It is important that law enforcement agencies closely resemble the makeup of the community they serve. The North Bergen Police Department is one of the most diverse police departments in the state representing an equally diverse community. The North Bergen Police Department’s demographics are highly representative of the most recent United States Census data for the Township of North Bergen. This is a large result of our residency-only hiring requirements and active recruitment practices.
The North Bergen Police Department also plans to take advantage of recent legislation that allows us to hire eligible candidates meeting certain criteria from outside the Civil Service process thereby increasing access to underrepresented groups or candidates. Our goal is to further improve upon the diversity of the Department.
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:17B-4.10 et seq. and corresponding AG Guidelines on Diversity in Law Enforcement Recruiting and Hiring issued December 7, 2021, all law enforcement agencies must annually submit to their respective County Prosecutor and to the Attorney General the specified demographic data relating to applicants, current officers, and promoted officers.
Below is a general demographics report of the Township of North Bergen and the North Bergen Police Department.
1. Statistics for Township of North Bergen are based on 2020 Census Data available at: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/northbergentownshiphudsoncountynewjersey/POP010220
2. Statistics for the North Bergen Police Department are based on the Annual Summary of Law Enforcement Diversity Report for 2021.
According to the data, the largest underrepresented group within the North Bergen Police Department are Asians. Asians incorporate people from the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent. Statistics indicate that Asian-Americans are generally underrepresented in most police departments. According to data compiled by New Jersey Advance Media, 77% of police departments lack any Asian officers even though Asians are part of New Jersey’s fastest growing population.
To better serve our Asian community, the North Bergen Police Department will work on developing innovative recruiting strategies that will attract qualified Asian applicants. The Community Affairs Division will develop these strategies in conjunction with members of the Asian-American community. The Department anticipates hiring from the Asian community within 24 months, at which point it will evaluate existing recruitment strategies to determine their effectiveness.
In addition, only 14% of the North Bergen Police Department is female. While this number is above the state average, the North Bergen Police Department is continually pursuing ways to recruit qualified female candidates in order to increase their representation within the agency. The Department has successfully increased its number of female candidates over the past several years.
Current recruitment activities of the North Bergen Police Department include, but are not limited to:
- Maintaining a North Bergen resident-only hiring policy to recruit officers from within the community
- Providing recruitment brochures and materials at various community events
- Attending career fairs at various high schools, colleges, and trade schools
- Providing student internship programs
- Utilizing social media and the North Bergen Police Department and Township of North Bergen website to attract eligible qualified candidates
- Providing career guidance for potential candidate employees
- Maintaining positive police-citizen contacts
- Investing heavily in police-youth programs such as the Junior Police Academy
- Maintaining competitive salaries and providing opportunities for professional development and advancement