Paterson police leaders share strategies with elected officials and community advocates
PATERSON — The state-appointed officer in charge of the Paterson Police Department convened a pair of invitation-only meetings on Monday, covering crime-fighting strategies in the first and community engagement efforts in the second.
Officer in Charge Isa Abbassi packaged the two separate sessions as Paterson’s Public Safety Summit and did not allow members of the news media to attend.
Local elected officials and prominent law enforcement members participated in the strategy meeting at Paterson police headquarters, which several participants said covered quality-of-life problems involving clubs and bars.
What did city officials say?
Mayor Andre Sayegh and City Council members said Abbassi asked them not to divulge details of the police plan, calling it sensitive and confidential. But the elected officials expressed confidence in the undisclosed strategy. Councilman Michael Jackson said Abbassi was showing “great leadership” with his plans.
“The community will see results,” said Councilman Luis Velez.
“I’m encouraged by it,” said Councilwoman Maritza Davila.
As part of the state takeover of the city Police Department, the New Jersey Legislature earmarked an unprecedented $10 million infusion for law enforcement efforts in Paterson. It was not clear on Monday how much of that money would be used for Abbassi’s new initiative. The department already has been using some of that money to pay for police overtime work in high-crime areas.
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Community leaders and social justice activists have their say
Monday’s second session, at the Paterson library on Broadway, involved community leaders and social justice activists, including some who have been highly critical of the city’s Police Department for years but now are offering praise for Abbassi’s work.
Attendees said the officer in charge spent most of the session gathering public input instead of imposing his own ideas on how to rebuild trust.
“It really seems like for the first time somebody in the Police Department wants to listen to the community,” said activist and former school board member Corey Teague. “He really wants to hear from us.”
Activist Sebastian Mejia called the session “groundbreaking.”
“Everybody always says they want a seat at the table,” Mejia said. “The officer in charge is actually giving people that seat at the table they’ve been asking for.”
Another attendee, Board of Education member Eddie Gonzalez, said the session represented an important starting point.
“Of course, we are not going to solve the problems of the city with one meeting,” Gonzalez said. “But we had some great conversations, with different organizations offering to step up.”
Attendees said one of the topics discussed was preventing “negative interactions” between Paterson youth and police officers.
Participants said the plan calls for additional community sessions to build on what happened Monday.
“It’s a new level of community involvement,” said David Gilmore, the "Let’s Save Paterson” activist and director of the city’s community improvements division. “That’s always a good thing.”
Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ police talk strategy with officials, advocates
