New Jersey Supreme Court Upholds State Oversight of Paterson Police Department

PATERSON, NJ - On July 23, 2025, the New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously upheld the State’s legal authority to assume control of the Paterson Police Department (PPD), affirming the 2023 supersession initiated by Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin. The decision confirms the lawfulness of the State’s intervention, which began in March 2023 amid longstanding concerns over departmental oversight, accountability, and public trust.

The ruling resolves a significant legal challenge to the Attorney General’s actions, which aimed to address systemic issues within the PPD through comprehensive reform, investment in public safety infrastructure, and crime reduction strategies.

Supersession Background and Leadership Changes

The State’s intervention formally began in March 2023 with the appointment of Isa Abbassi, former NYPD Chief of Strategic Initiatives, as Officer in Charge. In November 2024, Patrick Murray, a 40-year PPD veteran, was named Officer in Charge to lead the operational restructuring and continue the reform agenda. Under this leadership, the department has undergone structural reorganization, including the consolidation of patrol units into a single command and the replacement of the Community Policing Unit with a new Community Partnerships Bureau.

Key Reform Initiatives and Achievements

Crime Reduction and Enforcement:

• The department has reported historic reductions in violent crime, including a 64.8% decrease in shooting victims and a 53.7% decrease in shooting incidents compared to 2022.

• Initiatives include precision policing focused on individuals driving violent crime, a citywide crackdown on illegal ATVs and dirt bikes, and the creation of a Nightlife Task Force targeting unlicensed venues and associated violence.

Strategic Reform Planning:

• A Strategic Plan launched in Fall 2023 outlined 55 goals, 91% of which had been met as of June 2025.

Community Engagement:

• The department formed both a Police Advisory Council and a Police Clergy Council to shape policy and provide crisis support.

• Numerous listening sessions and roundtables have been held citywide.

• Youth and family outreach has included Community Fun Days and Safe Parks, Safe Summer events.

Technology and Infrastructure:

• The State Legislature committed $10 million in annual funding for three years to modernize the PPD.

• Investments have supported the construction and staffing of a Real Time Operations Center (RTOC) and the deployment of surveillance tools including gunshot detection, license plate readers, and citywide camera networks.

• The department has adopted AI-driven audits of 100% of body-worn camera footage to promote professionalism.

• All patrol officers are now equipped with less-than-lethal tools, such as conducted energy devices and OC spray.

Accountability and Oversight:

• Internal Affairs was relocated to a community-accessible location at 100 Hamilton Street.

• A Risk Management and Early Intervention Program was launched to monitor officer conduct and proactively address issues.

• Use-of-force policies were revised and training expanded to include de-escalation, hostage negotiation, and crisis intervention.

• Officers began distributing contact cards with QR codes linking to public FAQs and feedback tools.

Officer Wellness and Professional Development:

• A first-in-state Health and Wellness Unit now offers resilience training, wellness activities, and support programs, including the use of therapy dog K9 Dave.

• Officers have received expanded opportunities for national-level training to enhance leadership and subject expertise.

Statements on Supreme Court Ruling

“As we have said for years, my office’s supersession of the Paterson Police Department is lawful—and we applaud the New Jersey Supreme Court for unanimously upholding that decision. For more than two years now, members of my department have worked side-by-side with the hard-working men and women of the PPD to make Paterson safer for all its residents. And despite the distractions of this litigation, they have made extraordinary progress on those goals—investing millions of dollars in modern crime-fighting technology, adopting a wide range of reforms to rebuild community trust and improve officer training and wellbeing, and achieving historic reductions in homicides and other violent crimes,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Thanks to the Court’s definitive ruling this morning, that important work will continue undisturbed, ensuring that we can better serve the residents of our State’s third largest city — whose safety has been and will remain my top priority.”

“We came to Paterson in 2023 with a clear mission,” said Public Safety Monitor Isa Abbassi. “Repair the relationship with the community, support the men and women of the PPD, and intervene in the epidemic of gun violence in the city of Paterson. Through thoughtful leadership, transparency, community partnerships, and a real plan for change, we have achieved so much already. Today’s ruling gives us the opportunity to continue to repair relationships and save lives. We came to make progress, and the progress is undeniable.”

“What I’ve seen over the last two years has been the most meaningful change in our history,” said Officer in Charge Patrick Murray. “We’ve modernized operations, earned back trust, and become a department the public can once again believe in. None of this could have been done without the willingness of our officers to identify a system in need of a repairs and help make them. I am extremely proud of every man and woman with a PPD patch on their shoulder. The Supreme Court’s decision allows us to continue this critical work.”

The Supreme Court’s ruling now enables the continuation of reform efforts without further legal impediments, reinforcing the State’s approach as a potential national model for police oversight and transformation.

For updates, subscribe to our free newsletter!

Support your local news!