An in editorial, Jersey City Ward D council candidate Elvin Dominici Encarnación gives his take on how staffing shortages with the police department are impacting the Heights.
Public safety is one of the main issues that Ward D—and Jersey City residents overall—are deeply concerned about. In conversations with voters and community leaders, a specific issue has emerged: police response times and enforcement.
There is a broad misconception that the Jersey City Police Department (JCPD) is unreliable and unaccountable.
For example, in Ward D near Riverview Park, an incident occurred where an infant playing on the turf was attacked by a dog, and it reportedly took two and a half hours for the police to arrive.
However, this perception only tells part of the story. Many JCPD officers explain that the department faces severe resource challenges. In Ward D, there are only five patrol cars available to serve approximately 40,733 residents.
This inadequate number of vehicles means that when criminal activities are low in one area, officers are often asked to relocate to the South District or other parts of Jersey City to assist with emergencies.
Such relocations stretch resources even thinner and contribute to longer response times—this is not a matter of poor police leadership or negligence but of systemic underinvestment.
The department is also grappling with a significant staffing shortage. Currently, Ward D is operating with 77 fewer officers than the 149 needed for full coverage.
Additionally, it costs approximately $50,000 for a recruit to complete the Police Academy and become a rookie officer—a cost borne by the municipality.
Yet, many new officers do not remain in Jersey City once they graduate, opting instead to transfer to other municipalities where compensation and working conditions are more sustainable.
Cost-of-living calculators indicate that living in Jersey City requires a significantly higher income than in many other U.S. cities.
A single person may need to earn roughly $70,000–$80,000 per year to comfortably cover rent, food, healthcare, transportation, and other necessities. For a family of four, the required income often ranges between $100,000 and $130,000.
For context, a modest one-bedroom apartment in Jersey City can rent for $2,600–$3,000 per month, and additional high costs for transportation and taxes add to the financial burden.
Consider this: Are we asking our police officers to risk their lives for a starting salary of $41,000?
Under the current 2018 contract (still in effect into 2025), entry‑level officers begin at about $41,000, with a ten‑step progression that may only bring an officer’s salary to under $55,000 after five years on the job.
In addition, many officers face substandard health insurance—often paying 30% of medical visit costs as premiums—which further exacerbates their financial hardships.
The reality is clear: JCPD officers are struggling with the high cost of living in Jersey City. These financial pressures affect not only morale but also the department’s ability to enforce laws effectively and maintain public safety.
The current working conditions hinder the department’s efficiency in managing traffic, pedestrian, and overall public safety enforcement.
Recognizing these challenges, the Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association (POBA) is in negotiations with city officials to establish a new ten‑year contract that reflects the soaring cost of living and inflation.
As a candidate for Ward D council, I propose increasing the affordable housing investment requirement for developers from 10% to 20%.
This measure will help ensure that our emergency workers—police officers, firefighters, teachers, and healthcare providers—can afford to live in the communities they serve.
Addressing these systemic issues will not only improve the financial well‑being of our police officers but will also enhance public safety by ensuring that those who protect our community can live where they work and remain dedicated to their service.
they had enough money to build that nice new precinct but not to pay officers? What is the public safety director doing? Fulop is more worried about running for governor than taking care of his city. And you’re running for Ward D council and this is the crap you’re writing about? Affordable housing doesn’t pay officers salary. Why even mention it?
Literally all Fulop has done is hire more cops. That’s all these conservatives want: more cops, more cops, more cops.
Cops don’t prevent crime, cops don’t solve crimes, and more of them doing nothing won’t solve the underlying root problems behind WHY people commit crimes in the first place: poverty.
Ludicrous to hamstring the taxpayers with a 10 year contract based on an economy that Trump is destroying. Not only that, it looks like Elvin wants to increase their starting salaries by $30,000 and improve their health insurance, also at taxpayer expense. This assumes his information is accurate and not just based on stuff he probably obtained from the police unions whose endorsements he wants. Citation needed.
So where does he suggest making cuts to offset his generosity so that taxes don’t go through the roof?
Elvin’s not ready for prime time.