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Mordaga, who became Hackensack’s top cop 13 months ago, in turn praised the department itself.
“I spent nearly all of my law enforcement career with the Hackensack Police Department,” he told CLIFFVIEW PILOT this morning. “I was always proud of it and I am now more than ever.
(INSET: CLIFFVIEW PILOT PHOTO)
“Crime is down in the city thanks to the men and women of this department. The officers are diligently patrolling their posts, and much of the success can be attributed to aggressive proactive policing by our uniformed patrol division,” said Mordaga, a former city detective and chief of detetives for the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
“Detectives are following leads and making arrests for crimes such as robbery and burglary. Narcotics officers are making hundreds of arrests while at the same time cultivating informants,” Mordaga added.
“The credit goes to the police officers themselves for the overall continued turnaround of the Hackensack Police Department.”
City officials said they’re more than pleased with the work Mordaga has done in so short a time, after taking over a department still reeling from the administration of former Police Chief Ken Zisa.
Deputy Mayor Kathy Canestrino lauded Mordaga for “bringing back pride to the department.”
Michael Mordaga (PHOTO: Mary K. Miraglia, CLIFFVIEW PILOT Courthouse Reporter)
Councilman and Police Commissioner David E. Sims said that Mordaga “has helped stabilize a department that has been ripped apart by scandal and politics.”
More importantly, Sims said, he is “working well with the community to rebuild the trust between citizens and the police officers — which I believe is very important for the future of this city.”
That includes reaching out to city clergy, community groups and the homeless shelter, the commissioner said.
Just last week, Mordaga headed an historic narcotics sweep that targeted more than 160 people. Some had frightening stories (SEE: Hackensack police: Paramus mall shooter left note about being investigated for selling Molly).
Pride restored to department, city officials say
Arrests were still being made this week as part of the roundup (CLIFFVIEW PILOT first broke the news: Tactical force conducting major drug roundup in Hackensack, Bergen).
One is even being investigated in a series of cold-case murders.
“We need more of that kind of community-based police work in Hackensack to protect our children and families from the scourge of illegal drugs,” Sims said.
The new deal keeps Mordaga’s salary at $150,000 a year, city spokesman Thom Ammirato told CLIFFVIEW PILOT last night.
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