Jersey City Mayor-elect James Solomon has named Anthony Ambrose as acting public safety director, a role he served in Newark between 2016 and 2021.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Anthony Ambrose knows how to run a public safety operation that serves the people. Director Ambrose has a track record of delivering results and will bring a wealth of experience and stability to the Jersey City Public Safety Department,” Solomon said in a statement.
“He reduced violent crime, implemented body-worn cameras, built genuine community partnerships, and met the requirements of a federal consent decree. That’s the kind of proven leadership Jersey City needs right now. Acting Director Ambrose will assess what’s working, what isn’t, and give us an honest roadmap for building a public safety operation our people deserve.”
As acting director, Ambrose will focus on four immediate priorities:
Continuing to drive down gun violence and violent crime, addressing urgent needs in force morale and recruitment, ensuring Jersey City is fully prepared for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and America 250 celebrations, and conducting a comprehensive assessment of the city’s public safety operations.
That includes how the city handle calls that don’t require a police response to provide recommendations for long-term structural improvements.
“After 35 years in public safety, I know what it takes to turn a department around. It starts with the personnel—you can’t ask people to do a difficult job if you’re not listening to them and giving them what they need to succeed,” added Ambrose.
“We’ve got work to do on morale and recruiting, and that’s where I’m starting. At the same time, we’ve got the World Cup and America 250 coming, and Jersey City needs to be ready. And Mayor Solomon asked me to take a hard look at how things operate here – including whether we’re using the right response for every type of call. That’s what I intend to do.”
During his tenure as Newark’s Public Safety Director, Ambrose oversaw the merger of Newark’s Police and Fire Departments and the Office of Emergency Management into a unified Department of Public Safety.
During this time, he managed over 2,300 employees and a $260 million annual budget.
Under his leadership, Newark achieved a 44 percent reduction in homicides and a 70 percent reduction in robberies. He also successfully led the department through compliance with a Federal Department of Justice Consent Decree.
“Anthony Ambrose helped transform public safety in Newark. He led with integrity, held officers accountable, and never forgot that the job is about serving residents—not the other way around,” added Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who endorsed Solomon in his December 2nd runoff race against former Gov. Jim McGreevey.
“He knows how to rebuild trust between a department and its community. Jersey City is getting someone who has done the work, not just talked about it. I’m confident he will bring the same dedication to Jersey City that he brought to Newark.”
Additionally, Ambrose previously served as Newark’s police director and police chief from 1999 to 2006, and as chief of detectives for the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office from 2008 to 2016.
He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and holds a Master’s Degree in Administrative Sciences from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
When asked if the role would be temporary, Solomon spokesman Nathaniel Styer said that all options are on the table.
“He [Ambrose] is going to help the mayor assess the current structure and provide long-term recommendations for what will best keep the people of Jersey City safe. Nothing is pre-determined at this point,” he said in an email.
Ambrose begins his role as acting public safety director tomorrow, succeeding Jim Shea, who served in the post for the entirety of outgoing Mayor Steven Fulop’s tenure.
Shea announced that today would be his last day in a brief New Year’s Eve letter to Fulop, as HCV first reported.
He indicated that he would not have any interest in serving in the next administration, which worked out since Solomon and most other mayoral candidates said they would not be interested in retaining his services.
Cop’s have no business in the Fire Dapartment as Firemen have no business in Police Departments. Period! Two separate departments that both require knowledge of the job on the street also require two separate knowledgeable heads. Don’t make the same mistakes that Newark made.!