⚠️ Newark launches new oversight office for police accountability. ➡️ Community members gain a greater say in public safety policies. 🔴 Homicides in Newark have dropped to record lows, sparking attention.
NEWARK — Officials say Newark is putting the “public” back into public safety with a strategy that could serve as a role model for other cities.
New oversight for the Newark Police Division
On Thursday, Newark launched its new Office of Constitutional Affairs. The new body gives community members greater oversight of the Newark Police Division. Its nine-member board of directors will have one member each from the ACLU, the NAACP, the city Civilian Complaint Review Board, and other local organizations.
“It is about making sure that the voices of Newark residents are heard, respected, and reflected in how public safety is shaped in our city,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Lakeesha Eure.
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A successful transition to local control
In May 2016, Newark’s police officers were placed under federal watch. The department had been accused of making unconstitutional stops and arrests that disproportionately impacted minorities. That consent decree lasted for over nine years until the Newark Police Division was granted local control in November 2025…