By: Richard L. Smith
Credit: Carrie Stetler (Rutgers)
For more than two decades, Lt. Jamie Hendrix has been a trusted and familiar face around Rutgers-Newark, but her reach goes far beyond campus. 
Whether she’s in uniform or speaking with residents in street clothes, Hendrix has built a reputation for blending law enforcement with community care.
According to an article written by Rutgers writer and publisher Carrie Stetler, Hendrix, who leads the Community Affairs Unit at Rutgers Police, has become a vital connector between the university and the city of Newark.
Her work embodies not only safety but also the spirit of community, a quality that resonates deeply in Essex County and in her own hometown of East Orange.
Hendrix has led efforts ranging from neighborhood beautification to youth engagement and family support. She’s the organizer behind initiatives like the Winter Blessings Drive, Cram the Cruiser, and Coffee with a Cop, where officers meet neighbors on bus stops, in parks, and even on busy corners to listen and build trust.
“It’s important to meet people where they are. That’s where they can tell you their truth,” Hendrix said in Stetler’s piece.
Her passion for service comes from personal experience. As a teenager, Hendrix endured a frightening stalking incident.
The empathy shown by responding officers inspired her to pursue law enforcement as a way to give others the same sense of safety.
She balanced raising a young son while completing the police academy and earning degrees in Criminal Justice, Sociology, and Public Administration.
Today, she is the first African American woman in the Rutgers Police Department’s history to be promoted to lieutenant.
Hendrix is also deeply invested in cultural pride and education. She often points out landmarks like the Harriet Tubman monument and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hall, reminding visitors of Newark’s historical significance.
She sees these as part of a shared space—where students, residents, and visitors all belong.
Her leadership has also extended to schools, where she supports programs that encourage youth empowerment. Hendrix’s Good Neighbor Program connected students with longtime Newark residents, giving them a new perspective on what it means to share a community.
A recent piece by Stetler highlighted Hendrix’s broader influence.
She has advised other law enforcement departments on community affairs and served on state and national committees, shaping the way officers across the country view community policing.
From her roots in East Orange to her leadership at Rutgers-Newark, Hendrix’s story is a reminder of what it means to serve with empathy, consistency, and heart.
Essex County can take pride in one of its own, an officer who proves that safety is not just about patrols and policies, but about people.