Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla and the City Council Public Safety Subcommittee have reached a preliminary deal to increase the maximum number of police officers from 146 to 156.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Expanding the Hoboken Police Department is critical to keeping our community safe and ensuring residents are protected in their neighborhoods,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“I also recognize that increasing the table of organization by 10 additional officers is only just the beginning, and I will be asking the City Council to consider doubling this number in the new year. I also look forward to working with Police Chief Steve Aguiar and Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante to adopt additional measures to bolster public safety, including the installation of new cameras in public spaces, in the coming weeks.”
Expanding the police force will be made possible by expanding their table of organization, which will be introduced via an ordinance at the December 4th city council meeting.
At the November 18th public safety meeting, many residents expressed concerns related to homelessness and policing in light of a violent incident in broad daylight at Church Square Park on Halloween.
“I am proud to have worked with our public safety leaders and secured the support from my City Council colleagues needed to expand the Hoboken Police Department by 10 officers and to have collaborated with the County to secure $100,000 in funding that can be used immediately to enhance security at Church Square Park,” 1st Ward Councilman Paul Presinzano, the chair of the subcommittee added.
“These efforts reflect our collective commitment to improving safety for all residents.”
The Hoboken PD has faced challenges in attracting eligible recruits in recent years. Only nine Hoboken residents passed the most recent New Jersey Civil Service Commission Law Enforcement Examination process compared to over 79 residents in 2017.
“I fully support expanding our police department this way to improve safety, and when these officers are deployed in the future, it’s important that they are deployed thoughtfully, focusing on the areas of greatest need like Church Square Park,” noted 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher, a member of the subcommittee.
“However, we still need immediate steps to address our community’s concerns, and after recent meetings with public safety leaders, I am optimistic we’ll see meaningful changes soon.”
Earlier this year, the Hoboken PD began recruiting outside of city to help fill open positions which has led to 23 new hires this year, four of which were Mile Square City residents.
The Hoboken PD also attends job fairs across the region, posts open roles on several employment websites, launches recruitment campaigns that feature literature in multiple languages and videos on social media, and more.
“For years, I’ve been a strong advocate for expanding our Police Force, and I’m proud to have reignited this important conversation alongside our late Council President, Jen Giattino. Ensuring the safety of our city is a top priority, and I’m grateful to my colleagues for taking decisive action to achieve this shared goal,” stated 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo.
Eligible candidates for future positions must be New Jersey Residents between 18 and 35 years old with a High School diploma or equivalent. Benefits include competitive salaries, education funding, and promotion & advancement opportunities.
The starting salary is $46,483 with annual salary increases up to $125,822 by the eighth year of employment, not including overtime and outside employment opportunities.
“I support the expansion of our police department as part of a comprehensive approach to improving safety in Hoboken,” 4th Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos exclaimed.
“It’s essential that these resources are used effectively to address concerns proactively while also ensuring that our schools and public spaces are secure now, and for the long term.”
Those who want to learn more about how to join the Hoboken Police Department can find more information at https://hobokenpdnj.gov/employment-opportunities/.
