The highest court in New Jersey has granted a temporary halt to a lower court ruling that found the attorney general had exceeded his authority by assuming control of the Paterson Police Department. The decision by the Supreme Court of New Jersey to temporarily pause the lower court’s ruling means that Attorney General Matt Platkin’s appointee will continue to oversee the department. Attorney General Platkin welcomed the decision, stating that the Paterson Police Department will continue its operations as it has been doing since March 2023, prioritizing public safety and building community trust.
In a post on social media platform X, Attorney General Platkin expressed gratitude for the Supreme Court’s decision, emphasizing that the functioning of the Paterson Police Department will remain unchanged while the appeal process moves forward. This development comes after the New Jersey Appellate Division ruled that Attorney General Platkin had no authority to take over the operations of the Paterson Police Department following the high-profile incident involving the death of Najee Seabrooks, who was fatally shot by police officers after a standoff in an apartment bathroom.
The Appellate Division directed Attorney General Platkin to relinquish control of the police department back to the city officials and to return Police Chief Engelbert Ribeiro to his position in the city from a police training commission. However, these directives are now temporarily suspended pending further review by the Supreme Court. The court’s decision is significant in the context of ongoing scrutiny by the Biden administration of various police departments, including Trenton’s, due to allegations of misconduct. Attorney General Platkin has been vocal in advocating for increased police accountability across the state.
Paterson, a city with approximately 160,000 residents located about 20 miles northwest of Manhattan, has undergone demographic shifts over recent decades, transforming from a predominantly white city to one with a significant Black population (nearly 24%) and a Hispanic population of just over 60%. As the Black population in Paterson grew, tensions arose between the community and the predominantly white power structure, particularly within the police force. Attorney General Platkin acknowledged earlier this year that residents may have legitimate reasons for being distrustful of law enforcement.
Over the past few years, there have been several fatal incidents involving the Paterson Police Department, including the shootings of four individuals and the deaths of two others following encounters with law enforcement, such as Jameek Lowery. The Appellate Division’s ruling upheld Attorney General Platkin’s assumption of control over the internal affairs unit of the police department, responsible for investigating misconduct within the department in specific cases. City officials did not contest the attorney general’s intervention in this aspect of the police department’s operations.
The legal battle over the control of the Paterson Police Department highlights broader issues of police accountability, community relations, and governmental oversight. The conflicting rulings from the lower court and the Supreme Court underscore the complexities of balancing law enforcement responsibilities with respect for local governance and oversight.
