Under a new table of organization for the Jersey City Police Department proposed by Public Safety Director James Shea, direct oversight of day-to-day operations would be shifted from the chief of police to a newly-appointed deputy police chief.
Shea gave an overview of the changes proposed for the Police Department during the City Council caucus on Oct. 20, saying that plans to reorganize the Fire Department will soon come too.
The change in police organization is the first in at least two decades, and is the result of a need for more predictability in the department, he said.
The recommendations were signed off on by Chief of Police Philip Zacche and reviewed by a council committee that included former police officers Richard Boggiano and Frank Gajewski and Councilman Daniel Rivera. The reorganization would shift some duties from police officers to civilians, but would not likely increase the number of police on the street until the department increases manpower.
The goal is to eventually increase the number of police from about 792 to about 900.
“We would like 950,” Shea said. “But I’ll be happy with 900.”
The hiring of new officers will be made a little easier financially because of pending retirements that will allow the department to hire younger officers for less money than those retiring.
“The new table of organization outlines the needs for the department, assigns new officers to street level units, and increases training for new officers.” – Mayor Steven Fulop
____________
Shea said new officers would be hired at about $38,000 a year, but salary guides would bring each up to $100,000 by their 10th year.
Better chain of command
The new Table of Organization would establish a better chain of command, greater supervision, training and increased accountability, Shea said.
The table would eliminate politics and create clarity in the department, said Mayor Steven Fulop, and be more consistent with best practices for police departments.
Fulop withdrew the original ordinance last June after he asked for the resignation of then Police Chief Thomas Cowen. He asked for the resignation partly over Cowen’s refusal to go along with the changes – many of which reduce the chief of police’s direct control over operations such as the division of Internal Affairs, which investigates police misconduct.
The ordinance, which is expected to be reintroduced, lists requirements for a number of key positions and their ranking. On top is the director of public safety, who must have 10 years experience in the police or fire department or some other law enforcement agency. These requirements can only be waived by a two thirds vote of the City Council.
Below public safety director comes the police chief, then operations, which includes the patrol division, investigations division, and support services bureau. The police chief oversees the medical bureau, gun permits, executive protection, and other similar functions.
There is a new position of deputy chief of operations who will serve as a conduit between the chief of police and the lower units. This new position will serve as one more layer of accountability, and will serve to remove the appearance of impropriety.
In addition, the public safety director can appoint an assistant director, who must also have 10 years experience. But if the director’s own experience is in the Police Department, then the assistant must come out of the Fire Department.
The ordinance retains the mayor’s right to appoint the chief of the police, who must have at least five years administrative or supervisory police experience.
Shea said the changes would also allow personnel to be aware of potential advancement.
Other major staffing changes include returning more lieutenants to desk duty in each precinct, thereby affording them greater control over each district. The new structure will also call for the assignment of new officers to street units.
And the table creates a new position of deputy chief of operations who will serve as a conduit between the chief of police and the lower units. This new position will serve as one more layer of accountability, and will serve to remove the appearance of impropriety.
The administration will hire a class of 60 officers later this year.
Training their own
“This new table of organization provides a structure for the department to grow while maximizing resources dedicated to street patrol and crime fighting,” said Shea.
Shea stressed the need for Jersey City to have a police academy of its own, partly because of academies outside of Hudson County do not train for urban policing, and require three months of additional training once officers graduate.
As part of the table of organization, a new field leadership and training unit will be created. This unit will have citywide jurisdiction, offering immediate training and leadership as needed.
Additionally, the JCPD will revamp field training for new police officers. Currently, new officers attend a police academy outside Hudson County. Once they return, they only receive three months of additional training in the field in Jersey City. As part of the changes, this field training will increase to one full year, three months in each district, so new recruits get to learn how to police the entire city. New recruits will also undergo short training stints with various specialized units such as narcotics.
The Police Department will also create a new minor violations investigation unit. This is a new way to handle minor civilian complaints against the Police Department, such as “an officer was rude to me,” in a more efficient and expedient manner. This unit will be composed of sergeants who can independently review each complaint and officer in question.
All disciplinary units, including Internal Affairs, will report to the deputy chief of operations.
Getting guns
Shea has also asked the council to award an “open-end” contract to Lawmen Supply Co. to supply rifles, handguns and ammunition for the Department of Public Safety.
“We’re planning to revamp our emergency services unit,” Shea said. “We’re not planning to buy anything now. But we’re currently equipped with military surplus that was donated to the department. It’s of 1960s vintage and well past its useful life.”
Shea noted that the Emergency Service Unit would respond to terrorist situations and other similar threats.
The police department got two bids for new weapons, but Shea said the low bidder – which came in only moderately lower – did not meet the quality standard.
The Request for Proposals also included a questionnaire on gun violence with the idea of getting weapons manufacturers involved in the discussion on how to get guns out of the hands of criminals.
“The conversation has been hijacked by two extremes, those who are totally in favor of guns and those who are totally against them,” he said. “We want a more reasonable response, and are looking for information about what happens to weapons when they are turned in and information about resale. Gun violence is a problem, as much a problem for the weapons industry as it is for us, and the industry should be part of the solution.”
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.