Jersey City swore in six, new police officers during a ceremony held on Monday.
Mayor Steven Fulop, Public Safety Director James Shea, Police Director Tawana Moody, and Police Chief Robert Kearns joined Jersey City’s finest in the City Hall Council Chambers to swear in the new police recruits.
Since Mayor Fulop took office in 2013, the Jersey City Police Department has significantly grown in size. A city press release states, “With a continued emphasis on diversity, more than 700 new officers have been hired under his leadership, making Jersey City the largest municipal police department in the state. Today, nearly 75% of the department’s officers represent minority populations, making the JCPD one of the most diverse police departments in the region.”
The Mayor added, “Despite facing our share of challenges, we are still light years ahead of where we were in 2013, not only in growing the size of our police department, but also in achieving historic reductions in crime and improvements in public safety across the board. These newly sworn officers exemplify the commitment, resilience, and desire to serve their community. Their addition to the force will further enhance public safety and strengthen relationships within our diverse neighborhoods.”
The 6 newest Jersey City police officers are:
- Pedro Lantigue Mejia
- Felipe Nunez-Zevallos
- Bryan Gunn
- Beshoy Bushra
- Shane Daly
- Mohamed Thornhill
“Our latest recruits are a testament to the continued dedication of individuals who are willing to answer the call to public service during a time when fewer people are choosing this path,” said Director Shea. “We recognize the uphill battle of recruiting while also ensuring we recruit individuals with the character and integrity needed for this critical role.”
“The new officers bring fresh energy and ideas to the force as the city continues to enhance innovative strategies for community policing, deterring crime, and improving residents’ overall quality of life,” added Police Director Moody. “We remain focused on building a robust and diverse department that meets the evolving needs of Jersey City’s dynamic community.”
Chief Kearns stated, “Each officer sworn in today represents the resilience of Jersey City,” concludes. We are committed to supporting these officers in their new roles and continuing to find innovative ways to recruit and retain the next generation of law enforcement.”