The Chief Investigator Secretly Closing Deals For Verkada
The chief investigator charged with finding "fraud, waste, misconduct, and abuse" in a New Jersey county secretly helps close deals for Verkada at school districts within his jurisdiction, IPVM found in an investigation of public records.
Chief Investigator Gerard Dargan of the Bergen County Office of the Inspector General, assists Verkada in winning deals with Bergen County's schools, including trips to his beach house, despite county ethics codes prohibiting a county official from engaging in any business "which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his duties in the public interest."
In this report, IPVM examines 87 emails obtained via a public records request which show that Dargan is directly involved with Verkada to close deals with Bergen County school systems.
Gerard ****** **********
****** "*****" ****** ** *** ***** Investigator ** ****** ******, *** ******'******* ** *** ********* ********** **** ** ** ********** ***** ******** (***), ** ***** ** ******** *** confirmed ** **** **** *** ***:
*** ****** ****** ****** ** *** Inspector ********* "******* **** ********* *** **********, accountability *** ********* ** ****** ****** government" *** "************ ********** ** *****, waste, ********** ** ***** ** ****** government":
**** ************, *** ********* ******* ** tasked **** ******** *** ****** ****** Counsel ** ********* ******** ** ***** violations. *** ****** *******, ** ****, refers **** ** ******** ******** ***/** civil *********** ********* ** ** *** and ********* ****** **** ** ******.
Bergen ******: "**** *** ******* ** ********* *******"
****** ****** ******** ** ******* ** IPVM, ******* ** "**** *** ******* on ********* *******". ****** *** *** reply ** ****'* ******** ******* ********.
Dargan: ****** ** *****, ******* * *****
** * ***** ** **** **** 600 ****** ******** ** ****, ***** Investigator ******'* ******* ***** ******* *** included ** *****. ****** ********** ******* three ***** ** ******* ********* ** messages ******** ******* ** ******* ******* deals.
**** *** ** ******** ** ******'* official ****** ****** ***** ******* **** in *** ** *** *********.
Map ****** ********* **** ****** ******* *******
***** ** * *** ******* *** 4 ****** ********* **** **** ******** contact ******* ****** *** *******.
"Anything *** ****"
** ** ***** *, **** ***** to****** *******, ************** ** ****** ******'* ****** School ********, ***** ************ ****** *****, "let ** **** ** ***** ******** you ****."
**** *** ******* ******** ** ** Verkada ******* ********* ***** ****** ******* to *** ** * **** ****:
"***** ****** *** **** *****" ** a ********* ** ** ***** * dinner ** ** ******* **********, **** hosted ** *******, *** ******** ** Dargan, *** *******.
"Jerry ******* ** **** *****"
***** **** **** ***, ** ** email **** *** ******** ******* ********* ***,*** ************** ** ******** ****** ******** in ****** ******, ** ******* ***** rep***** ******, *** ****, "***** ** ****!" in ******** ** ****** ********* **** all *** ******** ** ****** ****** went **** *** *** ***** ** off ** * **** *****.
*** ************** **** ****, "***** ******* to **** ***** **** ** ***** districts."
"I ** ****** *********"
** * **** *, **** *****, Chief *********************** ** ******* ****** ****** ****** officials **** ** ** "****** *********" to "**** *** ******* *** *******" of ****** *** ********** *******, *** included *** **** ***** ******:
****** **** ******* *** ********* *** attending * *** ** ****** ****** by ******* ** * *** ****** Italian ********** **** *** ********** ******* by ****:******* ****** ****** *** ****** *** Public ****** **************.
"Jerry's ***** *****"
*** **** ***,******* ***** *** ***** ************ ******** ************** *** *** ***** Investigator ****** *** ************ * ****** dinner:
***** ********* "*** **** ***" ** "Jerry's ***** *****":
********, ***** ***** *****, ************** *** mentions ** * ******* *** **** he **** ** "**** ***** **** shore" *** * **** ***** ** the ******, ** *** ****** ******** and ***** *** *** ** ********** their *********.
"Extensive" *** *********** **********
** * **** **, **** *****,***** ************ ***********, "** * *** **** ** any *** ****** ** *** ******** to ***** ***" *** ****** *** "extensive *** *********** *** ******** **********" and ******** *** **** ******:
*******,******* *******, *** ******** * ****** ******** in ***** ****** (******* ** ***** Investigator ******'* ************), ******** ** **** with ******/*******.
"Jerry ** ** **. ****** *** ***"
** * **** *, **** *****,**** ********, *** ************** ** *** ********* Public ****** ******** ** ****** ******, wrote ** *** ******* **** *********** about ******* *** ***** ********* *** not ***** *********:
****** *** *******, ************** *** *** alerted *** *****. *** ****** ***** (and ***** ******* ***** *** ******* email ** *** ******* ****), ************** Pinajian ********* ***, ********** ***** **** the **********, *******:
***** ** ** **. ****** *** man.
*** ****** *** *** ****** **** action ***** ************ ****** **** ** placate *** ******* ********* **************.
Bergen ****** ****** **** ********
********* ****** **** ** *********** **** "****** ********** ** *********" whenever ** ******** *** * ******** between ***** "******* ********* *** ****** duties":
*** **** ******* ***** **** "**" official ***** "****** ** *** ********" that "** ** *********** ********" **** their ****** ****** ** *** ****** interest:
*** *** ****, ********* *** $*** to $*,*** *** ********* **** ********* suspension, ********, ** *******, ** ****.
Verkada: ** ********
** ******** ** *** ********* ******** to ****** ****** ********* **** ******** no ********, **** **** ********* ******* multiple ***** **** *** ******** *** weeks, ********* ********** ******** *** ****** several *********. **** ******** ** ***** to *** ** *** *********.
*** *** ******** ** *** *** all ***** ****** ********* ***** ***** and ****** *** *******? **** *** they ******* *** ** **? **** a ****** *** * **** ***?
*** ***** ** ******* **** *********** and ****** ********* ** ******* **** it ***** ** **********. *** **** majority ** **** ****** **** ** capability ** ****** **********/********, *** ******* of ***** ************, ** ****** **** anything ******** ** ********* *** *****, capabilities, ** ******* ** ***** ***** products ** ******* *********** ****** ****.
******* **** **** ***** ** *** bro ******* *** ******* ***** **** that **** ****** ********* *** *********** really **** ** ****. ***** **** of ********* ** *** ******** **** sold ** ******* ** *** ****, I ***** **** ******* **** *** of ***** *** ** ****** **** those ****** **** *******, *** ********.
*******, **** ****, "**** * *** out" ********, "**** *** ******** ******", and ****** ***** ***** ***** **** well ** **** *****. ********* **** Verkada ** ******** ***** ****** **** bad ********** *********.
*** *** **** ***** *** ************ networking *****? ***'* **** *********** **** for *** *********** *** *** ****** multiple *********? ** **** *** **** as ** ********* **** ******** ** a "*** ****"?
*** *******, ** ******* (*** * Verkada *******) *** * *** *** a **** *******. *** ** ********** for **** *** *********, ** ** said ** ***** ********* ** *** the ***** **** ******** **** ** serves. *** *** *** ** *** that *** ** *** ***** *****? The ***** **** *** ***** ** a ********* **** ******* **** ** did * *** ***.
***** ** ******* **** *********** *** public ********* ** ******* **** ** comes ** **********
** *** *** ** ******* ** this ** ***'** *** * ******* people ** *** ***** *** ***'* swim. ** *** ** * ****** of ****** ***** * **** ****, wouldn't *** **** ****** ** **** people ** *** *****? ** *** case ** **. ******, ** *** be ******** **'* ***** *** ****** districts * ***** ** ******* * "reliable" ******** *** ****. *********, ** can ******** ******* *** ******** ** found ** *** ****, *** * can *** *** ** ***** ** this, **** ** ** ****'* ******* any ******* **** *******.
*** * *** *** *** ** would ** ****, **** ** ** didn't ******* *** ******* **** *******.
*** ** ** ****** ******* *********** to *** ***** *****? **'* *** thing ** ***** * ********* * recommendation, *** **** ** *********...
**** *** ***** *******, ** ****** paying *** *** *****?
**'* **** ** **** ******'* ********* and ***** ********** ** *** **.
**** * *****, *** ** ****** Jerry ***** **** **** **** ****** conversation ***** *** ***** *****. **'* a ****** *** ** ****** ** and ****** **** ** *** ******** nights ************..."**** *** ** ** *****'* beach *****".
***, ****'* * **** *****. *******, we ***** ******** ********** ** *** beach ***** ** *** ****** ** received (*** *** **** ** ******* reps, *** ******** ***** ** *** beach ***** ** ******* ***** ********** in *** *******).
****, *** **** ** *** *** the ***** *****, *****? *** ** write ** *** ** ***** ** an ******? ****** *** * ******.
**** * *****, *** ** ****** Jerry ***** **** **** **** ****** conversation ***** *** ***** *****. **'* a ****** *** ** ****** ** and ****** **** ** *** ******** nights ************..."**** *** ** ** *****'* beach *****".
***** ************* ** * ********* ******** with * ****** ****** ********.
** *** **** ** **. ******, he *** ** ******** **'* ***** the ****** ********* * ***** ** getting * "********" ******** *** ****.
*****. * **** ** ***** ********** ** ***** *** ***** *****. I **** ************** ***** *** ********** ** ********** assess *** *******.
***'* **** *********** **** *** *** influencers *** *** ****** ******** *********?
** ******. *** ******** ** ****** how *** ******** **** *** ********* those *** ****** **** *** **** identified **** *** ****** ** * conversation **** ****. **** **** ** have **** ****** ********** ** ****, Verkada ******* ** **** **** *** loose **** ****** ** ***** *****.
* **** ** ***** ** ****** he ** ***** *** ***** *****.
* **** ** ***** ****he ***** ** - which is why he uses his gmail account when he is acting as a Verkada 'fixer' - instead of his official Bergen County email.
***** ****** ** *** ****** * public ******* ******* *** ******'* **** email *** *** ****** *** ******* saying ***** **** ** ******* *** Dargan ****** **** *** **** *******.
*** ****** *** *** ********** ** Verkada ****** ******* *** ** *** Gmail ******* *** *** ******** ** the ******* ** ********.
* ******* *** ****** ***** ** Verkada *** ***, ***** *** ** many ****** ********* *** *****.Open ********* if I might add.
*** ** ** ******** "**** = Good" *** "*********** = ***"?
***** ***, ** *** *****, * proprietary **********. ***** *** **** ***** on ***** ******, *** ****** ******** their *** **** * ****** ** Google ***** ** *******. *** **** own **% ** *** ****** *** 350 ******* *********.
** * ****** ******** ** ******* I *** **** *** **** ****, many ** *******'* ********* **** ****, verbatim: "* ** ******* ******* ** forego *********** **** ***** ***** ********* down *** **** ** ******** *** receiving * **** ****** ** *** a **** ****** ***** ** ********* across ** ******/****** *******/******/***."
**** *** *** ** ** ***% BS.
"* ** ******* ******* ** ****** integration **** ***** ***** ********* **** the **** ** ******** *** ********* a **** ****** ** *** * much ****** ***** ** ********* ****** my ******/****** *******/******/***."
*** **** **** ***** ** **** it ** ** ** *** **** better ** *** * **** ****** level ** *********. ******* ** *** better *** ** **** ***** **** many ******* *** ******* **** *** much *******. ** ** ****** **** that ** *** ******** **** *** a **** ** **** ***** ********.
****** **** ** ******* ** **. I **** ** *** ** **** fight, *** * *** **** *** I've ***** **** ********* **** ***** a *** ********** *********. **** ***'* care ***** *********** ** **** ** integrators **, **** **** **** ***** problem ****** - *** ****** *** 10 ***** ****** **** ** ****.
* ******* **** #* ** ******, there *** ********** * ******** ****** of *** ***** *** *** ****.
*** ******* ** **** ***** *** users ***** ** * *** ***** and *** **** ****** ** *** stuck **** ******* **** * ****** system.
**********, *** ******* **** ******* ** not **** ** ** "***********", ********* all ********** ******* ***. *** ******* is *** ****** ******* ** *** the ************* ** **** ***** ** long-term.
"******* ** *** ****** *** ** even ***** **** **** ******* *** systems **** *** **** *******."
** **** * **** ** **** opinion?
** **** * **** ** **** opinion?
**'* * **** ******** *******, ** my *******.
* *** **** ***'** ****** ** say, *** ***** ** * *** example.
***** *** ********* ****/****, *** * developer ********* **** ********* ******** ** dollars ** ****** *******. ***, ************ have ** ** ******** ** *****, and ***** **** *** ********, **** are ***.
***** ** ****** ** "****" ******* on *** ****** **** **** *** interact ** *** ** *****, ** load *** ******** ** *********** *********. Our "****" ******** *** ***** *** lines ** ***, * **** ******** and *** ** ************* **** *** be ******** ** * ***** ******, within *** ***** *** ****** ** the ************.
** * ****** ******** ** ******* I *** **** *** **** ****, many ** *******'* ********* **** ****, verbatim: "* ** ******* ******* ** forego *********** **** ***** ***** ********* down *** **** ** ******** *** receiving * **** ****** ** *** a **** ****** ***** ** ********* across ** ******/****** *******/******/***."
*** *** ******* ******** ********* * much ****** **, ** * **** higher ***** ** *********? ********* **** people ***** ** *** ****, *** objectively, *'* *** **** **** ** true. *'* ***** **** *** ********** iterating *** *********, *** * ***'* think **** *** ***** ***.
*** ** ** ******** "**** = Good" *** "*********** = ***"?
*** **** ** **** ***** **** to *** ***** ******** ******* ** solve * ******* ** *** **** functionality **** ** **** ***** ** them, *** *** ****** ** *** manufacturer. ******* **** *******, *** *** pretty **** ** ***** ***** ** add ************* ** ******* **** *****. With ** **** ****** *** ** least **** *** *********** ******* ** get *** ******** ** ** **** you **** ******* *** ****** ******* of *** ************. ********* **** ********** is ******** ********, *** * ***** many ***** ** ** **** ** a ***** ** **** ******.
*** ***'* ******* ******* ** *****. And, **** **** ********* *******.
***** ** * *** ********** ******* Proprietary *** ********* **** *********.
*** *** ** ****. *********** ********* does *** ****** *********.
**** ****.
***** ************* ****! ***** *** *******.
*******'* **** ** ****** ***** ** giving.
***** ************* ******!
********, * **** ***** *** * missed *********** ** *** * **** to ****** **** ** *** ***** illustration.
: )
**** ******* ... *** *** *** come ** ***** ***** **** *********? Do *** ******* *** ******* *****? Did ******* *** *** ***?
** **** **** ********* *** ***** of ****** ******* ******** ***** ********* helps *** **** *** **** *** been ******** * *** ** **** looking ******* ****. *****'* ******** *** emails ** ******* ****** ***** ****** offering **** ***** ** ***** ** asking *** * **** *** ***** 1 ********** ***********.
** **** **** ********* *** ***** of ****** ******* ********
**, *** **** ********* *** ** ask ************** ******* *** ****** ****** ***************?
* ***** *** *** ******** **** to **** ****** * ****** **** of ***** "**********" ** *** *** systemic **** **.
* ***** ******* *** ***** *** Burns *** **** ******* ** ******* from **** ******** *********, ****** ********* *** $** ******* ***** Touts ******* **************** *******, ** ********** **** - Verkada ******** ******* *** *** *** NJ ****** ********
******* ** ****. ***'* **!
******* ** *** ***** ** ********** contracting. **'* *** *** **** *** what *** **** ** *** *******. It's **** **** *** ***** * dipped ** **** **** **** ***** in *** **** '*** *** ****'* changed ** *** ***** ** **.
***** ** ***** ** * ****** general *********?
*. **** ******* **** ****.
*. ***** ************* **** ** ****, but ****** *. *****'* **** ****** or *. **** ***'* ** **********.
******** *** *****, ** **** *** mean **** **** ** *** *** US ******** ****** *******. "** *** See *********, *** *********".
*'* *** ******** ********, *'* ******. Crazy ** **** ****** ***** "********" for ****** **** ******'* *********** **.
* **** **** ** ** **** Verkada ***** **** *** * ** sure ** ***'*.
*. ***** ************* **** ** ****, but ****** *. *****'* **** ****** or *. **** ***'* ** **********.
** ***, ** ****** ****, **** evidence ** ***** ************* ********* ***** house ******* / ******* **** ********** officials ** **** / ***** ***** - ****** *** **** ****:***** * *** **** ****
**** ******* **** ****.
******, ** *** **** *** ****** specific ******* / ***** ***** ** the **** ** ********** ******* *** legal ****** ******* ***?
******* ** ******* ** *** **** and ********** ***** ****** *** (****** fever *******, *****, *********, ***. ********* we ******* *********** **** *******).
* *** ***** *** **** ***** companies, ** *** ********, **** ** might **** ********* ******* **** *** small *** ***** *** ** *** companies **** ******** ******* ****** **** we ***** ****. ** *** **** any ****,****** **** ** * *** **************.
*** ***** **** ***** *** ******* coverage ** **** ******* ******* ** much ** ****** *******, ***** ** benefit **** ** *** ********* ******* of *********** / ****.
** ******* ** ******* *** **** to ****** ********* ** *******, ** would *** ** **** ** ******** secure **** ********, ** ** *** doing ****.
** *********** **** ** ****** ** Mr. ****** **** ****** ** *** using *** ******** ********** *****, ** somehow ********* *** ******* *******...
** ******* ** ****** *******, ********* will ******* **** *** ****** ********. This ******* **** ****** **** ******** other ******* **************.
***, **** *** *******, ** **** case, ** *** ******** ** *** school ** ******* *** *********** **** sensors *** ****** ***** **** ******** at *** ***** *****...
*** ***** * ***** ******, *** you **** ** *** **** **** time ** **** ***** ***** ***** using ******** ***** *** ********** *** then ******** **** ******** ***** ******* to * ****** ******* *******.
**** *** ******** **** ************ **** for ******** ** **. ******'* ******** email *******?
***, ** *** ********* *********** *** feasibility ** **** **** ** *******. The ***** ** **** ** ** not ***** *** ******** ******* *** official ******** *** *** *** *** his ******** ******* *** *** **** job ******* ******* (********* ** ****** County).
*** **** ***** *** ****** ** the *****'* ***** ******* ************** ******* a ******** ******* ****** ** * judge.
*** **** ******** ** ********* ****** by ** ************ **** ****** *** fixer *** *********** ***** *** ***** account ** *********** ** * *****.
***, *** ********* *** ***** ***'* have ** ** ******* *** *** burden ** ********* ********** ********, *** it **** ***** **** *** ** to ****** **** ******** ***** ** you *** ** *** ******** ********. And * ***'* ***** ** *** to ** ****** *** *** ******* of * *****.
** **** ***** **** *** ** to ****** **** ******** ***** ** you *** ** *** ******** ********.
*** **** ** ******** ***** ********.
*'* *** ****** *** ****** ***** account *** *************** ******* *** ******. *'** *** the **** ***** ******* *** ~** yrs *** *'* **** *** ***** has ******** *** *** *** *** a **** **** ** ****.
*'* **** ****** **** * ***** he ************************ *** **** ***** - *** used *** ******** ***** ******* - when ****** ** *** ***** **** withother ***** (****: *** *****) **** ******** - i.e. school districts in NJ.
* **** **** ** *** ******* the **** ***** *** ** *** going ** ** ******** ** **** training ** **** **** ** *** not ** *** ***** **** ** this:
*** ***** ****** $** ******* *** allegedly ******* ******* *********
***** *************!
***, ******* *** ****** *** ***** "*****"*** ****** ********** ********* ***** ***** to * ********** ********'* ***** *****. It's **** * ****** *** ****.