Chief selected as state's largest municipal police force undergoes host of reforms Watch video
Mayor Ras Baraka and Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose joined top officials at the Newark Tech Essex County Vocational School ceremony to swear in Chief Darnell Henry.
State Police Superintendent Colonel Rick Fuentes, FBI Newark division Special Agent in Charge Timothy Gallagher, Mark McKevitt, head of the U.S. Secret Service Newark field office and Sheriff Armando Fontoura also attended among other law enforcement leaders.
Henry takes the helm of a police force that officials say is undergoing a host of reforms. A federal probe found widespread civil rights abuses and officials are working to eventually offset the loss of 400 city officers since 2010 while combating crime.
"The biggest challenge for me is going to be gaining the trust of the community," Henry said.
The new chief pointed to a long history in Newark as a benefit to him as the city's top uniformed officer.
"I'm born and raised here, I've been here my whole life," Henry added.
"We don't just have police officers here. We have the community here," the chief said of his swearing in ceremony.
Newark was "undertaking massive changes" in the police division, including efforts to fight crime, improve the quality of life for residents and build bonds with the community, according to the mayor.
"We have already put more officers on the streets, added accountability with the new Civilian Complaint Review Board, united residents with 'Occupy the Block' programs, and reorganized all our emergency response agencies under one roof," Baraka added.
"The City of Newark needs a talented, committed, compassionate, and professional leader to oversee these changes in our Police Division, and Darnell Henry is that leader," Ambrose, the public safety director, said in a statement. "Under his leadership, we will continue to be the groundbreaking and pioneering law enforcement agency that defines the future of American's urban communities."
Henry graduated from the police academy in 1994 and worked as a patrol officer and detective, detective sergeant and lieutenant, according to city officials. One of the lawman's highest profile cases came when he as served a supervisor in the Homicide Unit and worked to bring arrests and convictions in the brutal 2007 killings of three college friends at the Mount Vernon School schoolyard.
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Before being named acting chief earlier this year, Henry was a supervisor with the Newark Major Crimes Unit and led the Executive Protection Unit.
The chief grew up in the city's Central Ward and pursued a childhood dream of becoming a police officer after graduating from Newark Technical High School.
"As a Newark native who grew up in this city, I am committed to creating a safe environment for my neighbors and fellow citizens, in which to own businesses, raise families, and enjoy Newark," Henry said.
Newark Fraternal Order of Police President James Stewart Jr said he has known Henry for more than 20 years, beginning when they worked in the city's North District.
"He has the temperament, and the street experience to understand what works, and what doesn't," Stewart said. "The community will be very happy he is the top uniformed cop in the city."
Henry replaced former Chief Anthony Campos, who retired following a major shape-up of Newark's public safety operations. Under Ambrose, the police and fire departments were merged into a single Department of Public Safety. Ambrose, a former city officer and prosecutor's office chief of detectives, manages both divisions as public safety director.
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Ambrose and Henry presided over a July ceremony welcoming 135 police recruits, the city's largest class of future officers in at least a decade.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.