The Paterson Police Department is going through an overhaul after Mayor Andre Sayegh publicly fired the police chief and as violent crime rates — including homicides — spiked in the city. The police department also recently went through its worst scandal in decades when five convicted ex-Paterson cops were sentenced to prison for their roles in robbing and assaulting people they illegally stopped.
Sayegh has appointed Engelbert Ribeiro, a well-respected member from the ranks, as acting police chief. In an interview with NJ Spotlight News, Sayegh said, “We have to restore that trust and reestablish that relationship with the public … We are positioning Paterson for progress, but public safety is paramount.”
