NJ Supreme Court upholds state control of Paterson police
The court affirmed the legality of the 2023 takeover, which followed concerns over oversight, accountability and public trust.
More Stories
The city of Paterson Police Department will remain under the control of the New Jersey state attorney general.
City officials, led by the mayor, lost their attempt to regain local control following a decision from the state Supreme Court.
Paterson’s Police Department was taken over by state Attorney General Matt Platkin in 2023.
In this ruling, the Supreme Court justices said there was no statutory authority for Platkin to take over the police department.
Rather, they ruled that because the New Jersey Legislature budgeted $10 million at the start of the takeover, it was, in effect, approval to go forward with running police operations.
Platkin celebrated the victory outside the police department on Wednesday.
RELATED: NJ Supreme Court to hear case on AG's power to take over Paterson PD
RELATED: New Jersey Supreme Court temporarily leaves attorney general in charge of Paterson police
RELATED: Judge reverses state's takeover of Paterson Police Department following lawsuit
“The work that’s been done by the women and men of this department, the work done by leadership, can continue," he said.
On the other side of the decision was Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh.
“The Supreme Court didn’t rule on the authority. What they said was there was legislative intent. Essentially sidestepping the main question," said Sayegh.
There is no timeline for ending state control, although Platkin said a 55-point strategic plan would be finished by fall.
The mayor said he’s hopeful that state control would be relinquished when a new governor takes office in New Jersey.
