Harrison Police Dept Bolsters Force Amid Redevelopment Revenue Boom

Police Chief David Strumolo announced that the Harrison Police Department is set to welcome twelve new officers to its ranks. This significant expansion includes two seasoned officers transferring from nearby forces and ten recruits, highlighting the department's proactive strategy to maintain high service levels in anticipation of upcoming retirements.

Officers Christopher Maitin and Michael Barbosa bring their extensive experience from the Hudson County Sheriff's Office and the Newark Police Department, respectively. They will be accompanied by recruits Pedro Azua-Lucas, Jonathan Carnaval, Anthony Cecere, Miguelangel Cosme, Mouhamed Diouf, Carl Gangi, Connor McClelland, Alex Naprawa, Daniel Soltis, and Matthew Titterington.

Developer PILOTs Help Town of Harrison

This increase in personnel is part of a broader financial picture tied to Harrison’s Redevelopment Zone, where modern residential buildings generate significant revenue through Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs). The PILOTs, exceeding $14 million annually and growing each year, are not only funding the new positions but also facilitating raises for town administrators and employees. Property owners have not seen a decrease in their property taxes.

Harrison Police New Recruits & Experienced Officers

Mayor Raymond McDonough's & Council Vision

The Harrison Redevelopment Agency (HRA), established over 26 years ago under the late Mayor Raymond McDonough and his council, aimed to transform contaminated industrial properties into vibrant residential zones. While the primary goals were to alleviate property taxes for Harrison residents and provide public green spaces and better traffic, the financial benefits have enabled the Fife Administration to make its own financial decisions without restraints imposed by the State of New Jersey who at one point was managing Harrison’s finances, it has fallen short on Public Green Spaces and improvement promised such as a Route 280 Interchange off of Cape May Street, and a new Jackson Street bridge.

Black Cloud Over Harrison: EPA's Toxic Sludge Plant

Despite the successful transformation of these areas, which was initially intended to include office spaces—a plan diverted by the market's shift away from office demand—the reality today is that looming over these accomplishments is a potential setback involving the EPA's controversial plan supported by Mayor Fife. The EPA intends to process toxic dioxin-laden sludge from Agent Orange production in an open-air facility located perilously close (across the street) to residential areas and key transport hubs. This plan could jeopardize the community's air quality, contaminate the community with dioxin (airborne and on the ground), and undermine the redevelopment's residential appeal, contradicting the very foundations laid by Mayor McDonough's vision.

EPA's Toxic Sludge Plant at PSE&G Property & Neighborhood

The Town of Harrison continues to grow and thrive from its redevelopment efforts, Mayor Fife and his administration's support of a Toxic Sludge Plant in a residential community next to a transportation hub goes against all common sense.  It could upset the progress made to date that has enabled the addition of Police and Fire Department personnel to ensure public safety (among other improvements in town equipment).  It will impact public health and if opposed by Mayor Fife would have the proposed sludge plant go to an industrial area in South Kearny or further down the Passaic River where it would not be in a residential zone and next to a major mass transit rail lines.

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Photos Courtesy of Harrison Police Department (Except EPA Toxic Sludge Plant Photo)