Long Branch Hires Public Safety Director At $169K Salary

LONG BRANCH, NJ — The city of Long Branch announced late Friday afternoon it has hired a new director of public safety, Domingos Saldida.

Saldida will start his employment with the city December 1 of this year. He will be paid a salary of $169,000 yearly.

The position of public safety director is a political appointment, and Saldida was appointed by Long Branch Mayor John Pallone and the council.

Jason Roebuck will remain as Long Branch's police chief, but he will report to Saldida. To those who have been following Long Branch politics, this top-ranking new hire does not come as a surprise:

Pallone announced he was bringing back the Public Safety Director position in response to a police audit released this past August. Pallone has stated he wants to make reforms to the LBPD, such as making the department more efficient, saving costs, and better managing all municipal services including police, fire and OEM.

Roebuck used to be Long Branch's public safety director from 2013 to 2017; Mayor Adam Schneider retired the position, saying it was no longer necessary. Roebuck was then made police chief. He disputed many assertions made in that audit, including that he was not responsive or cooperative to the mayor, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Saldida is currently the East Orange Public Safety Director. He started out as a police officer in Newark, rising to the rank of Deputy Police Chief, and then became the Public Safety Director in Dover, New Jersey.

“I was particularly impressed with Domingos because I believe he will reach out to the community and work with diverse groups in Long Branch. Domingos speaks both Spanish and Portuguese. It is important to get input from Long Branch residents about public safety issues,” Council President Mario Vieira said.

“We wanted someone who could easily oversee the areas of Police, Fire and OEM. He was responsible for all three as Public Safety Director in East Orange and Dover. We believe his extensive background will assist in all the departments that he will be in charge of,” said Pallone.