Newark’s Fight Against Police Abuse Could Empower Other NJ Cities

NEWARK, NJ — Newark’s fight to protect its civilian-police review board isn’t over, despite a recent New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that severely stripped it of its power.

Now, the mayors of Jersey City and Orange have also taken up the call.

During a Tuesday news conference on the steps of City Hall, Mayor Ras Baraka stood alongside his two counterparts to declare that Newark will be appealing the court’s ruling on its Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB). READ MORE: NJ Supreme Court Limits Newark's Power To Probe Police Abuse

“We’re going to fight this case,” Baraka said. “We’re already working on a strategy to take it to a higher court.”

Newark's CCRB was created in 2016 as part of a landmark consent decree between the U.S Justice Department and the city. Prior to the agreement, a three-year federal probe found that Newark police officers were stopping, arresting and using force on minorities at a much higher rate than white people.

After the CCRB launched, many civil rights advocates hailed it as one of the "most robust civilian oversight bodies in the country." But Newark's police unions immediately challenged the CCRB's authority, igniting a long-running legal battle between the city and the Fraternal Order of Police, Newark Lodge No. 12.

In their ruling last week, the supreme court severely restricted the powers of CCRBs in the state, denying them the power to subpoena documents and conduct investigations alongside local internal affairs bureaus.

After the court’s ruling, local activists blasted the decision, saying it’s a roadblock to serious police reform in a city that desperately needs it.

• See related article: Protesters Rallying In Newark After NJ Supreme Court Decision

On Tuesday, Mayor Baraka said the city has heard their outcry and is taking action.

“We’re already working with legislative delegations so that every municipality in the state can have a civilian complaint review board, and we’re going to win,” Baraka said.

During the news conference, the mayor appealed to the “good officers” of Newark to “stand with us.”

“We want to appeal to officers to come to work with integrity and goodness in their hearts,” Baraka said, praising cops who “wear the uniform with dignity, go home every night and have their children look up to them because they know they’re helping people.”

It’s not just Newark’s fight, he pointed out – a victory would pave the way for similar civilian-police boards in cities across New Jersey.

Steve Fulop, mayor of Jersey City, and Dwayne Warren, mayor of Orange, lent support to their peer’s struggle in Newark.

“With no movement on this from Trenton, as two of the state’s largest cities, we feel compelled to come together to make sure there’s accountability by publicly calling on the state officials who were elected to protect the public and create change where necessary,” Fulop said.

“If officers are allowed to carry guns, make arrests, and are responsible for our public safety, they should also be held accountable,” Fulop urged. “There’s no reason why the citizens shouldn’t be allowed to ensure there’s a healthy check and balance.”

“Police perform their duties under the authority of the people - this is at the heart of the demand for a civilian complaint review board,” Warren said.

“Newark’s case should be watched by all municipalities, as it will serve as a catalyst for state legislation that empowers municipalities to adopt a CCRB if the community feels the need to do so,” Warren added.

Amol Sinha, the executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey, said the civil rights organization fully supports the city’s fight to protect its CCRB.

“New Jersey stands at a pivotal moment, in which the supreme court has provided guideposts to the Legislature that lead toward strong civilian oversight with full investigatory power and the promise for true accountability to communities,” Sinha said.

“We are proud to stand with Mayor Baraka, the people of Newark, and all of those who stand with us in our call for civilian oversight,” Sinha said.

Members of the Newark Communities For Accountable Policing (N-CAP) also issued statements of support for the city’s review board.

Deborah Smith-Gregory, NAACP Newark Branch - “The NAACP Newark Branch stands in solidarity with Mayor Baraka’s continued push for a civilian complaint review board that has subpoena and investigatory powers. There must be a dramatic change to the system if systemic abuse as cited by the Department of Justice is to change.”

Maria Lopez Nuñez, Ironbound Community Corporation – “The courts sent a message to our communities that despite being the year 2020, we must still fight for basic democratic rights. Police cannot police themselves. Police have failed at this job especially here in Newark. It is time to put power in the hands of our community, we need strong civilian oversight.”

Lawrence Hamm, People’s Organization for Progress - “Despite the Supreme Court ruling, we will continue to struggle for a police review board with subpoena and investigatory powers, and ultimately, this will be achieved.”

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