Essex County Leaders Earn MLK, Coretta Scott King Awards

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Two local leaders were recently recognized for their contributions to the community as part of Essex County’s annual African American History Month Celebration.

New Jersey Assemblywoman Shanique Speight earned a Coretta Scott King Leadership Award, and Essex County Sheriff Amir Jones earned a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award.

“African American History Month is a special time of the year when we highlight the many contributions and achievements African Americans have made to our culture, economy and daily lives throughout our history,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

“We are honored to recognize Amir Jones and Shanique Speight for their commitment to improving the lives of all residents, their leadership, and their dedication to public service in Essex County,” DiVincenzo said.

The Arts High School Jazz Band performed the National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing and Stand Up. Pastor Thurselle Williams from New Hope Baptist Church in East Orange gave the invocation at the Feb. 19 ceremony.

“Receiving this award means so much to me,” Speight said. “Coretta Scott King was a woman who carried the Civil Rights movement forward with grace.”

“I am here because of Dr. King and how he fostered understanding and transformed law enforcement,” Jones said. “I stand before you as evidence of that transformation.”

The African American History Month Celebration is the part of a year-long cultural series created by County Executive DiVincenzo to highlight Essex County’s diversity. Other cultural celebrations highlight Irish, Italian, Jewish, Latino and Portuguese heritage, and Women’s history.

Here’s why Speight and Jones earned awards this year, according to a news release from the county:

SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

Shanique Speight has represented the 29th Legislative District in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2018 and was selected as the Deputy Parliamentarian in 2022. As an Assemblywoman, her goal is to continue progress in New Jersey on housing, affordable healthcare, criminal justice reform, and much more. Over the years, Speight has created senior feeding programs, provided affordable childcare for families, conducted food drives and toy drives, and overall continues to strive to make positive changes in her district.

Speight served briefly on the Municipal Council of Newark after being nominated by then-Mayor Cory Booker in November 2012 to fill a vacant seat. An officer in the Essex County Sheriff's Office, Speight was first elected to the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board in 2007 and served as the board's vice chair from 2007 to 2012.

A resident of Newark, Speight graduated from Lincoln University with a Master of Arts in Human Services.

AMIR JONES

Essex County Sheriff Amir D. Jones is responsible for leading and operating New Jersey’s largest and most active Sheriff’s Department. The Essex County Sheriff’s Office serves the over 850,000 residents of Essex County as well as the New Jersey’s largest Superior Court vicinage. He was elected in November 2024 and is the first African American Sheriff in Essex County history.

A seasoned police executive, Jones began his law enforcement career at the Essex County Sheriff’s Office in 2012. With over a decade of professional experience in investigations, government, and law enforcement, Jones’ leadership has resulted in an overall average of a 40 percent reduction in crime. Additionally, nearly 500 guns and assault rifles have been removed from Essex County communities.

After serving some time in almost every single sheriff's unit, Sheriff Jones was promoted to the distinguished leadership role of Essex County Undersheriff in 2016. Sheriff Jones led day-to-day operations of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office Field Operations Division including the Patrol Division, which is responsible for monitoring Essex County municipalities and parks.

Additionally, Sheriff Jones oversaw New Jersey’s oldest and most active county-wide Bureau of Narcotics. Working in response to citizen complaints and in tandem with the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, and municipal police agencies. During his tenure leading the Bureau of Narcotics, thousands of arrests of drug dealers have been arrested and removed from our communities.

Among his additional responsibilities, Sheriff Jones led and oversaw the operations of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigations Unit, Tactical Response Team and has served as a Deputy overseeing Emergency Management.

With over a decade of time served in the Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Jones has a compiled a distinguished background outside of his work as Undersheriff and has long been an active member of community organizations including the Essex County Chiefs of Police Association and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives.

Throughout his career in law enforcement, Sheriff Jones has demonstrated a solid commitment to community-driven, problem-oriented, and intelligence-led policing, as shown through his numerous commendations and awards, including the Medal of Merit and Excellence in Police Duty Awards.

A lifelong resident of Essex County, Sheriff Jones resides in East Orange with his wife and children.

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