Jersey City Swears In 28 New Police Officers, Over 80% Represent Minority Populations

Why has the Jersey City Police Department been able to grow its ranks in recent years?  According to the Administration of Mayor Steven Fulop the answer is a simple one: decreasing crime attributed to the Fulop Administration’s strategic efforts and the JCPD growth.

On Wednesday morning at City Hall, 28 of the newest officers graduating from the police academy took their oaths of office, as Mayor Steven M. Fulop was joined by Public Safety Director James Shea, Police Director Tawana Moody, Acting Police Chief Robert Kearns, and members of the Jersey City Police Department. The ceremony was an especially proud moment for the Mayor, as he pointed out that due to the diversity recruitment efforts which have been in place for the past several years, 80% of the new class represents minority populations to better reflect Jersey City’s diverse community.

Mayor Fulop stated, “Earlier this week, we announced historic progress in our fight against crime as we close out 2023 with the lowest homicide rate in Jersey City’s history and the lowest among the top 100 largest cities throughout the entire East Coast. We look forward to continued progress, and today’s graduates play a key role in expanding our public safety efforts and community building as they start their careers with the greatest police department in the state.”

Since becoming Mayor in 2013, Fulop has hired 815 police recruits and made over 650 promotions within the JCPD.  The newly sworn officers from this week’s ceremony represent various cultural backgrounds.  There are 13 Hispanic officers, 5 Caucasian officers, 5 African American officers, 3 Middle Eastern officers, 1 Asian-Hispanic officer, and 1 East Indian officer.

Public Safety Director Shea concluded by saying, “Our focus on enhancing the number of police officers citywide has allowed for increased patrols in targeted areas.  Additionally, our diversity recruitment also allows for greater focus on proactively strengthening community relations with the officers who are out in the neighborhoods every day and night”