During a ceremony at the Esther Salas Academy on Thursday afternoon, Acting Police Chief Walter Laurencio took the Oath of Office, becoming Union City’s 16th Chief of Police, and first ever Hispanic to hold the title in the municipality’s 100 year history.
The Oath was administered by the school’s namesake, the Honorable Judge Esther Salas, who received a personal letter on Monday from the new Chief asking if she would do the honors.
Laurencio has been Union City’s Acting Chief since November 2025 when former Chief Anthony Facchini retired. Many law enforcement dignitaries attended Thursday’s event, including Hudson County Prosecutor Wayne Mello; Hudson County Sheriff Jimmy Davis; former Union City Police Chiefs Facchini and Richard Molinari; Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller; as well as the Chief from Hoboken, North Bergen, among other municipalities.
Laurencio began his law enforcement career with the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, before joining the Union City Police Department in 1999. During his career, he has been a Police Officer, Detective, a member of the Community Policing Unit, Narcotics Task Force and the Patrol Division. He has been a member of the Emergency Services Unit since its 2004 inception.
He was promoted to Sergeant in 2008, Lieutenant in 2013, and Captain in 2020. He was Chief of Staff under four previous Chiefs. His command position assignments have included Patrol Division, Investigative Division and Professional Standards Division.
In 2025, Laurencio graduated from the FBI National Academy.