Mayor Steven M. Fulop joined Public Safety Director James Shea, Police Director Tawana Moody, and Police Chief Michael Kelly to announce the promotion of 20 Captains, 20 Lieutenants, and 35 Sergeants in the Jersey City Police Department. These promotions achieve more diversity within the ranks, including the highest-ranking Hispanic female and highest-ranking African American female within the entire department.
Consistent with The Mayor’s Pledge per President Obama, Jersey City clarifies and amends JCPD General Orders
Mayor Steven M. Fulop and Public Safety Director James Shea announced today that the “Use of Force” General Order for the Jersey City Police Department will be amended where necessary and clarified where necessary to be consistent with best practices.
“I took the pledge last night when President Obama asked mayors to step up and we are starting on Day 1 with changes and clarification where needed” said Mayor Fulop. “We have the best police department anywhere in the country and when it is possible to be even better, we will take steps to get there.”
Over the next few weeks the Mayor will work in conjunction with the City Council and the community to make sure that Jersey City remains a national leader with regards to policing policy.
Frequently Asked JCPD General Orders & Guidelines:
1) Require De-Escalation
See JCPD G.O. 02-16BACKGROUND. In using force, the utmost restraint should be exercised. The degree of force employed in any situation should be only that reasonably necessary. Officers should exhaust all other reasonable means before resorting to the use of force. (p.1) However, please see “The Use of Force Continuum” (p.3-4) The use of force continuum is similar to a progressive set of steps in which an officer would ideally take one step at a time. However, the circumstances presented to an officer may dictate the skipping of any number of intermediate steps and immediately may necessitate jumping to a higher step in order to effectively and safely protect him/herself and./or others. (p. 3-4)
Festivities Include Food Tasting and Judging of Contestants’ Dishes, Food Trucks, Children’s Activities, Music and More; All Proceeds to Benefit Charity
Contestants from the Jersey City Police Department, Fire
Department, EMTs and Hudson County Corrections officers will face-off in the 2nd annual Jersey City First Responders Charity Cook-off. With each ticket, attendees will get to taste each of the prepared dishes and vote for their favorite.
All proceeds will benefit a charity of the groups’ choosing: The Jersey City Firefighters Family Assistance Fund, the Police Unity Tour, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and The Code Green Campaign, as well as $5 from every ticket sold going to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. Festivities also include music, children’s activities, food trucks, and more while enjoying a great fall day in the Beacon’s Overlook park with views of Jersey City and New York Cit Saturday, September 9, 2017 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Beacon
20 Beacon Way
Jersey City, NJ 07304
Jersey City Police Officers
Jersey City Firefighters
Jersey City EMTs
Hudson County Corrections Officer
Jersey City Mayor Steven F. Fulop
Events to Continue Strengthening Relationships with the Community
All are Welcome to Enjoy Live Music, Kids Entertainment, Giveaways, Safety Awareness Education, and More at the 33rd annual
“America’s Night Out Against Crime” Event
Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop and the Jersey City Police Department announce the return of the successful community-building event, National Night Out. This year’s festivities will take place in four different parks throughout the city. Continue reading Jersey City Police Department Host National Night Out Aug. 1st, 2017
Fulop Administration Has Hired a Over 300 New Officers Since Taking Office in 2013
Fulop Administrations Grows Jersey City Police Department to Largest Size in Two Decades; Graduating Class Brings Department to 932 Officers
Mayor Steven M. Fulop will swear in 25 new Jersey City police officers at a graduation ceremony at City Hall on Thursday. This latest class brings the size of the department to 932 total officers, its largest size in two decades. The Fulop administration has hired over 300 officers since 2013, increasing visibility and allowing for added walking posts in areas where they are needed most. Continuing the administration’s priority on diversity recruitment, the 25 new graduates also include thirteen Hispanic officers, three African-American officers, and two Asian officers. And with five females now joining the department, this class marks one of the largest amounts of female officers graduating from a single class. Another class of officers currently in the Police Academy will allow for an additional 24 officers to graduate this fall, bringing the department closer to Mayor Fulop’s goal of 950 officers.
Thursday June 8th, 2017 at 11 a.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall
280 Grove Street, Jersey City, NJ
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop
Director of Public Safety James Shea
Jersey City Police Department leadership
Graduating Officers
Officers Sworn in Brings Department to 922 Officers; Fulop Administration has Hired Over 250 Officers and Mayor Fulop Pledges to Hire Two Additional Classes with a Total of 50 Officers in 2017
JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop today swore in 25 new Jersey City police officers, bringing the size of the department to 922 officers – its largest size in two decades – as the administration continues to grow the force and enhance public safety, while also diversifying the department.
“We have made rebuilding the police department a priority since day one, and while there is still more work to do, we are proud of this new class of officers and on where we are today with our police department,” said Mayor Fulop. “We will continue to build the department and with each new class we hire, we will be able to increase foot patrols with officers interacting directly with members of the community, enhancing public safety and strengthening community relations.”
Since taking office in July of 2013, Mayor Fulop has hired more than 250 new police officers, including today’s class. An additional class of 26 officers is also in the police academy expected to graduate this summer. Mayor Fulop has also pledged to add two more classes of recruits this year for a total of 50 new officers to be hired by the department; the goal is for a department with over 950 officers.
When Mayor Fulop took office, there were 779 officers in the department and utilizing grant and capital funds, the administration has hired several new classes of officers with plans for continued expansion. Since last spring, the new officers joining the force have been assigned to foot patrols, primarily in the South and West Districts. Today’s class of officers will also be deployed to foot patrol as they start their careers to enhance visibility and expand community policing.
“Today is a proud day for these men and women as they take the oath of office to protect and serve their community,” said Public Safety Director James Shea. “We are proud of them and what they have achieved, and while it is a great accomplishment to have a growing department that reflects the community, the true achievement will be when these men and women are on patrol, building relationships with the community and helping others each and every day.”
The Fulop administration has also made diversity recruitment a focus, establishing the city’s first recruitment center at the HUB and dedicating two officers to work with the community on outreach. As a result, of the new officers hired since 2013, nearly 70 percent have been minorities, including today’s class, which includes 16 Hispanic officers, two African-American officers and one Asian-American officer.
Languages spoken within the JCPD include Spanish, Italian, Greek, Arabic, Urdu, Creole, Polish, Swahili, Bengali and Vietnamese.
On February 3rd, 2017 Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop signed an Executive Order re-affirming and strengthening Jersey City’s Sanctuary City status and outlining a detailed policy on the matter for the Police Department and other city departments and agencies who work with the immigrant community. Here is the Executive Order:
WHEREAS, Jersey City values its ethnic, racial, linguistic, and socio-economic diversity. which is a source of our strength and ensures that all our residents can live and pursue their livelihoods in peace and prosperity; and
WHEREAS, the targeting of immigrants undermines our democracy and our common humanity and degrades life everywhere but especially for the residents of a proud and richly diverse City such as the City of Jersey City; and
WHEREAS, local enforcement of immigration law whereby local law enforcement voluntarily works on behalf of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to facilitate deportations, undermines trust and cooperation between immigrant communities and the police and could expose the City to liability for violations of individuals’ Constitutional rights; and
WHEREAS, the identification and reporting of immigrants who have not been charged much less convicted of any crime unduly burdens and diverts municipal resources; disrupts and interferes with the City’s duty to deliver basic municipal services such as healthcare, education and police protection; and
WHEREAS, undue collaboration between local law enforcement and ICE will make immigrants less likely to report crimes, act as witnesses in criminal investigations and prosecutions, and provide intelligence to law enforcement which is especially problematic where the victim of a crime is an immigrant; and Continue reading EXECUTIVE ORDER OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF JERSEY CITY ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF JERSEY CITY AS A SANCTUARY CITY
Executive Order Provides Detailed Policy Preventing City Resources from being Used on Federal Immigration Enforcement
JERSEY CITY – Joined today by a coalition of immigration advocates, Mayor Fulop today signed an executive order re-affirming and strengthening Jersey City’s Sanctuary City status and outlining a detailed policy on the matter for the Police Department and other city departments and agencies who work with the immigrant community.
As one of the most diverse cities in the nation, with 40 percent of the population foreign born and 75 languages spoken in the public schools, the executive order establishes a firm policy preventing city resources from being used on the enforcement of federal immigration law and will serve as a model for other cities in New Jersey and the nation.
“Jersey City has a long tradition of welcoming new immigrants to our country as the Golden Door to America and that is not going to change, despite the recent actions being taken by the President,” said Mayor Fulop. “This executive order reaffirms our Sanctuary City status and establishes a strong policy as we stand proudly and firmly with our immigrant community today and everyday.” Continue reading Mayor Fulop Signs Executive Order Re-Affirming Jersey City as a Sanctuary City; Drafted with Coalition of Immigration Advocates
By Ricardo Kaulessar- Photos by Ricardo Kaulessar
The funeral for Jersey City Police
Officer Melvin Santiago on Friday offered a somber pause, a reflective respite from a very tense week for law enforcement and the public at large.
The 23-year-old was laid to rest at St. Aloysius Church on West Side Avenue, mourned by grieving family and friends, his fellow officers, and elected officials. Also, hundreds of officers from locations as far away as Philadelphia lined the street outside when his casket was brought into the church. Continue reading Fallen Jersey City Police Officer Melvin Santiago Remembered at Funeral
High-Visibility Patrols Also Targeted Disorderly Groups and Holiday Shopping Areas
JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced today that the Jersey City Police Department arrested 17 individuals on a variety of charges, including various narcotics offenses, and issued nearly 150 motor vehicle summonses during a large-scale, joint law enforcement operation.
The operation, which was led by the JCPD, began at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6th and went through the early morning hours on Saturday, Dec. 7th. A total of 50 undercover officers from the JCPD, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency participated in the operation.
A key success of the operation was the execution of a search warrant at a home on Orient, which has been a source of community complaints as a known drug distribution site. The home was heavily fortified, however, the JCPD Emergency Services Unit breached the front door. As suspects with known prior weapons offenses were believed to be inside, a flash bang was deployed upon entry. Three individuals were arrested at this location. Earlier in the day, police recovered two bricks of heroin which had been sold from the house. Continue reading Jersey City Police Arrest 17 Individuals As Part of Large-Scale, Joint Law Enforcement Operation