In a recent development, the New Jersey Supreme Court has decided to temporarily uphold the decision allowing the state attorney general to maintain oversight of the Paterson Police Department. This decision comes after a lower court found that the attorney general exceeded his jurisdiction in assuming control of the department.
The ruling from New Jersey’s top court introduces a temporary pause on the previous judgment from the Appellate Division. This earlier decision had concluded that Attorney General Matt Platkin had no authority to take over the Paterson Police Department in March 2023. The move followed the controversial death of Najee Seabrooks, who was shot by police after a standoff in an apartment bathroom.
Attorney General Platkin expressed his approval of the Supreme Court’s decision to maintain the current state of affairs within the department. In a statement on the social media platform X, Platkin remarked on the continued operation of the police department, emphasizing on the enhancement of public safety and community relations since March 2023.
Despite the appellate court’s ruling, the Supreme Court’s order places a hold on the directive to return control of the police department to city officials and reinstating Police Chief Engelbert Ribeiro. There had been an attempt to revert the management of the police force back to the city’s jurisdiction.
This decision occurs amid wider scrutiny on police departments, with the federal authorities examining similar issues in Trenton and beyond. Notably, broader calls for increased police accountability across New Jersey have emerged, driven in part by Attorney General Platkin’s initiatives.
The city of Paterson, with a population of approximately 160,000, has experienced substantial demographic shifts over the past decades. Once predominantly white, it now has a demographic mix of nearly 24% Black residents and over 60% Hispanic residents. This change has been accompanied by increased tensions with the local police, seen largely as a vestige of the previous white-dominated power structure.
Attorney General Platkin, acknowledging the community’s distrust in law enforcement, had previously stated his understanding of the residents’ feelings. Since 2019, the Paterson police have been involved in multiple fatal incidents, exacerbating public skepticism.
The appellate court had allowed the attorney general to retain control over the police department’s internal affairs unit, tasked with investigating officers. This segment of the department remained uncontested by city officials.
The Supreme Court’s decision to keep the attorney general at the helm, albeit temporarily, underscores the ongoing complexities surrounding police oversight in Paterson. As the appeal process unfolds, the direction of the Paterson Police Department remains a focal point of legal and public attention.
Source: Apnews
