The ACLU of New Jersey, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, Reimagining Justice, Inc., and Salvation and Social Justice have submitted an amicus brief supporting the New Jersey Attorney General's supersession of the Paterson Police Department. The organizations are represented by the ACLU-NJ, the Institute, and the Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest. This legal document was filed with the New Jersey Supreme Court.
The brief contends that supersession power over municipal police departments is inherent in the authority of the New Jersey Attorney General as the state's chief law enforcement officer. It is described as a crucial mechanism to ensure accountability and prevent abuse by police towards vulnerable communities.
"The loss of Najee Seabrooks – a dedicated member of our Reimagining Justice, Inc./Paterson Healing Collective family – resonates through our organization and community," stated Liza Chowdhury, Executive Director of Reimagining Justice, Inc. She added that their team had urged officers to use de-escalation tactics during an incident involving Seabrooks but were ignored.
Paterson has faced systemic policing issues characterized by excessive force and misconduct affecting Black and brown communities disproportionately. Despite making up 24% of Paterson's population, Black residents account for 52% of use-of-force incidents. From 2019 to 2023, Paterson recorded more police-involved killings than any other city in New Jersey. Between 2014 and 2018, only one out of 183 complaints about excessive force was substantiated internally within Paterson Police Department (PPD), according to a 2022 audit which also found supervisors failed to review such incidents properly.
"The Paterson Police Department has shown a pervasive pattern of abuse and lack of internal accountability that have disproportionately harmed Black and brown communities," said Amol Sinha, Executive Director of the ACLU of New Jersey. He emphasized that without intervention from the Attorney General's office, vulnerable communities in Paterson would lack meaningful protections.
Ryan Haygood, President & CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice remarked on federal intervention being slow and unpredictable: "Paterson...cannot be counted on to police themselves into compliance." He stressed that supersession is essential for reforming department practices.
The history in Paterson shows an urgent need for effective oversight to uphold constitutional guarantees like equal protection under law. Rev. Dr. Charles F. Boyer from Salvation and Social Justice stated: "The Attorney General’s oversight in Paterson is not just appropriate but necessary."
Jesse Burns from League of Women Voters emphasized public trust: "Police are public servants...integral to our democracy." She asserted that it's both right and responsibility for Attorney General’s Office intervention when needed.
