Letter written by Chief of Police for Gary Vitta

Dr. Vitta's Legacy

Professional Educator. Master School Administrator. College Professor. Dedicated Husband, Father, Grandfather, And Loyal Friend To Many

Bump on My Road of Professional Success

“Those Without Sin Cast The First Stone”

Fact: I was charged with Obstruction of Justice/ Witness Tampering

Fact: This happened years after my retirement

Fact: I pled guilty to this offense. There was no arrest or indictment.

Fact: I mistakenly told someone not to tell the truth about a gift(s) given to my daughter at her graduation party at the Madison Hotel in 2007. It should be noted that I had given the gifts back shortly after the gathering in 2007. However, the mistake, error in judgment or offense as it’s called happened in 2013/14. It truly was a mind boggling stupid act on my part. I am not including all the details of this here but the charge was as stated above

Fact: Federal Judge Chesler said if he thought I took a bribe he would be sending me to jail; however what happened here is very unclear and it represented mind-boggling stupidity. There was no restitution of the gifts at all as there was no bribery or corruption.

Fact: I was sentenced to three years of probation with the first year being home confinement. I was also fined $10,000

Fact: I never was charged with bribery or corruption and I never did anything against the law in the past. The word corruption or crooked was never used by anyone other than an article written by a radio station and perhaps some other media outlet. I assume that those words were used to inflame what occurred and to defame my good name

Fact: I am also a very trusting, amiable human being and let many people into my life. I have been told by many this is part of my personality and that I should be far more careful as to whom I call a friend.

Fact: I had over 135 strong letters of support from individuals in all professions including a former Chief of Police, a former Secret Service Agent, Police Officers, Doctors, Detectives, Lawyers, Board of Education Members, Professional Colleagues, Family, Friends, former students and neighbors

Fact: I take full responsibility for my stupidity and for the offense as well as the pain and suffering I caused myself, my family and friends

Fact: About a year after adjudication of the offense, the State of New Jersey filed a civil lawsuit against me claiming that the offense would precipitate a forfeiture of my earned pension and medical benefits and that I should be barred from public employment

Fact: This lawsuit went on for months and a vigorous battle was fought by my attorney and the attorneys for the State of New Jersey

Fact: Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson ruled and a final judgment was declared with prejudice meaning that this case can never be brought forth again. She ruled that the State of New Jersey failed to prove that what happened touched upon my role as Superintendent and that my pension must be restored immediately and retroactively. She also ruled that I could work in public employment.

Fact: The State of New Jersey filed a motion appealing her decision to the New Jersey Appellate Court. The State of New Jersey then dropped their appeal on August 3, 2016 indicating that upon further review of the record and issues in this case that it was decided that the State should withdraw its Notice of Appeal

Fact: The New Jersey Bureau of Pensions refused to abide by Judge Mary Jacobson’s decision and my attorney had to fight vigorously with the pension bureau

Fact: The Judge had to once again be asked to reissue her order and after more legal briefs and battles my pension was finally restored in late August 2016

Fact: Steve Edelstein, my attorney, is in my humble opinion, the absolute best expert in the field of school law and pensions. The legal briefs and oral arguments were outstanding and truthful. He and his team carefully examined all the issues and provided concrete examples as to why the State was so off base in even bringing forth such a lawsuit.

Fact: This entire ordeal took years off my life and caused so much suffering not only to me but to my wife, children and all my family and friends. I take full responsibility for my stupid ridiculous action.

Fact: There are definitely media outlets that choose words that are inflammatory such as crooked Superintendent and Corrupt etc. These are defamatory remarks that incite the public with information that is totally erroneous.

Fact: In addition, the New Jersey Board of Examiners also did not abide by the Judge’s decision regarding working in public employment and decided to try to revoke my certification. After another legal battle I agreed to settle for a 3 year suspension of my School Administrator’s Certificate.

Fact: I presented above the facts and only the facts. There can be no dispute over what is written here.

Fact: As I said above I was wrong and this was a major blip in my successful career. It will be a stigma I must learn to live with all my life.

It is my hope that others can learn from my mistake

It is also my hope that I can move forward despite fake news and the damage I did to my reputation

It is my hope that whoever lays eyes on this website reads the various pages in total

I plan to post about 25 of the 135 letters of support I received during this life altering crisis

It has been a rough road but with God, Family and Friends I survived

I plan to move forward with integrity and dignity

2017

Gary Vitta

January 25, 2015

Honorable Judge Stanley R. Chesler, U.S.D.J.

United States District Court

Frank R. Lautenberg U.S. Post Office and Courthouse

2 Federal Square

Newark, New Jersey 07102

Re: United States v. Gary Vitta

Crim No. 15-01

Dear Judge Chesler,

Sir, my name is John Fogerty and I am a retired Chief with the California Highway Patrol and am currently the Executive Officer of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. I am the past Commander of the Internal Affairs Bureau and I believe I am a good judge of people’s character and motivation.

Your Honor, my purpose in writing to you is to offer insight of my good friend, Dr. Gary Vitta, whom I have known for over thirty-five years. Gary is one of the most caring, committed, community oriented professional educators that I’ve had the pleasure to know. He always spent many hours above and beyond what was expected in helping students learn. His weekends and evenings were spent assisting students who were having difficulties with their classes. With Gary’s help those students were successful and graduated.

Gary was a leader among the faculty and it was clear that he had the proven ability to become a principal and superintendent. I admired his dedication for his many years in private school education which does not always provide the highest financial compensation. On a personal level, Gary is a very giving individual. He has always led community events to help less fortunate people and those that have been marginalized. As an educator who practiced what he preached he instilled values in his students. I personally observed him while he was a teacher at Bishop Ford High School and saw that virtually of the students admired his sincere commitment and dedication.

I have been a guest at his home and I know that he is a dedicated family man who gives of himself to others. He traveled to Indiana to visit a colleague who was dying of cancer and provided support and comfort to him in his last days.

Your Honor, I ask your consideration in granting leniency to Gary. The investigation and resulting filing of a criminal charge and negative publicity has devastated him and his family. He has admitted his absolute poor judgment in this matter. His prior personal and professional life reflect the values that society expects of an educator and administrator. In considering a just sentence for this one instance of poor judgment and naiveté, I hope that along with his many friends, co-workers, former students and others who know him well, you come to believe that he deserves leniency.

Thank you, Your Honor, for taking the time to read my comments.

John Fogerty, Chief (Retired)

California Highway Patrol

January 25, 2015