Conservation of public harmony and order
Deterrence, detection and solving of crimes
Enforcement of state laws and city ordinances
Provide non-law enforcement services to the public
Protection of the Constitutional guarantees of all persons
Facilitate safe movement of people and vehicular traffic
Render other emergency services as needed
We have instituted our new Departmental Motto based on our system of primary values.
Courtesy: courteous interaction with the public and fair, impartial and equitable treatment of all people.
Accountability: Responsibility at all levels of the organization, starting at the top and transmitting to all aspects of the department. We are all responsible for our actions.
Respect: Respect for the law, including Constitutional Laws, State Laws, and Local Laws. Respect of the public, respect of the organization and respect for one's self.
Excellence: Enhancing Police service and providing a level of excellence exceeding our customers’ expectations.
C.A.R.E. is an intelligent partnership among Law Enforcement, the Citizenry, and the Business Community, to provide superior Police Services, moving the Police Department forward “One Call At A Time” and “One Block At A Time”.
January 28, 1820 -
May 4, 1829 - An act was framed for the appointment of watchmen; thus, in 1829, we have the first form of law enforcement under the
corporation of
March 3, 1868 - The control of the Police Department was assumed by “the Jersey City Police District”.
The government and discipline of the police became vested and exercised by a Board of Police Commissioners, a Chief of Police and
such a number of patrolmen, not exceeding fifty.
August 5, 1873 - Mounted police was formed
1900 to 1928-The Automobile -
In 1928, the Jersey City Police Department took this giant step forward and like nothing else, this totally changed the shape of things
to come. From 1900 to 1928, we saw the introduction of telephones, electricity and other inventions into our police stations,
but the auto was revolutionary and it was about to open up a whole new field of police work.
January 1, 1914 - The Department consisted of seven police precincts and the force numbered 508 men. This, for the beginning
of the century, was one of the largest police forces in the
February 10, 1931 - The Emergency Squad was established with headquarters at the No. 9 Engine Fire House located at Duncan and Bergen
Avenues.
November 1, 1947 - 100 World war two veterans appointed to the JCPD
December 1, 1953 - Closing of the Eighth and Third Precincts. The Police Department was set up as follows:
Police
First
Second Precinct-Grove and Seventh Streets
Fourth
Fifth
Precinct-Ocean and
Sixth
Seventh
November 19, 1954 - The new Fifth Precinct building was opened at
March 14, 1955 - The innovation of the Central Complaint Room at Headquarters
was to be the first installation of its kind in the State of
1957 -
Establishment of the
1961 - The
May 1962 -We see the use of a new two way radio system in patrol cars.
1968- The creation of the Community Relations Unit.
1972 - Establishment of the Homicide Squad. Numbering
from ten to twelve officers, this unit became very well respected and had a high clearance rate. The unit lasted until 1984,
when it was dissolved and the men were sent to work for the County Homicide Squad. Establishment of the Bandit Squad.
This squad was merged into the more modern Street Crime Squad. We also see a great new advancement in a system called 911, a system
providing the public with direct access to the police radio room in an emergency for speedier dispatch of police cars.
January 19, 1973 - The Housing Security Bureau was established specifically to patrol housing developments.
February 4, 1974 - The Neighborhood Task Force was formed. The force consisted of 40 police on lightweight motorcycles patrolling selected neighborhood areas.
March 11, 1974 - Police Headquarters was moved to
April 4, 1974 - The Organized Crime Unit was established. This unit consists of the Gambling Squad, Special Investigations Unit,
and the Alcoholic Beverage Control Unit.
May 27, 1975 - The Neighborhood Task Force was reorganized into the new Special Patrol
Bureau.
June 12, 1975 - The former police precincts were reincorporated into four administrative patrol zones to insure greater
efficiency in administering the Police Department.
April 2, 1976 - The radio room at the new Headquarters modernized with computers
tied into the
January 1, 1979 - The Bureau of Criminal Identification was modernized with the ultra modern C.S.M.
Color Montage System and color photographic equipment was installed. With this installation, the Jersey City Police Department
is now equal to the top ranking police departments in the country.
May 4, 1979 - The celebration of the 150th Anniversary of
the Jersey City Police Department.
January 1986 – The K-9 unit is formed.
November 1, 1987 - Jersey City Police academy
moves to their new location at Caven Point.
March 1988 - First appointed Chief of Police Walter Adams appointed after Civil Service
title of Chief was abolished.
June 1988 - Jersey City Police department reorganized. Prosecutor Paul Depasquale assumed the role
as director in addition to his duties as Hudson County Prosecutor.
September 1992 - The East district began a pilot "Community
Police Officer" program.
May 1997 – The Bicycle is introduced as a patrol vehicle.
September 11, 2001 – JCPD provides the
support, care, and means for injured survivors of
This section is dedicated to the fallen members of the Jersey City Police Department. These officers gave the ultimate sacrifice
while protecting and serving the citizens of
EDWARD O’BRIEN: died in May 1880 after his revolver exploded while he was capturing a burglary suspect. He ignored his wounds
as he walked the suspect back to the precinct to be arrested.
JAMES MOULDS: died on April 21, 1882. He had participated
in the capture of the First National Bank burglars in 1872.
CHARLES REYNOLDS: died on July 9, 1883, after being fired upon
by a burglar who was struggling with another officer. Reynolds was responding to the officer’s shouts for assistance.
SGT. MICHAEL CONLON: died on July 8, 1896 at age 28, of pleurisy, after chasing two robbers into the Meadows and wading
into the Hackensack River up to his neck to capture one of them.
NICHOLAS F. NESTOR: died on October 7, 1908, attempting
to rescue fire victims.
DENNIS J. SULLIVAN: died on June 12, 1910, electrocuted while putting his key in a call box to
report a fire.
HUGH J. CLARKE: died on October 1, 1913, he was electrocuted as he was reporting a fire at a call box during a storm.
JOHN
J. SMITH: died of injuries on May 22, 1913, as the result of a fall suffered while chasing burglars looting the flats of people
made homeless by a fire.
CHARLES GRAHAM: died on June 11, 1914, after he was shot by a thief, but continued to pursue him
in spite of his wounds.
JAMES F. DOHERTY: died on August 1, 1916, in an explosion at a munitions station at the Black Tom
Rail Yards.
JOHN J. MURPHY: died of a fractured skull on November 29, 1916, after striking his head on an iron trolley
pole in the performance of his duties.
DET. JAMES DINLEY: died from a gunshot on November 6, 1921, while apprehending an
actor.
WILLIAM P. CLARK: died on August 2, 1922 at age 36, after falling from a pole while repairing telegraph wires.
SGT.
JOHN BLACK: died of gunshot wounds suffered on May 22, 1923, while serving a warrant on a robbery suspect.
JAMES B. QUINLAN: died on April 7, 1923, in an automobile accident while driving an injured prisoner to the hospital.
JOHN
SHANNAHAN: died on March 2, 1929 at age 29, from friendly fire after being shot accidentally by another officer.
WALTER
O’NEILL: also died on March 2, 1929, in the same incident in a double tragedy.
EDWARD RUARK: died on December 12,
1930, after being shot while stopping a vehicle used in a homicide. Backup units pursued the vehicle to a watermelon farm where
the murderer was captured after a search by 200 officers.
JAMES J. CARROLL: died on May 27, 1934, when he skidded into
a traffic booth.
WALTER HARRIGAN: died on August 27, 1934, while riding the running board of a vehicle carrying an injured
man to the
WILLIAM
CAHILL: died on October 28, 1946, of a heart attack while carrying an intoxicated man home.
DET. WILLIAM McCAFFERY: died on December 13, 1958, as the result of being accidentally shot by a backup officer during a stolen auto chase through
STEPHEN W. LIPKA: died on November 8, 1965, of a massive heart attack while intervening in a domestic dispute and
struggling with an intoxicated male.
LT. STANLEY P. PRYZGOCKI: died on October 29, 1967, of gunshot wounds suffered in
the line of duty.
JOHN BRACKEN: also died on September 12, 1973,
after a car struck his motorcycle while he was on NTF patrol.
DOMINICK CONTICCHIO: died of a massive stroke on September
10, 1974, after carrying an expectant mother down a flight of stairs as he prepared to take her to
WILLIAM
G. McCARTHY: died on January 14, 1976, of stab wounds inflicted as he was attempting to arrest two car burglars.
SGT. DONALD
CARROLL: son of James Carroll, was shot by a deranged man on November 6, 1986, while protecting innocent bystanders with his
body.
SGT. JOHN E. LAUGHERY, JR.: died on November 25, 1992, of AIDS, after his skin was accidentally punctured by a hypodermic needle.
EDWARD
C. BLACK: died suddenly on March 1, 2001, of a heart attack while on patrol in his police cruiser.
DOMENICK INFANTES: died on
July 6, 2001, after being taken off life support. On July 4th, while off-duty and unarmed, Domenick came to the aid of a civilian
who was being brutally attacked with a metal pipe by two brothers. While protecting the civilian Domenick was struck in the head with
the metal pipe.
ROBERT NGUYEN: died December 25, 2005, after his Emergency Services truck plunged off of the
SHAWN CARSON: also died December 25, 2005, during same Christmas Day tragedy, along with his partner Robert at
the
