Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose, Police Chief Darnell Henry, and Fire Chief John G. Centanni swear in a new class of Police Officers and Firefighters completing their training in a joint ceremony on Wednesday, June 1, at 11 a.m., at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, located at 89 Ridge Street, in Newark’s North Ward.

The Police and Fire Departments are now united in the city’s the newly-created Department of Public Safety.

Mayor Baraka and Director Ambrose will discuss how police and fire training have changed to meet the City’s emphasis on bringing the police and community together to collaborate on reducing crime now that police and fire services are consolidated under the City’s new Department of Public Safety.

The 34 Firefighters of the 45th Recruit Class have completed 12 weeks of training at the Newark Fire Academy, located at 191 Orange Street. Firefighter recruits started their days with intense physical training, followed by inspections, classroom quizzes and work, and practical exercises, which included simulated rescues 

The Fire Class consisted of 11 African-American males and one female; 13 Latino males and one female; and eight Caucasian males. Six of the recruits have relatives who are active or former Newark Fire Department members.

The Police Class had 40 recruits, 31 males and nine females. It broke down ethnically as follows:

·         31 males: nine African American; 17 Latino; five Caucasian

·         Nine females: five African-American; three Latina; one Caucasian

The police recruits completed a grueling a 26-week training course at the Passaic County Police Academy in 214 Oldham Road, in Wayne, which included classes on Physical Training, Criminal Law, Cultural Diversity, Community Relations, Fire Responder Care, and Firearms Qualifications. The last Newark Police Department Recruit Class graduated in March 2016.