Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose, Chief of Police Darnell Henry and Fire Chief Rufus Jackson promoted 12 firefighters and 4 police officers into higher ranks at a public ceremony held today at New Hope Baptist Church, 106 Sussex Avenue in Newark. The Newark Fire Division promoted 4 Battalion Chiefs and 8 Captains. The Newark Police Division promoted 2 Captains and 2 Lieutenants. Keynote speaker, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Craig Carpentino, quoted from a 1910 speech given by President Theodore Roosevelt. U.S. Attorney Carpentino encouraged the promoted Firefighters and Police officers by stating that, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly…so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” Mayor Baraka further congratulated the promoted Firefighters and Police with words of encouragement that the new supervisors allow themselves to be guided by the law of reciprocity in leading with fairness, justice and equality. “This is a very exciting day for the City of Newark as we continue to add new supervisors within the Department of Public Safety,” Mayor Baraka said. “These promotions reflect the ongoing growth and progress within our Fire and Police divisions, two integral areas within the City of Newark that both require the keen oversight of seasoned and effective leaders.” Director Ambrose acknowledged that the newly promoted are not merely rising in ranks, but are also rising in their ability to solve problems and to do so fairly. “These promotions underscore our plan to broaden the leadership within both the Newark Fire and Police Divisions,” Director Ambrose said. “Last year we hired nearly 70 new firefighters and close to 200 new police officers. Additional supervision is required to ensure that our rank and file members receive training and guidance from the best and brightest, as reflected through these promotions.”