YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW: The New Jersey State Police
/YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW: The New Jersey State Police
By: Joel E. Gordon
"The New Jersey State Police is committed to protect, preserve, and safeguard the constitutional and civil rights of all citizens through impartial and courteous law enforcement with integrity and professionalism. We shall ensure public safety and provide quality service in partnership with our communities.” – New Jersey State Police Mission Statement
Looking back to its roots, the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) was born in 1921, a response to growing crime rates and the need for organized law enforcement. It’s like planting a seed in a garden; over time, with care and dedication, it grew into a robust force. Originally, the NJSP had just a handful of officers tasked with patrolling highways and enforcing laws. Picture a time when officers rode horseback or drove early model cars—far from today’s advanced technology!
Back in the day, NJSP's primary duties were simple: Keep the peace, uphold the law and assist local authorities. Officers were known as "troopers," and their job involved a lot of community interaction. Fast forward to today, and the role of the NJSP has expanded dramatically. They now tackle a wide range of issues, from traffic enforcement to cybercrime. It’s like a Swiss Army knife, with each function designed to meet the needs of a changing society.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf, was the first superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. He established the foundation upon which the NJSP stands by issuing General Order #1. Another point of interest, all badge numbers are issued sequentially and are retired never again to be issued, beginning with Superintendent Schwarzkopf's badge #1. Today, the NJSP are on the verge of issuing the first five digit badge #10,000 in the very near future..
What has evolved into New Jersey's largest law enforcement agency has been led since October 31, 2017 by a true man of God. Colonel Patrick J. Callahan is a public servant who keeps New Jersey in a well-rounded and best-prepared state of readiness for all possible events which could be perpetrated by those working against the peace and dignity of the state.
One of the many special units of the NJSP is the Meadowlands Troop B, who are stationed at the Meadowlands Sports and Entertainment complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and are tasked with security and oversight of all special and sporting events at this facility. Looking ahead, preparations are underway to host the 2026 World Cup Soccer tournament, where Troop B will be working with local, federal and international partners to ensure safety and security.
Another Crown Jewel: The T.E.A.M.S. Unit
Another specialized unit is the T.E.A.M.S. Unit (Technical Emergency and Mission Specialists) which was established in 1978 as a full-time emergency response unit prepared to handle extraordinary police emergencies. During the early years of the Unit’s existence, members were chosen from the Division’s Underwater Recovery Unit’s personnel, as they had distinguished themselves as highly disciplined, self motivated troopers. Today, the selection process is the most demanding among any in the Division. Members are selected based on written resume, physical agility test, background investigation, oral interview and the successful completion of the physically and mentally demanding underwater recovery course. The TEAMS Unit is comprised of three 10-member squads, regionally located in the north, central and south.
The TEAMS Unit is a multi-faceted entity which has met the challenges of emergency preparedness in a post-9/11 era. TEAMS maintains an “all threats”-“all-hazards”- “all crimes,” methodology toward prevention, protection, response and recovery. The Unit is adaptive, and is utilized by federal, state and local agencies for an array of missions. The Unit is fully operational, and can respond to any incident due to its full-time, 24-hour call-out status. TEAMS maintains an extreme training regimen which is focused on the many disciplines it possesses.
The NJSP further maintains many other specifically tasked Sections, Bureaus and Units:
Office of Professional Standards
Office of Executive Protection
Office of Quality Assurance
Identification & Information Technology Section
Employee Relations & Community Outreach Section
Intelligence & Criminal Enterprise Section
New Jersey Regional Operations & Intelligence Center
Office of Forensic Sciences
Special Investigations Section
Office of Program Support
Special Operations Section
Emergency Management Section
Four Field Operations Section Troops
Traffic & Public Safety Office
Communications Units
Radio/Electronics Maintenance Unit
Marine Services Bureau
Transportation Safety Bureau
Commercial Carrier Safety Inspection Unit
Construction Unit
Hazardous Material Transportation Enforcement Unit
Motor Coach Compliance/Safety Audit Review Unit
Mobile Safe Freight Training Unit
Incident Management Unit
Bomb Unit
Canine Unit
Special Weapons & Tactics Unit
Rescue Operations Unit
Underwater Search & Recovery Unit
Counter Terrorism Operations
Aviation Bureau
Office of Target Hardening
Internet Crime Against Children Unit
Additionally, Colonel Callahan brought back the NJSP motorcycles in 2018. As can be observed, there is no shortage of professional positions and opportunity within the New Jersey State Police agency!
Technology: A Game-Changer for Policing
Imagine trying to solve a mystery without a magnifying glass or a flashlight. That’s what early troopers faced. Today, technology is like a superhero sidekick. The NJSP uses advanced tools like drones, body cameras and cutting-edge forensic techniques. These innovations not only help in crime-solving but also build trust with the community. When people see officers equipped with modern tech, it enhances their sense of safety and transparency.
Community is All-Important
In its early years, the NJSP wasn't very diverse. Today, you’ll find officers from various backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and experiences to the force. This shift is crucial; it’s like adding different colors to a painting—it makes the picture richer and more relatable to the community they serve.
The NJSP has come a long way in how they interact with the public. In the past, their presence could feel intimidating. Today, they focus on community engagement, participating in events and programs that foster trust. Think of it as a dance; both partners need to move together in harmony. When the community and police understand each other, it creates a safer environment for everyone.
The Lindburgh Investigation
One particularly famous NJSP-involved case of historical significance involved the Charles Lindbergh family.
Charles Lindbergh was an American aviator who became famous for his solo nonstop flight from New York to Paris. With a strong interest in aviation from a young age, Lindbergh's dreams took shape when he became a pilot. In the 1920s, hotel owner Raymond Orteig was offering a prize of $25,000 to the first pilot to make the journey from New York to Paris without any stops. Lindbergh wanted to win this challenge and enlisted the support of some St. Louis businessmen. Several others had tried and failed, but this didn’t deter the 25-year-old.
Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field in Long Island, New York, on May 20, 1927. Flying a custom-built monoplane named the Spirit of St. Louis, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Lindbergh landed the next day at Le Bourguet Field near Paris after 33.5 hours in the air. During his historic trip, he had traveled more than 3,600 miles. Upon his arrival, more than 100,000 people who came to see groundbreaking history in the making welcomed the pioneering aviator. This achievement didn’t just make him famous; it transformed aviation. People couldn't believe that a single man could navigate such a vast expanse of ocean alone. It sounds like a scene from a movie, but it was real and was as riveting as it gets!
After his historic flight, Lindbergh didn't just sit back and enjoy his fame. He undertook various missions, including promoting aviation safety. But his life wasn’t always smooth sailing. On March 1, 1932, his 20-month-old baby son was kidnapped from the Lindberghs’ Hopewell, New Jersey, home and held for ransom, capturing the nation’s attention. The aftermath of the kidnapping not only led to the tragic death of the child but also changed Lindbergh's life forever. This sad chapter made headlines around the world, forcing him into the public eye in ways he never anticipated.
The Lindberghs eventually paid the $50,000 ransom, but their son’s dead body was sadly found in the nearby woods weeks later. The New Jersey State Police, using old-fashioned investigative prowess and know-how, traced the ransom money to Bruno Hauptmann, a carpenter with a criminal record, and arrested him for the crime. To compound Lindbergh’s grief, the ensuing trial—referred to as the “Trial of the Century”—of his son’s accused killer became a media obsession. Hauptmann was successfully convicted and later executed in 1936.
Unfinished Business
In New Jersey, Joanne Chesimard is notorious for her role in the cold-blooded execution-style killing of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster, Badge #2608, and seriously wounding New Jersey State Trooper James Harper, Badge #2108.
May 2, 1973, Chesimard, Clark Squire and Zayd Shakur were pulled over on the New Jersey Turnpike by Troopers Foerster and Harper for a motor vehicle violation. Chesimard and both men in the car were armed with semi-automatic handguns, and possessed fictitious identification. During the motor vehicle stop, Chesimard initiated a gun battle, wounding Trooper Harper. In the shootout that followed, Chesimard’s weapon was used to shoot Trooper Foerster in the abdomen and then, as he lay incapacitated on the ground, Trooper Foerster’s own weapon was used against him and he was brutally executed.
Chesimard at the time was a member of the revolutionary group, the Black Panther Party. She later aligned herself with another violent group called the Black Liberation Party.
Chesimard was convicted in 1977 of first-degree murder and a number of other charges stemming from this horrific incident and sentenced to life in prison. Chesimard, aided and abetted by several other armed Black Liberation Army members was able to escape a NJ prison in 1979 and has been a fugitive from justice ever since. It is believed that she moved to Cuba in 1984 and has, since that time, lived freely there, attending government functions and being provided with housing, food, transportation and security by the Cuban government. She was granted asylum by Cuban President Fidel Castro where she remains today.
A long history of bipartisan support exists for the need to bring this convicted murderer back to the United States so she can be made to serve the prison time she was sentenced to more than thirty-seven years ago. As a side note, New Jersey abolished the death penalty on December 17, 2007, replacing it with life in prison without parole.
A few important points to consider:
· In 1998, the US. House of Representatives passed Concurrent Resolution 254 by a vote of 371-0 requesting that the Cuban government return Chesimard to the United States;
· In 1998, the US. Senate passed Concurrent Resolution 254 by unanimous consent requesting that the Cuban government return Chesimard to the United States;
· In 2005, the Department of Justice approved an increase in the reward for Chesimard’s capture to $1 million; and
· In 2013, the Federal Bureau of Investigation placed Chesimard on its Most Wanted Terrorist List, designated her as a ” domestic terrorist” and increased the reward for her capture to $2 million.
In a letter to the Attorney General of the United States, Christopher J. Burgos, President of the
New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association, wrote “Cuba’s provision of safe harbor to Chesimard by providing political asylum to a convicted cop killer, and her ability to elude justice, is an affront to every resident of our state, our country, and in particular, the men and women of the New Jersey State Police, who have tirelessly tried to bring this killer back to justice.”
Challenges Ahead: What Lies in the Future?
Despite continued progress, other challenges remain. Issues like drug addiction, human trafficking, and social unrest test the resolve of the NJSP. But with every challenge comes an opportunity for growth. The NJSP is continually adapting, learning new strategies to tackle these problems head-on. It’s like navigating a river; sometimes, the current is strong, but with the right skills, the NJSP can steer through the rapids.
A legacy of service continues as the New Jersey State Police has transformed from its humble beginnings to a force equipped to handle modern-day challenges living up to its motto of Honor, Duty, Fidelity. The journey shows us that while the past shapes the present, it’s the commitment to service, community, and adaptation that will define the future. In a world that’s constantly changing with new and often unanticipated challenges, the NJSP stands ready, proving that they’re not just a badge and a car—they’re a vital part of New Jersey’s community fabric.
Joel E. Gordon, Managing Editor of BLUE Magazine, is a former Field Training Officer with the Baltimore City Police Department and is a past Chief of Police for the city of Kingwood, West Virginia. He has also served as vice-chair of a multi-jurisdictional regional narcotics task force. An award winning journalist, he is author of the book Still Seeking Justice: One Officer's Story and founded the Facebook group Police Authors Seeking Justice. Look him up at stillseekingjustice.com
