Newark to Announce the Hiring of 100 More Cops

This article includes a clarification* added Jan. 7, 2014

City and county law-enforcement officials Tuesday will unveil a new crime-fighting plan that includes adding another 100 police officers as well as several new vehicles and other equipment, the office of Mayor Luis Quintana said in a statement Monday.

The details of the plan will be discussed at a city hall press conference Tuesday afternoon, where officials will also present a “report card” assessing the city’s crime-fighting efforts in 2013.

At the start of the summer, Police Chief Sheilah Coley and Police Director Samuel DeMaio announced a cooperative effort with outside law enforcement agencies including the county prosecutor’s and sheriff’s offices to reduce crime in the summer months, when violence and illegal activity tend to spike.

But then-Mayor Cory Booker was forced to extend the heightened enforcement program well into September after a series of murders rocked the city just as the school year was resuming. Over the next few months, other spasms of violence followed, culminating with the murder of two teenagers allegedly by a third teen Christmas night.

The violence has spurred calls for action from everyone from US Sen. Robert Menendez -- who urged US Attorney General Eric Holder to free up funds for more police in Newark -- to the candidates running for mayor in 2014, including Shavar Jeffries and council members Anibal Ramos and Ras Baraka, all of whom have demanded new strategies and additional resources to bring crime levels down.

*Clarification: Although 100 new police were hired, the increase in manpower was also likely to be reduced by several retirements of current officers in 2014.