Hackensack Police Department celebrates 125 years of serviceFriday February 22, 2013, 1:57 PM
BY JENNIFER VAZQUEZ
NEWS EDITOR
Hackensack Chronicle
The city's police department celebrated its 125 years in existence on Feb. 21.
This achievement was touched upon during the Feb. 19 council meeting, when a resolution was passed, essentially, congratulating the department.
"The Hackensack Police Department is hereby congratulated as it celebrates this milestone and also commended for its outstanding dedication to our community," the resolution reads.
The Hackensack Police Department has undergone quite a few changes, according to the resolution. A department that started off with "two ill-equipped, untrained constables," has since turned "into a one hundred and twelve member department."
According to a book published by the City of Hackensack to celebrate the city's 300th anniversary, "The City of Hackensack: Three Centuries of Prosperity 1693-1993", New Jersey began to form police and fire departments after 1871, "the year the state Legislature passed a law permitting local governments to organize these services. Hackensack's first police department formed in 1896."
The department during this time operated out of borrowed space from various locations until 1958, when it moved to the "newly constructed headquarters" at 225 State St., where it is currently located, Hackensack Mayor Michael Melfi said during the council meeting.
Though the department has been in existence for more than a century, recent controversial incidents, over the past couple of years, have brought it to the forefront when its former police chief, Charles "Ken" Zisa, was charged and convicted of insurance fraud and official misconduct in 2012.
According to Councilman John Labrosse, the police department is entering a new phase.
"There was a tumultuous time for the police department," Labrosse said. "In a kind of way, this anniversary is like a new chapter for the department."
Moving past Zisa, the city temporarily got rid of its police chief position, deciding to implement a police director instead. This would allow the individual in this post to oversee the day-to-day activities of the department and make sure that all rules and regulations are met. The city council and newly-appointed Police Director Michael Mordaga are hopeful the city's police agency can be transformed to its previous glory.
Mordaga's public service career started in Hackensack, a department that, according to him, has a long tradition of professionalism.
"For 125 years we always had a professional department," Mordaga said. "This is an ongoing tradition of ours. Over the past couple of years our ship began to stray, but we are back on course and back to bringing the department to what it has been known for."
"We are very hopeful that the worse is behind for [the police department]," Labrosse said. "Mordaga has been doing a great job since he came on board [as director]."
According to Melfi, the department will, undoubtedly, continue to serve the people in the community for years to come.
"I want to congratulate the Hackensack Police Department on their anniversary and wish them another 125 years."
Email: vazquez@northjersey.com