Recognizing a crisis of confidence in the city’s law enforcement, Attorney General Platkin announced on March 27, 2023, that the Office of the Attorney General was superseding the Paterson Police Department (PPD) and assuming control of all police functions, including internal affairs investigations. “The primary duty of my office is protecting the people of New Jersey, that includes the safety of the people of the City of Paterson as well as the safety of the officers sworn to protect them,” Attorney General Platkin said as he announced his decision outside of the PPD headquarters. Attorney General Platkin stressed that his Office was committed to the safety and success of the Paterson community and to building a safer and more just city of Paterson.

Isa Abbassi, a 26-year veteran of the City of New York Police Department (NYPD), was named Officer in Charge of PPD, and under his leadership, the department has begun a critical transformation to rebuild trust between the department and the people it serves. Since the Attorney General’s Office took control, Paterson has seen significantly improved public safety results.

Making the community safer. Paterson experienced double-digit percentage declines in all violent crime reporting data categories in 2023. Murders were down 39% and the number of shooting victims were down 25% compared to 2022. The number of shootings was the lowest in more than a decade in the City of Paterson. Aggravated assaults, sexual violence, and robberies also showed significant declines.

Listening to the Paterson community. On May 4, 2023, Attorney General Platkin held a community listening session in the City of Paterson to discuss ways in which law enforcement, service providers, and community members could work together to improve the delivery of public safety services to individuals who have mental illness, those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and residents in a behavioral health crisis. Soon after taking command, Officer in Charge Abbassi held a series of six listening sessions around Paterson to allow residents to share their concerns, experiences, and suggestions as the department worked to restore crucial connections with residents in every neighborhood. The sessions were well-attended, and the input gathered was  incorporated in the department’s short-term and long-term goals. Listening sessions are also held periodically in the city as well as smaller roundtable discussions with officers.

Revitalizing Paterson neighborhoods through the Broadway Initiative. The PPD’s Neighborhood Revitalization Concept, starting with the Broadway Initiative, has led to an increased police presence in the area resulting in a decrease in crime and an improvement in the quality of life for residents. PPD has partnered with state and city agencies to provide substance abuse referrals, homeless outreach, and infrastructure improvements. The concept has spread to other parts of the city, including Downtown and South Paterson. Overall, the initiative has led to an increase in quality of life and decrease in crime in the area.

Establishing a Strategic Plan. In September 2023, Attorney General Platkin and Officer in Charge Abbassi released a comprehensive Strategic Plan to move the agency forward into the next generation of policing. The plan was developed with feedback from the community, police department members, and community leaders. Guided by four main values, the plan aims to rebuild public trust, renew community policing, embrace innovation, and improve recruitment, training and employee wellbeing. The plan includes 55 initiatives and has a projected final report in the summer of 2025, with routine progress reports to keep the community informed.