Jersey City has named Michael Kelly, a 30-year veteran of the police department who was promoted to a deputy chief in May, their new chief of police.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Also a former basketball coach at St. Peter’s Prep, the West District Commander was among “40 or 50” who submitted their application for the job, according to Public Safety Director James Shea.
Shea made the comment during a small press event with local media late last year, where Mayor Steven Fulop noted that he planned on naming a new police chief, fire chief and other city directors within the first week of his second term.
Fulop announced Kelly would be the new police chief in a tweet this morning:
After 40+ candidates (some from within JCPD and some outside JCPD applied) and countless interviews – this morning we offered Deputy Chief Mike Kelly the job of Chief of the #JerseyCity Police Department.
— Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) January 3, 2018
The mayor and other city officials had previously said they were conducting a national search to succeed Police Chief Philip Zacche, who received public criticism for receiving a $513,000 payout for unused time.
Zacche retired effective June 1st last year and the city was without a police chief until now.
