Armed Robberies Fuel Paterson Police Control Debate
A wave of brazen armed robberies captured on surveillance cameras has intensified the ongoing power struggle between Paterson city officials and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office over control of the city’s police department. The latest incident, a daylight robbery at a Main Street barbershop last Friday, has prompted renewed calls from Mayor André Sayegh to end state oversight of local law enforcement.
The dramatic footage, which has circulated widely on social media, shows masked gunmen wielding what appear to be semiautomatic rifles as they robbed multiple victims both inside the business and on the adjacent sidewalk. The incident represents part of a troubling pattern that has residents and business owners on edge.
The Latest Trending Headlines in Your Area:
- New Recovery Café to Brew Community, Connection, and Change
- Jersey’s Hidden Gems: Delicious Dives Worth The Drive
- Men Face One Night Jail After $1,000 Pig-Killing Scheme
- New Jersey Retirement Requires Over $1 Million, Study Reveals
- Tiny Chihuahua Infiltrates High-Security Naval Weapons Base
Masked Gunmen Target Multiple Businesses
“It’s beyond brazen and it’s time for [Attorney General] Matt Platkin’s failed political experiment to end,” Sayegh told local reporters during a press conference Monday. “I am the face of this city. I’m held accountable by the people of this city.”
According to police reports, the barbershop robbery occurred around 2 p.m. Friday when three masked individuals dressed in black entered the establishment on the 300 block of Main Street. Surveillance video shows the suspects brandishing long guns while demanding valuables from everyone present. At least five victims reported having cash, jewelry, phones, and other items stolen.
This incident follows a similar robbery that same evening in a basement establishment on West Broadway where a gunman fired shots, wounding a 48-year-old man. Investigators are working to determine if the same group is responsible for both crimes, as well as several other recent armed robberies throughout the city.
Control of Police Department Remains Contentious
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office took control of the Paterson Police Department in March 2023 following the fatal police shooting of Najee Seabrooks, a local resident experiencing a mental health crisis. The state intervention, known as supersession, represents a rare assertion of authority typically reserved for exceptional circumstances.
Platkin has defended the takeover, citing statistics showing overall crime reduction since his office assumed control. “We remain tremendously proud of the progress we have made in Paterson, but we remain mindful that this important work goes on,” Platkin said in a recent statement.
However, Mayor Sayegh disputes these claims, arguing that “shootings were already down 30%, and homicides were down by 60%” before the state’s intervention. Recent data suggests the overall crime situation remains complex, with robbery, theft, murder, and burglary rates in Paterson reportedly similar to figures from one year ago.
Businesses Implement Additional Security Measures
As the political battle continues, local business owners have taken matters into their own hands, implementing additional security measures to protect themselves and their customers.
“We’ve installed more cameras, hired security during business hours, and started closing earlier,” said James Washington, who owns a convenience store two blocks from the barbershop that was robbed. “But we shouldn’t have to live like this. Someone needs to get control of the situation.”
The Paterson Business Improvement District has organized an emergency meeting for next week to discuss coordinated security strategies. Proposed measures include a shared security patrol, improved lighting, and a business-to-business alert system to warn neighboring establishments of suspicious activity.
Meanwhile, the Paterson Police Department has intensified patrols in commercial areas and issued a statement emphasizing their commitment despite the political disputes: “The men and women of PPD have never worked or tried harder to make this city safe for its residents… The police are only part of the answer to this and it is certainly unfair to blame the police for the actions of criminals.”
The Latest Trending Headlines in Your Area:
