April 2026 | The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine 15
JENNIFER DAVENPORT New Jersey’ s 63 rd Attorney General
Ask New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport to pick a side in the ageold Wildwood pizza debate of Sam’ s versus Mack’ s and you’ ll get an unequivocal answer.
Mack’ s.
Her willingness to stand up for what she believes in- whether the outcome of a lighthearted pizza rivalry or the most pressing issues facing New Jerseyans – is central to her character.
So, it was no surprise when more than 100 former federal prosecutors, including three former state attorneys general, issued a letter supporting her confirmation.
“ She combines deep legal acumen with a temperament ideally suited to the responsibilities of the office she has been nominated to lead,” they wrote.
Public service and doing the right thing for the right reasons are her core values, and AG Davenport is the first to credit her parents for instilling those beliefs in her from a young age.
“ I’ m a proud New Jerseyan,” she proclaimed when first nominated by Governor Mikie Sherrill to serve as New Jersey’ s 63 rd Attorney General.
After earning high praise from the State Senate’ s Judiciary Committee, Davenport was confirmed as Attorney General on February 24.
“ I will serve with fairness, independence, and integrity— the same values that have guided every step of my public service,” she said after the confirmation vote was tallied.
A long career in public service prepared her to serve as the state’ s chief law enforcement officer.
AG Davenport’ s career in law enforcement began in Newark, where she served as an intelligence analyst with the Drug Enforcement Administration( DEA). But she knew that joining the legal profession would allow her to pursue even more diverse and challenging opportunities as a public servant.
A testament to her work ethic, Davenport attended law school at night while continuing to work full-time for the DEA.
It was not an easy balancing act, but the long days paid off when she earned her law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law.
Several years later, she joined the U. S. Attorney’ s Office for the District of New Jersey, eventually becoming chief of the General Crimes Unit, teaching new prosecutors how to partner with law enforcement agencies and work together to protect public safety.
She then had the chance to rejoin the DEA, serving as Division Counsel to the New Jersey Division, where she helped tackle the nation’ s growing fentanyl crisis.
But when then-Attorney General Gurbir Grewal asked her to join his office as First Assistant Attorney General in 2018, she couldn’ t resist the chance to serve her beloved home state.