Statement by Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka:

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“The indictment of Newark Police Officer Jovanny Crespo is a sad day for our city and our police department, and the families of the two victims. We are under a consent decree and this shows that when police officers break the law, they will be held to the same standards as all others, particularly at a time when justice in incidents involving the police is not happening around the country. This also shows how important it is that the police are equipped with body cameras and that they use them. The Essex County Prosecutor presented fair and unbiased evidence to a grand jury of Essex County residents, and they have returned a criminal indictment. I believe this is evidence of the transparency we have worked to establish in Newark and is critical to continuing to build trust between our police and the community.”

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- NEWARK -