“As we have said for years, my office's supersession of the Paterson Police Department is lawful—and we applaud the New Jersey Supreme Court for unanimously upholding that decision. For more than two years now, members of my department have worked side-by-side with the hard-working men and women of the PPD to make Paterson safer for all its residents. And despite the distractions of this litigation, they have made extraordinary progress on those goals—investing millions of dollars in modern crime-fighting technology, adopting a wide range of reforms to rebuild community trust and improve officer training and wellbeing, and achieving historic reductions in homicides and other violent crimes,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Thanks to the Court's definitive ruling this morning, that important work will continue undisturbed, ensuring that we can better serve the residents of our State’s third largest city — whose safety has been and will remain my top priority.”

“We came to Paterson in 2023 with a clear mission,” said Public Safety Monitor Isa Abbassi. “Repair the relationship with the community, support the men and women of the PPD, and intervene in the epidemic of gun violence in the city of Paterson. Through thoughtful leadership, transparency, community partnerships, and a real plan for change, we have achieved so much already. Today’s ruling gives us the opportunity to continue to repair relationships and save lives. We came to make progress, and the progress is undeniable.”

“What I’ve seen over the last two years has been the most meaningful change in our history,” said Officer in Charge Patrick Murray. “We’ve modernized operations, earned back trust, and become a department the public can once again believe in. None of this could have been done without the willingness of our officers to identify a system in need of a repairs and help make them. I am extremely proud of every man and woman with a PPD patch on their shoulder. The Supreme Court’s decision allows us to continue this critical work.”

Since the Attorney General’s Office assumed command of the department in 2023, the Paterson Police Department has achieved sweeping reforms across leadership, accountability, crime reduction, officer wellness, and community engagement. These reforms have been noticed throughout the United States from various police agencies as a national model for policing reforms. Key accomplishments include:

Crime Reduction and Enforcement

·    Historic reductions in violent crime, including shootings and homicides:

·    Shooting victims:

·    2022 YTD: 71 victims

·    2025 YTD: 25 victims (down 64.8%)

·    Shooting incidents:

·    2022 YTD: 54 incidents

·    2025 YTD: 25 incidents (down 53.7%)

·    Implemented precision policing strategies targeting the small number of individuals driving the majority of violence.

·    Seized hundreds of illegal ATVs and dirt bikes through coordinated citywide crackdowns.

·    Created a Nightlife Task Force to address illegal clubs and prevent associated violent crime spillover.

Strategic Planning and Reform Execution

·    Developed and launched a comprehensive Strategic Plan in Fall 2023, consisting of 55 specific goals.

·    As of June 2025, 91% of those goals have been achieved.

Community Engagement

·    Formed the Police Advisory Council and Police Clergy Council to guide departmental policies and provide spiritual support during crises.

·    Created the Community Partnerships Bureau, replacing the former Community Policing Unit, to deepen engagement with residents, businesses, and local organizations.

·    Hosted numerous Listening Sessions and Roundtables citywide to maintain open channels with the public.

·    Launched youth and family programs including:

·    Community Fun Days

·    Safe Parks, Safe Summer

Technology and Infrastructure Investment

·    Secured $10 million in annual recurring funding for three years from the State Legislature to modernize a historically under-resourced department.

·    Constructed and began staffing a new Real Time Operations Center (RTOC) to integrate and manage public safety technologies.

·    Deployed gunshot detection systems, license plate readers, and surveillance camera networks citywide.

·    Adopted artificial intelligence tools to audit 100% of officer body-worn camera footage for professionalism and accountability.

·    Equipped all patrol officers with less-than-lethal tools, including conducted energy devices and OC spray.

Leadership and Organizational Changes

·    Appointed Isa Abbassi, former NYPD Chief of Strategic Initiatives, as Officer in Charge in March 2023 to launch reforms and reestablish community trust through public listening sessions.

·    Appointed Patrick Murray, a 40-year veteran of the PPD, as Officer in Charge in November 2024 to lead operational restructuring and continue reform execution.

·    Reorganized the Patrol Division from four fragmented units into one unified command—streamlining supervision, improving accountability, and reducing response times.

·    Replaced the Community Policing Unit with the Community Partnerships Bureau. The change is meant to more closely work with community leaders, residents, and business owners for a holistic approach to policing.

·    Created a first-in-New-Jersey Health and Wellness Unit focused on supporting the overall wellbeing of officers and their families.

·    Created a first-of-its-kind Risk Management and Early Intervention Program (EIP), which continuously monitors officer conduct—such as use-of-force incidents, vehicle stops, detentions, and complaints—to detect warning signs before they escalate.

·    Leveraged advanced technology in an Operations Unit to bolster public safety and operational efficiency. It connects officers with real-time situational awareness tools. These include live video feeds, gunshot detection, license plate readers, community camera-integrated mapping, and body-worn camera analytics, all to enable faster, data-informed deployment and responses.

Accountability and Oversight

·    Relocated Internal Affairs to a neutral, community-accessible location at 100 Hamilton Street.

·    Launched a first-in-New Jersey Risk Management and Early Intervention Program, proactively identifying at-risk officers through data monitoring, BWC review, and non-punitive interventions.

·    Updated use-of-force policies and expanded training in de-escalation, hostage negotiation, and crisis intervention.

·    Instituted supervisory response protocols for all person in crisis and barricade calls.

·    Distributed officer contact cards with QR codes linking to FAQs and public feedback tools.

Officer Wellness and Professional Development

·    Established a Health and Wellness Unit featuring resiliency training, wellness hikes, peer support, and therapy dog K9 Dave.

·    Expanded national training opportunities to enhance officer leadership and subject matter expertise.

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