Alcalde Sacco, Comisionados felicitan a la NBPD por publicar la tasa de uso de fuerza más baja en el condado de Hudson, entre las mejores en NJ

La tasa de uso de fuerza del 6,0% de NBPD es una de las más bajas de cualquier municipio comparable en el estado

NORTH BERGEN, NJ – Los nuevos datos publicados por la Fiscalía General del Estado de Nueva Jersey muestran que el Departamento de Policía de North Bergen empleó el uso de la fuerza a un ritmo menor que cualquier otro departamento en el condado de Hudson el año pasado. La tasa de North Bergen en que sus oficiales usaron la fuerza fue del 6,0%, lo que es más bajo que casi cualquier departamento de policía municipal comparable en el estado.   El alcalde Nicholas Sacco y otros funcionarios locales están celebrando el ranking de la localidad como prueba de que su estrategia de fomentar mejores relaciones policiales-comunitarias está teniendo éxito y ayudando a hacer a los residentes más seguros.  

 “We’ve always known that our North Bergen Police Department is one of the most outstanding law enforcement agencies in the state, and this new set of data proves that our officers are not only keeping us safe from crime, they are doing it in a professional manner that shows restraint and respect,” said Mayor Sacco. “I commend Chief Peter Fasilis and his entire team for making this possible and thank them on behalf of our entire community.” 

 Since taking office as Chief of Police last year, Chief Fasilis has instituted numerous policy changes designed to build on the work done by his predecessors in the department and further improve the relationship between residents and officers. Chief Fasilis has placed an increased emphasis on de-escalation training, which encourages officers to handle tense encounters by talking rather than immediately threatening force or resorting to force. He has also provided officers with basic training on interacting with people with mental health disabilities and on crisis de-escalation, offered increased support to officers who are showing signs of stress, and taken several other steps designed to reduce use of force. 

 “Building trust between our officers and the community we serve has never been more critical to our mission, so I could not be more proud of the men and women of the North Bergen Police Department who are truly living up to our values by limiting the use of force whenever possible,” said Chief Fasilis. “I believe strongly that we are most effective when the residents know us, trust us, and believe we are here to protect them. Reducing use-of-force encounters helps build those relationships and makes our entire community safer.” 

 Chief Fasilis also cited the township’s longstanding “resident only” hiring policy in the department’s success in reducing use of force. Since Mayor Sacco and the Commissioners instituted the policy mandating that new hires be local residents the department has become significantly more diverse and representative of North Bergen. Currently, 66% of NBPD officers are Hispanic and 14% are women, and the department also includes several Arab American officers. 

 “The North Bergen Police Department is becoming a model for what a successful law enforcement agency should look like in 2021,” said Public Safety Commissioner Allen Pascual. “I want to thank Chief Fasilis and his command staff as well as the rank-and-file officers who are living up to their training and showing the restraint and professionalism needed to reduce harmful encounters.”