In an editorial, Jersey City Police Superior Officers Association President Capt. Pawel Wojtowicz makes the argument that the city’s economic recovery depends on investing in public safety.
No one should minimize the difficult position Jersey City finds itself in today.
A proposed 20% municipal tax increase, later reduced to 15% through additional spending reductions and historic state assistance, would create a significant burden for homeowners, seniors living on fixed incomes, and working families already struggling with the rising cost of living.
At the same time, the city still faces the difficult task of identifying additional spending reductions to close a substantial structural budget gap. There are no easy answers.
We understand those concerns. Our members pay mortgages, raise families, and feel the effects of inflation just like every other resident. We recognize that every dollar matters.
But while the city must continue looking for efficiencies throughout government, we believe one thing should be clear: further reducing investment in public safety would be a mistake that Jersey City cannot afford.
Public safety is not simply another line item in the municipal budget. It is the foundation upon which every neighborhood, every small business, every new investment, and every economic opportunity depends.
That is why we have been encouraged by Mayor James Solomon’s commitment to making public safety a central component of Jersey City’s future.
He has made clear that he understands the staffing crisis facing the Jersey City Police Department and is committed to rebuilding the department through improved recruitment, stronger retention efforts, competitive compensation, and timely promotions.
That commitment represents an important shift in focus because the challenges facing the department today, just like those plaguing the city’s finances, did not develop overnight.
Over many years, police staffing, compensation, and long-term workforce planning failed to keep pace with the city’s extraordinary growth.
When Mayor Steven Fulop took office in 2013, Jersey City had approximately 760 police officers serving roughly 247,000 residents. Even then, the department was widely viewed as understaffed.
Today, Jersey City is home to approximately 300,000 residents, yet the department has only about 770 sworn officers.
At the same time, the police department’s share of the municipal budget declined from approximately 19% under the Healy administration to roughly 14% during the Fulop administration.
The result has been chronic understaffing, increasing overtime costs, and growing difficulty recruiting and retaining officers.
That last point is particularly important because overtime is often misunderstood.
The police department’s overtime budget is not the cause of the problem. It is the consequence of it.
When there are not enough officers available to patrol neighborhoods, investigate crimes, respond to emergencies, police major public events, and protect one of the nation’s busiest financial and transportation hubs, those responsibilities do not disappear.
Existing officers simply work more hours to ensure residents continue receiving the level of protection they deserve.
The answer is not fewer officers.
The answer is more officers.
Unfortunately, recruiting qualified candidates has become increasingly difficult. Jersey City police officers begin their careers earning approximately $42,000 annually in a city where the average salary exceeds $90,000.
During much of the last decade, contractual raises averaged roughly 1.5% annually while inflation and healthcare costs rose far faster, leaving officers with significantly less purchasing power than they had just a few years earlier.
Today, surrounding departments offer substantially more competitive compensation, making it harder for Jersey City to attract and retain experienced law enforcement professionals.
These are not just workforce issues. They are public safety issues.
Safe communities attract families. They attract businesses. They encourage investment and strengthen property values. Every major employer considering Jersey City expects a safe community for employees and customers alike.
We recognize that this budget crisis demands difficult choices. We also recognize that homeowners deserve relief whenever possible.
But solving one challenge by weakening public safety only creates new problems that will be far more expensive to solve in the future.
Mayor Solomon has repeatedly said that public safety is essential to both quality of life and economic development. We agree.
Investing in the people who protect this city is not inconsistent with fiscal responsibility. It is one of the smartest long-term investments Jersey City can make.
Public safety is not a luxury to be scaled back during difficult times.
It is the foundation upon which Jersey City’s recovery will be built.
Captain Pawel Wojtowicz
President
Jersey City Police Superior Officers Association
