From a commanding perch in the Howe Center of Stevens Institute of Technology atop Castle Point, Lt. Kenneth Ferrante was sworn in as the 10th chief of the Hoboken Police Department on Dec. 1.
A 21-year veteran of the HPD, Ferrante has moved swiftly through the ranks since joining the force in 1993, becoming a sergeant in 2003 and lieutenant in 2008. At 42, he is one of the youngest chiefs ever to lead the HPD, equal to the age of Carmen LaBruno when he took over as chief. His contract with the city, approved unanimously at a City Council meeting in November, carries a $162,000 base annual salary and runs until at least 2019.
Ferrante brings extensive experience in leading officers and public safety efforts to his new role. He served as the Southeast Hoboken Commander during Hurricane Irene and the South Hoboken Commander during Hurricane Sandy, and was the Waterfront Commander for several Macy’s 4th of July fireworks displays. Since 2013, he has served as coordinator of the city’s Office of Emergency Management.
Ferrante emerged as the top candidate for the chief post through a year-long process that included a public service examination on which Ferrante recorded the second highest score and four extended interviews with six different city officials. The other finalists for the position were Captain Tory Pasculli and outgoing interim Chief Edelmiro Garcia.
“I never like it to be about me; it’s always about team concept, but this is a day I’ve strived for for a long time,” said Ferrante, the son of a Hoboken police captain and lifelong resident of the city.
On Ferguson
Ferrante said he wanted to formulate a new mission statement for the HPD—it currently has none—focused on serving community sensitivity, which he planned to outline to his officers at a meeting in City Hall on Friday. He made clear, though, that community sensitivity does not mean being a “softer police officer.”
Ferrante highlighted six groups towards which he wants his department to display increased sensitivity—the media, elected officials, community groups, his own officers, victims, and those who have not yet been victimized.
“I never like it to be about me… but this is a day I’ve strived for for a long time.”-Kenneth Ferrante
____________
“We’re going to have crime,” he continued, “but when that mistake is made or somebody does a deliberate act that brings negativity to the community, if the relationships aren’t fostered with those community groups beforehand, you’re going to lose control.”
“Instead of doing band-aid approaches, we’re going to analyze situations and we’re going to solve problems,” said Ferrante.
Show of support
At his swearing in ceremony on Dec. 1, Ferrante was fêted by a who’s who of Hudson County personalities, including Hoboken Mayor Zimmer, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, Hudson County Freeholder Anthony Romano, State Assemblymen Carmelo Garcia and Charles Mainor, and Hoboken City Councilpersons Beth Mason, Ravi Bhalla, Theresa Castellano, and Jim Doyle. Former Hoboken Mayor David Roberts was on hand, and former Hoboken State Sen. Bernard Kenny served as master of ceremonies.
The ceremony also saw strong attendance from public safety leaders in the region, including Stevens Police Chief Timothy Griffin, Hudson County Undersheriff Andrew Conte, Port Authority Police Department Superintendent Michael Fedorko and Deputy Superintendent Edward Cetnar, NJ Transit Police Chief Christopher Trucillo, North Bergen Police Chief Robert Dowd, and Jersey City Police Chief Philip Zacche. Former Hoboken Fire Chief Richard Tremitiedi and former Police Chief LaBruno were also present.
Notably absent from Monday’s ceremony was the last permanent chief of the HPD, Anthony Falco, who retired this past July after five years. Zimmer encountered strong opposition from police officers and the police union in 2010 when she demoted nine officers and reorganized the department in order to save the city money. And last year, Falco hit Zimmer with a federal lawsuit for allegedly denying him compensation.
In her speech, Zimmer alluded to these “turbulent times” with the Hoboken Police Department. “As I reflect on my administration’s relationship with the Police Department,” she said, “I recognize this is a pretty amazing day.”
Ferrante was one of the police lieutenants temporarily demoted to sergeant as part of that 2010 plan, and he spoke out publically against the move at the time. But on the occasion of his promotion to chief Monday, that tension appeared solidly in the past. Ferrante hailed Zimmer’s commitment to protecting the city, saying that she “has an absolute passion for keeping residents safe.”
Zimmer returned the favor, pouring praise on Ferrante. “I am extremely confident that his extensive expertise, commitment to community, leadership and highest level of integrity will ensure the protection of Hoboken residents,” she said. “Working with [Ferrante] over the past few years, I have seen this dedication [to fairness] firsthand.”
A long time coming
Those who know Ferrante well say his rise to the top of the Hoboken Police Department is hardly a surprise. The son of Fred Ferrante, a former Hoboken police captain, Ken was groomed for law enforcement from a young age.
Ferrante said his father still has a picture of him as a child, dressed up in an “almost identical” Hoboken police uniform for Halloween.
“When I was becoming a sergeant,” said Ferrante, “he was still showing these pictures, and I’m saying, ‘Dad, these guys work for me and you’re showing them 3-year-old pictures of me, this isn’t working for our reputation.’”
Since the age of 12, said Ferrante, his grandfather Charles Puncerelli has been telling him he would become a police chief someday. After Monday’s ceremony, Puncerelli, who is now 92, said it was Ferrante who would tell him he was going to become a cop whenever they saw one on the street.
Ferrante credited another proud Hudson County tradition, St. Peter’s Preparatory School football, with pushing him to aim for the top. When a 19-year-old Ferrante was interviewed by a lieutenant upon his entry to the Hoboken police force, he told the officer that his ultimate goal was to be chief of police.
St. Peter’s football coach Rich Hansen “always taught me, you shoot for the top, shoot for the best, nothing less,” explained Ferrante, who won a state championship with Hansen in 1989.
Freeholder Anthony Romano, another former Hoboken police captain, has known Ferrante since his own father served with Ferrante’s father in the HPD. Having watched his progress and served as his supervisor, Romano said that Ferrante was always methodical and organized and would “take the Hoboken Police Department to the next level of professionalism, integrity, and accountability.”
Carlo Davis may be reached at cdavis@hudsonreporter.com.