Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose and Chief of Police Darnell Henry promoted four sergeants to the rank of lieutenant and 27 police officers to the level of sergeant at a public ceremony held at Clearview Baptist Church, 314 - 320 Hobson Street, in Newark today.
"This is an inspiring day for the City of Newark as we continue to strengthen the ranks of our city’s police by identifying those men and women with demonstrated leadership characteristics,” Mayor Baraka said. “These new supervisors will advance our goals of creating meaningful partnerships with community members that result in safer neighborhoods and enhanced police-community relations.”
"The addition of new supervisors is part of our strategic plan to strengthen the Newark Police Division following the layoffs and attrition that occurred in the police department since 2010,” Director Ambrose said. “We are steadily growing our ranks, adding more than 120 new police officers by year-end.
This calls for more supervisory personnel to ensure that we serve the City of Newark using a proven combination of outstanding experience, efficiency, and top-notch training.”
The newly promoted sergeants will be mentored by a supervising lieutenant or captain under a program called Sergeant Familiarization Training.
A similar program will be offered to the 123 new police officers who will be welcomed at a graduation ceremony at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, December 15th, at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge Street in Newark.