Gov. Murphy proposes law to require New Jersey’s police officers to be licensed

Future New Jersey police officers may need to meet another requirement before being handed a gun and badge – becoming licensed.
Gov. Phil Murphy and acting Attorney General Matt Platkin have proposed that all law enforcement officers should hold a valid, active license issued by the Police Training Commission.
The governor says that the move will help to build trust between police officers and the communities that they serve.
“We have an overwhelming majority of men and women in uniform doing the right thing every day and putting their lives on the line. I know we have the nation's best because I hear it when I travel from other governors,” Murphy said. “It's the very small minority that can tarnish the vast majority and this will go a long way towards ending that."
The law would require license renewals every three years.
More than 40 states across the country have similar licensing requirements.