Police, fire outline hiring, equipment and overtime in 2025 budget presentation

Public safety officials presented the Department of Public Safety's 2025 budget at the Sept. 12 Newark Municipal Council hearing and described staffing changes, contractual salary increases and equipment investments.

Police: Director Ivan Miranda said the police budget proposed for 2025 is about $174 million, driven by salary and overtime increases tied to recently negotiated contracts for superior officers, officers and deputy chiefs through 2027. Miranda reported recent recruiting success: the department hired 76 officers in the prior year and welcomed an additional 53 recruits in the latest class.

Miranda also described revenue and equipment: the department receives revenue from motor-vehicle and parking enforcement (Miranda cited about $9.7 million year to date and projected up to $14 million if trends continue). He said the department bought eight drones, four assigned to precincts and four used in field operations, and purchased 40 additional TASERs using $1.3 million in forfeiture funds. Miranda said the police academy is exiting a probationary period and is expected to receive a three-year training certification, which officials expect will expand revenue opportunities…