Some residents say state takeover of Paterson Police Department was long overdue
PATERSON, N.J. -- The Paterson Police Department is now under New Jersey state control.
The state attorney general made the surprising move Monday following a high-profile police shooting earlier this month -- and years of police misconduct allegations.
"This is the state of New Jersey coming in to provide the support this community needs, to provide the resources this community needs and to provide the leadership this community needs," Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.
Needs that city and state officials say weren't always met, such as aiding a person having a mental health crisis.
"If the Attorney General is coming in with financial resources and additional resources to help restore that trust, repair the relationship with the police and the public, then once again we will join hands in partnership," Mayor Andre Sayegh said.
Sayegh says he's reviewing the state plan and figuring out a timeline.
Platkin says his office will be here for as long as it takes to build back trust in the community.
Newark's American Civil Liberties Inion has been demanding change.
"It's a welcome first step given the abusive, violent and harmful policing that has been endemic in Paterson for years," said Jim Sullivan, deputy policy director for ACLU NJ.
While the attorney general didn't mention Najee Seabrooks, who was shot and killed by Paterson police after a five-hour standoff during a mental health crisis, he says his office will take over day-to-day operations and implement initiatives, including the Arrive Together program.
"Arrive Together pairs a plain clothes officer trained in crisis intervention with a mental health screener in an unmarked vehicle to respond to 911 calls for service related to mental health or behavioral health crises," Platkin said.
"More training or whatever, but we need more people," Paterson resident Marcus Castro said.
State police takeovers are uncommon but similar moves made in two other New Jersey cities. Newark's been under a court-ordered federal monitor for almost five years, costing the city millions of dollars.
Watch Elijah Westbrook's report
"We just ask that the community, community leaders have a voice at the table," Sullivan said.
"This has been going on for a long time. It should've been nipped in the bud way before Mayor Sayegh got into office," resident Calvin Gomez said.
"It's unfortunate that the attorney general, obviously, found problems that are wrong," resident Kenny Rosen added.
In Camden, the county took over and disbanded the police department back in 2013.
The current police chief will remain with the department but no longer lead. Officials say the new chief, Isa Abbassi, will be sworn in this May. Abbassi, who served 25 years with the NYPD, helped build community relationships after the death of Eric Garner on Staten Island.
We've reached out to the Paterson Police union but haven't heard back.
