WMBCTV: Updated- Local control over Paterson Police Department to be restored

Fallout over a judge’s decision to restore local control to the Paterson Police Department continues to be felt. Residents are asking what will change and when. 

Mayor Andre Sayegh addressed the public amid a new court ruling that is to restore jurisdiction of the Paterson Police Department back to the city. This comes after New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin seized control of the department in March of 2023. This was during a time of reported community uproar in criticism of police tactics after the release of police body camera footage from the death of Najee Seabrooks. During that time frame, New Jersey implemented some initiatives including the ARRIVE Together program. Mayor Sayegh says that the police department’s past troubles have been related to a lack of resources.

“We’ve always been a cash-strapped city department. I’ll take you back to 2011. The previous Mayor laid off 125 police officers,” said Mayor Sayegh. “That left us reeling, we never really recovered so if Matt Platkin was sincere in wanting to improve the police department, he would’ve recognized the need for the two of us to sit down and sincerely collaborate and provide resources without the takeover. We didn’t need the takeover, we needed the resources.”

City officials are applauding the court’s decision to restore control over the Paterson Police Department to the city.

“We were celebrating a victory for democracy, victory for local government, victory for mayors anywhere in New Jersey,” said Mayor Sayegh. “Because what the Attorney General did, and this is the court speaking, unlawful, undemocratic and unconstitutional.”

As city officials say this recent ruling is a victory, they also explain what the transition is expected to look like for community members as well as the Paterson Police Department.

“I want to implement some of the ideas that we were working on prior to this illegal takeover,” said Mayor Sayegh. “I talked about Omaha 360, a proven program to not only reduce crime, but to improve the relationship between the police and the public.”

Sayegh explains that the timing for restoration of local control as well as the police chief is reliant on the court.

“It’s all up to what happens with this stay and if it’s not granted, we get control right back,” said Mayor Sayegh. “But we don’t know exactly when that could happen. It could be a week. It could be weeks, but hopefully not much longer.”