The NJ Police Chief Magazine Volume 25, Number 2 | Page 5

The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | February 2019
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
MITCHELL C. SKLAR
Milestone Month
Some months have holiday festivities (think December), some make us think of those
things for which we are grateful (November), some remind us of our nation’s history (July).
February has some things going for it, of course; Presidents Day for the patriotic and
Valentine’s Day for the romantic. For the NJSACOP, February has another significance – it
is the anniversary of the organization’s founding.
In 1912, about 20 New Jersey Police Chiefs banded together for the purpose of unity, elevating standards,
planning, cooperation, the protection of life and property and close cooperation with law enforcement authorities
in neighboring states. The New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police was officially inaugurated with the first
State Chiefs Meeting on February 12, 1912 at the Newark Court House. At the meeting Elizabeth P.D. Chief
George Tenney was elected the first NJSACOP President. By-Laws were adopted and meetings were set for the
first Thursday of each month, a tradition that continues to this day. The new president addressed the members,
and pledged to “do everything in his power to advance the objects of the Association and work for the betterment
of police departments.”
As we enter our 107 th year of service, our organization can be proud of how far we have come, as well as how
close we have stayed to our founding principles. Early on (in fact, by the association’s second meeting),
professional development and training were matters of primary importance, another tradition which continues to
this day. By the third year, the organizational minutes show repeated mentions of “troubles” that certain chiefs
were having with local elected officials. Unfortunately, this is another tradition that continues to live on.
In many ways, of course, if those ‘founding fathers’ could visit our association today, they would be surprised
by what they saw (pleasantly surprised, I would like to think). Of course our membership has grown to well
over 400 Active Chiefs, with hundreds of Retired Chiefs, along with an almost equal number of Law Enforcement
Associate and Private Sector Affiliate Members. Beyond sheer number, our predecessors would be amazed at the
existence of a paid, professional staff, and the tremendous portfolio of programs, services, events and
products that the association offers to our members and their agencies. But if we have reached towards the
sky, it is because we stand on the shoulders of giants, from the first generation of our members through to
those who throughout the decades helped to shape the organization that we know today.
Mitchell C. Sklar, Esq.
Executive Director
4