Mayor Cory Booker appeared on WBGO this Wednesday evening for his monthly radio show “Newark Today”, and Police Director Garry McCarthy appeared with him to help answer people’s questions. Topics ranged from overdevelopment in the Ironbound, economic development, affordable housing and an ongoing issue for the city – job opportunities for ex-convicts and the underemployed. A significant amount of energy, if not time, was spent talking about an awards ceremony on Wednesday that was reported in the Star-Ledger today. That discussion spun off more comments about community policing and other public safety issues. Booker and McCarthy seemed to convey the sense that the city’s police department is far behind where both men think it should be, and that they’ll be pushing really hard to make whatever changes are necessary to get the department there.
An awards ceremony honoring Newark police officers prompted angry outbursts by Police Director Garry McCarthy and Mayor Cory Booker yesterday when hardly any cops showed up.The ceremony, part of the city’s participation in national Police Week activities, was meant to be a congratulatory affair. Dozens of officers, including two who died last year, received awards for valor and outstanding work. But other than department brass, the honorees and their relatives, few officers were in the City Hall audience.
McCarthy, who is trying to reorganize the department to make it more efficient and professional, was visibly upset.
“What’s going on?” McCarthy said at the podium of the City Council chambers. “This can’t be. I’m embarrassed. These are people who have done such noble things, and I’m standing here in an empty chambers.”
[Update: WBGO is podcasting Newark Today! Click below for audio for the May 15 show. —Ken]
4 Comments
Wow, I’ve never heard Booker get as icy as he did when Cruz brought up the Newark Teachers Union billboards. He sounded simultaneously like he really wanted to slam the NTU, and that he should use as few words as possible.
Perhaps there would be a bigger turnout and higher morale in the Newark Police Department if employment by the force were restricted to Newark residents. Same with the NFD and all other government agencies.
Craig,
I think the NPD won’t be selective about who they hire, at least in terms of where the cops reside. The NPD is severely understaffed. Newark and Jersey City have comparable populations but the JCPD has double the amount of cops that the NPD has.
The NPD recieves the treatment they get for not only there treatment of Newark residents, but for the way the people of Newark feel about their “illustrious” mayor hence the low turnout. To hire more cops we need to let our residents see the honor of being a police officer.