The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 26, Number 5 | Page 5

The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | January 2020
FROM THE DESK OF THE PRESIDENT
CHIEF CHRISTOPHER M. LEUSNER
MIDDLE TOWNSHIP PD
I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday season, and I wish you all a Happy New Year! Our
hearts are still heavy with the loss of Jersey City Detective Joseph Seals. Our thoughts and prayers
remain with the family, the Jersey City Police Department, and the entire Jersey City community. The
increase in the number of police officers being killed throughout the nation in the line of duty is
disturbing. Our officers take to the streets to deal with very complicated and challenging issues in an
environment of increased and intense scrutiny. As Chiefs of Police, it is critical that we continue to
support our officers and fight for funding for the best possible equipment and training, so that they can
do their job as safely as possible.
It is also important for us to highlight the outstanding work being done by our officers in our communities. Unfortunately, the
mainstream media covers the controversial stories involving law enforcement, but rarely the positive ones. We are
grateful to Fox News for their recent Law Enforcement Appreciation Day coverage, highlighting the positive side of our work.
Our Public Relations Committee of Chiefs will be working to enhance the Association's efforts to get the word out as well. We will
be looking at how we can grow use of social media to talk directly to our residents and the public at large, and share the good
work being done by our officers. My hope is to provide additional tools and strategies for Chiefs to increase positive messages
and content.
Your leadership is more important than ever in these times and we will be working hard at the Board of Officer level to support
your efforts.
Stay Safe,
Christopher M. Leusner
President, NJSACOP
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