9 Officers Sworn In To Jersey City Police Department

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Nine officers were sworn into the Jersey City Police Department Wednesday, bringing the total number of police officers working in Jersey City to more than 900.

The additional officers will aid the department's efforts to increase walking patrols, community outreach, crime deterrence, and other crime fighting initiatives.

"As we expand physical resources like the CCTV program and the public safety headquarters, we also know investment into the police department is a crucial component in combating crime," Public Safety Director James Shea said in a news release. "As the department grows, we are able to step up patrols and continue to see crime decrease citywide. These new recruits will help us continue to meet this goal."

The recruits are from a variety of backgrounds, with nearly 70 percent of them representing minority populations. The current city administration has hired 466 officers, with another class scheduled to enter the police academy next month.

The additional officers will help officials foster better relationships between the officers and residents.

"As we continue to hire more officers, we will not only be reaching our goal of increasing police presence, but also progressing towards creating even stronger relationships between officers and the community," said Mayor Steven Fulop. "We will continue to invest heavily in resources to keep the public safe, until crime is our city is at zero."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com