Newark Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose announces submission of the Newark Police Division’s fifth status report regarding its progress toward compliance with the Consent Decree and improving overall services to the community for the period of April 27, 2018 to October 26, 2018.
On May 5th, 2016, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice issued a report finding a pattern and practice of unconstitutional policing by the Newark Police Division and reached an agreement in principle with the City of Newark to undertake wide-ranging reforms within the Police Division.
These included: the development of new policies, such as implementation of body worn and in-car cameras, improved community engagement and public access to transparency data regarding use of force, complaints against officers and discipline of police.
The Consent Decree and Planning Division, headed by Newark Police Captain Brian O’Hara, is tasked with the implementation of Consent Decree compliance. On October 26, 2018, the City of Newark filed its fifth status report, indicating its progress.
The filing, submitted to the Federal District Court of New Jersey, offers an executive summary outlining the areas of compliance to date.
Along with the deployment of body worn camera and in-car cameras in five of the City’s six Precincts, plus the Municipal Housing Division, the status report also offers updates regarding:
training in the areas of Community Oriented Policing and document management; collaboration with the Civilian Complaint Review Board regarding NPD policies and Internal Affairs quarterly summaries; community engagement activities; improved data integrity regarding evidence handling and information technology capabilities; as well as the posting of transparency data.
“Since the Federal Monitor’s most recent assessment report was published this month, NPD has hired an IT consulting firm to provide a complete audit of our capabilities for adhering to the requirements of the Consent Decree,” Director Ambrose said. “And, at the Monitor’s recommendation, completion of this audit process is expected by November 30th. NPD will continue to work with the Federal Monitor and the DOJ. I believe we are headed in the right direction,” he added.