Yesterday afternoon, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez appointed the agency’s new Chief of Detectives, James A. Parker.
He comes to the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office with three decades of law enforcement experience, having served in both Philadelphia and with the New Jersey State Police, where he rose to the rank of Major.
He was sworn in by the Honorable Jeffrey R. Jablonski, A.J.S.C., during a small ceremony.
During his tenure with the State Police, Parker was assigned several important supervisory roles – including as Administrative Lieutenant for the Superintendent and as Commanding Officer of both the Administrative Section and the Office of Professional Standards.
As part of the Superintendent’s leadership team, Chief Parker managed staffs of over 100 officers, supervised budgets and departmental procurements, and managed over $100 million in federal grants to the New Jersey State Police.
While serving as the Commanding Officer of the Office of Professional Standards, Chief Parker directly oversaw the Internal Affairs team and worked closely with the Attorney General’s Office to further the integrity of the Division and uphold the public confidence in law enforcement.
“Chief Parker is a leader who demands the best from himself and those who he supervises, and he will bring this leadership style to our investigative units as we work to deliver the highest level of justice for the people of Hudson County,” Prosecutor Suarez said.
“We are pleased to welcome him to our team and know he will accomplish great things.”
At the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Chief Parker will oversee all of the Investigative Units, including the Special Investigations Unit, which includes Homicide, the Special Victims Unit, and Internal Affairs. Parker will oversee a staff of approximately 120 investigators.
“I am honored and excited to be joining this incredible team of women and men of the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office,” Chief Parker said.
“I am looking forward to bringing my experience and passion to the Hudson County community and to work with Prosecutor Suarez to deliver justice for crime victims and to continue to grow the public’s trust of law enforcement.”