.Ed) in (1998), an Educational Specialists degree in Administration and Supervision (Ed.S) in (2000), and a doctoral degree in Education Leadership Management and Policy (Ed.D) in (2007). He completed a Master of Science in Criminal Justice (M.S) in (2009) from New Jersey City University.
- He is a retired twenty-five years veteran of the New Jersey State Police. Prior assignments include: Auto Unit, Electronic Surveillance Unit, Solid Hazardous Waste Unit, Counter Terrorism Unit, Organized Crime North Unit, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Unit (EEO/AA), Central Security Unit and general road duty trooper.
- He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, 214th Session, and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (LEEDA) Command Institute for Law Enforcement Executives. He was a Board Member of the ASIS International Crime and Loss Prevention Council. He served in the United States Army Reserves and was honorably discharged in 1987. He was a certified professional mediator, and a certified crisis negotiator. He has been an adjunct professor at Essex County College since 1999, an adjunct professor at New Jersey City University (2009-2011). He is currently a tenured Assistant Professor at Saint Peter’s University in the Criminal Justice Department where he teaches criminal justice and sociology courses.
- Dr. Royster is also the author of his memoir, “Crossroads: Conflicted Journey of a New Jersey State trooper” published under the pen name Dr. Vincent Lucas Martin. The book that details his revelations about growing up in an inner city and making strategic decisions that paved the way for his entrance into the New Jersey State Police. Along the way, after attaining advanced degrees and attending law enforcement’s most prestigious training academy, he was assigned to an internal investigative unit, which was purportedly in place to ferret out racial, sexual, and gender discrimination. However, after investigating several cases, the author witnessed the pattern and practice of intentionally stalling investigations, which enabled high-ranked, commissioned officers to retire without being reprimanded. He reported his allegations directly to those in charge, but instead of making institutional changes, they retaliated against him and denied him promotions. He reluctantly filed a civil lawsuit, which made its way to the New Jersey Supreme Court, where he won and, ultimately, settled his case.
- Dr. Royster is also co-author of the Historical Dictionary of American Criminal Justice. The Historical Dictionary of American Criminal Justice contains a chronology, an introduction, appendixes, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 1,200 cross-referenced entries on the most relevant concepts, cases, people, and terms. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about American criminal justice.
A must read for those interested in the New Jersey State Police.
A great resource for criminal justice enthusiasts.