The Jersey City Police Superior Officers Association (PSOA) is backing Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis in the Hudson County sheriff’s race, citing his understanding of local law enforcement.
“Mayor Davis understands the needs of 21st-century policing. Leading officers in today’s environment is quite different from how it was in the 1960s. Public safety is one of the largest budget items in most municipalities,” Jersey City PSOA President Pawel Wojtowicz said in a statement.
“For Mayor Davis, taking over a city with a multi-million-dollar deficit and turning it into a budget surplus—while paying his officers some of the highest salaries in the state—is a testament to his common-sense leadership and strong support for public safety. He has demonstrated the ability to manage the budget amid rising costs of living, while fairly compensating officers—boosting both morale and productivity.”
This is the sixth public safety union for Davis, who is endorsed by the Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) in an effort to unseat incumbent Frank Schillari, who is seeking a sixth term on Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop’s gubernatorial slate.
Davis has also secured the backing of four public safety unions in Bayonne, where he retired as a police captain, as well as the Hudson County Sheriff’s Superiors FOP 127.
“If I’m elected, one of the first things I will do is work with the tremendous leadership and membership of groups like the Jersey City Police Superior Officers Association to make sure they have the support and resources they need to help protect county streets and neighborhoods,” the Peninsula City mayor stated.
“One of the consistent themes we have seen over these last weeks and months in speaking with various members of law enforcement impacted by Sheriff Schillari’s command is that they feel undervalued and overwhelmed by the lack of support from the top. In a profession that requires individuals to lay their lives on the line each day that is not only unfathomable, it also creates a potentially dangerous environment for county residents as well.”
The Jersey City PSOA has not made any other June 10th primary endorsements, though they have already endorsed former Gov. Jim McGreevey for mayor, the HCDO’s pick for the job.
Schillari campaign spokesman Paul Swibinski said this afternoon that they did not entertain the Jersey City PSOA endorsement due to Wojtowicz being a big supporter of President Donald Trump (R).
“Pawel is a hardcore MAGA Republican nut job councilman in Rockaway Township and we’d never accept an endorsement from a MAGA nut job,” he began.
“The idea that Sheriff Schillari doesn’t do anything for any of the local municipalities is really incredible considering that Bayonne police shot several mentally ill people and that caused the attorney general to ask the sheriff to implement the ARRIVE Together program in Bayonne in 2023. Since then, 254 calls came in seeking a police response related to a mentally ill person and not a single one was resolved with violence.”
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with a comment from Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari spokesman Paul Swibinski.