Police Chief In Bergen County Takes Oath As Head Of State Association

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A Bergen County police chief became the next head of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police during a recent ceremony at the chiefs' 112th annual training conference.

At the Training Conference & Police/Security Expo in Atlantic City, John R. Russo, the chief of the Rutherford Police Department, was sworn in as the association’s 109th president, for a one-year term.

The role is a volunteer position. Russo will remain the police chief in Rutherford.

In accepting the leadership role, Russo said, a prime objective will be to give the police chiefs a greater voice in legislative affairs and ensure their position is considered when proposed laws are discussed.

“We need to vastly broaden our relationship with decision makers in Trenton to make sure that laws regarding public safety are fair, equitable and help law enforceme perform our duties at the highest levels,” said Russo, 49, a Rutherford native who livesin neighboring Hasbrouck Heights.

“Legislators and law enforcement need to be close partners in this endeavor, as we are all focused on the same objectives: protecting and serving the public.”

Russo appeared on March 7 before the Senate Judiciary Committee to address crime, such as car theft. He said the state has an “over-tolerance” toward these quality-of-life repeat offenses.

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