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Bill

Bill

S 3753

Requires State Police to establish community policing unit.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Angela McKnight

Establishes a dedicated Community Policing Unit within the New Jersey State Police to promote trust and transparency through community engagement, training, and annual reporting.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee
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Bill Summary · S 3753

Overview

S 3753 (Session 222, New Jersey) would require the Superintendent of the State Police to establish a dedicated Community Policing Unit within the Division of State Police. The unit is aimed at promoting trust and transparency between the State Police and the communities they serve. The bill sets out specific duties for the unit, establishes training and engagement requirements, and mandates annual reporting to the Attorney General and the Legislature. The act would take effect on the first day of the fourth month after enactment.

Main purpose and intent

  • Create a formal, ongoing unit focused on community policing within the New Jersey State Police.
  • Promote trust, transparency, and positive community relations between State Police and residents.
  • Support broader goals of inclusive policing by focusing on engagement, diversity in recruitment, and community-informed strategies.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Establishment of a Community Policing Unit

    • The Superintendent must establish a unit within the Division of State Police.
    • Purpose: to promote trust and transparency with communities.

  2. Unit responsibilities (non-exhaustive)

    • Develop and implement strategies to increase community engagement.
      • Coordinate with: other State agencies, community groups, elected officials, private sector, and local law enforcement.
      • Focus areas: quality of life and crime issues identified by residents within the area of each State Trooper road station.
    • Establish community engagement practices to increase gender, racial, and ethnic diversity in State Police recruitment.
    • Develop a community policing training curriculum, to be administered biennially to every State Trooper, aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of inclusive communities.
    • Develop guidelines for a mandatory minimum number of annual community engagement hours for each State Trooper.

  3. Annual reporting

    • The Superintendent must issue an annual report to the Attorney General and the Legislature (pursuant to existing reporting requirements) summarizing the unit’s activities.

  4. Effective date

    • The act takes effect on the first day of the fourth month after enactment.

Who and what would be affected

  • State Police leadership and the Division of State Police would be responsible for creating and operating the Community Policing Unit.
  • State Troopers would participate in:
    • Community engagement activities, including meeting annual minimum hours.
    • Biennial participation in the new community policing training curriculum.
  • State government entities and communities:
    • State agencies, elected officials, community groups, the private sector, and local law enforcement agencies would be partners in engagement strategies.
  • Prospective recruits:
    • Recruitment practices would be influenced by new community engagement guidelines intended to diversify gender, racial, and ethnic representation.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction and committee referral occurred on 2026-03-05 (Senate Law and Public Safety Committee).
  • The bill specifies an implementation timeline tied to enactment:
    • Effective date: first day of the fourth month after enactment.
  • Annual reporting requirement to the Attorney General and the Legislature.

Notes

  • The bill emphasizes measurable engagement and accountability through:
    • A defined minimum annual engagement hour requirement for troopers.
    • A biennial training curriculum focused on inclusive community understanding.
    • Regular reporting to legislative and executive leadership.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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