PATERSON NJ Sept 27 2021— Councilman Michael Jackson is proposing that Paterson create about 100 part-time “special police officer” positions, a plan that could produce the largest expansion of the city’s law enforcement force in more than a decade.

The “class 2” special officers would be authorized to carry guns and have full law enforcement powers, while working about 20 hours per week, under Jackson’s plan. The special officers would be paid between $20 and $35 per hour.

“We have seen this succeed throughout the state,” Jackson said as he outlined his plan during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.

Several of Jackson’s colleagues on the council welcomed his proposal, but said the issue needs to be studied further before they vote on it.

“We need to go step by step and see if this fits our budget,” said council Vice President Shahin Khalique.

Mayor Andre Sayegh did not respond to a message seeking his comments on Jackson’s plan.

The state-approved Table of Organization for the Paterson Police Department sets the maximum number of full-time officers at 419. But Paterson has had fewer than 400 cops for the past several years, as ongoing retirements of veteran officers have offset the additions of new recruits.

Sayegh is hoping that Paterson will come close to hitting the 419 mark after the city’s current group of cadets completes the police training academy later this year.

Paterson also has applied for a federal grant to hire 20 additional cops, according to the city’s business administrator, Kathleen Long. If the city gets that funding, the state has decided to let Paterson have as many as 439 officers, officials said.

Paterson endured record numbers of homicides and shootings in 2020 and is on pace to set new records for violence this year. It has fewer cops per capita compared with New Jersey’s other large cities, according to local officials.

“Having class 2 special officers is not going to solve the problem,” said Mason Maher, president of the union that represents Paterson’s ranking police officers. “The problem is we have an undermanned police department and we keep losing officers to other departments because our pay is so low.”

About seven years ago, Paterson hired 21 part-time special police officers, but they were in the “class 1” category, meaning they could not carry guns and lacked the authority to arrest people. Council members said Paterson has only three “class 1” officers still on the payroll.

Councilwoman Ruby Cotton cited the unsuccessful “class 1” initiative in cautioning against Jackson’s proposal.

“It really has not turned out great,” she said.
Paterson Press

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