As reported by nj.com, Samuel DeMaio, a 24-year law enforcement veteran described as “the toughest cop” in Newark, was named to lead the state’s largest police department, then given his first order of business: prevent what some fear could be another bloody summer.

DeMaio, 44, who will serve as acting police director, replaces Garry McCarthy, who has been named superintendent of the Chicago Police Department. Calling it a “bittersweet” day,” Newark Mayor Cory Booker praised his future and former directors during a morning press conference. 

“There is still much work to be done in Newark, but we stand now on a platform that was designed by a great leader in our city and a great leader in America,” Booker said, referring to McCarthy. Then, turning to DeMaio, who he called a “tactician” committed to emulating McCarthy’s success, the mayor said, “we have a hungry man who is ready to prove himself.”

Booker said that during his search for an acting director, other officers described DeMaio as “the toughest cop that we have. This was the most fearsome fighter.”

DeMaio takes over a department trying to rebound from last year’s massive layoffs and preparing for what some fear may be another crime-filled summer. Last year, Newark experienced its deadliest summer in 20 years, with 35 homicides between June 1 and August 31. DeMaio promised that will not happen again. 

“That is the number one priority right now. I have a summer plan we have been working on,” he said, adding that details on the initiative will be released in the coming weeks. “I think it’s going to have a tremendous impact on our crime this summer. I think it’s something the citizens are going to enjoy seeing.”

Booker said DeMaio will serve as acting director through September, but a peaceful summer could help his chances to lead the department full-time. The former deputy chief is an experienced police executive who worked closely with McCarthy, former Police Director Anthony Ambrose and former Chief Irving Bradley, Jr. He has also served as the department’s chief of detectives and as a precinct commander.

DeMaio’s appointment was met with praise from some law enforcement leaders, who say his background makes him a perfect candidate, and skepticism from others, who say his disciplinary record should be made public.

Tags: Acting Director, Articles, Booker, Director, Newark Police Department
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Photo of Donald C. Barbati Donald C. Barbati

Donald C. Barbati is a shareholder of Crivelli, Barbati & DeRose, L.L.C. His primary practice revolves around the representation of numerous public employee labor unions in various capacities to include contract negotiation, unfair labor practice litigation, contract grievance arbitration, and other diverse issues…

Donald C. Barbati is a shareholder of Crivelli, Barbati & DeRose, L.L.C. His primary practice revolves around the representation of numerous public employee labor unions in various capacities to include contract negotiation, unfair labor practice litigation, contract grievance arbitration, and other diverse issues litigated before the courts and administrative tribunals throughout the State of New Jersey. In addition, Mr. Barbati also routinely represents individuals in various types of public pension appeals, real estate transactions, and general litigation matters. He is a frequent contributor to the New Jersey Public Safety Officers Law Blog, a free legal publication designed to keep New Jersey public safety officers up-to-date and informed about legal issues pertinent to their profession. During his years of practice, Mr. Barbati has established a reputation for achieving favorable results for his clients in a cost-efficient manner.

Mr. Barbati has also handled numerous novel legal issues while representing New Jersey Public Safety Officers. Most notably, he served as lead counsel for the Appellants in the published case In re Rodriguez, 423 N.J. Super. 440 (App. Div. 2011). In that case, Mr. Barbati successfully argued on behalf of the Appellants, thereby overturning the Attorney General’s denial of counsel to two prison guards in a civil rights suit arising from an inmate assault. In the process, the Court clarified the standard to be utilized by the Attorney General in assessing whether a public employee is entitled to legal representation and mandated that reliance must be placed on up-to-date information.

Prior to becoming a practicing attorney, Mr. Barbati served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Linda R. Feinberg, Assignment Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, Mercer Vicinage. During his clerkship Mr. Barbati handled numerous complex and novel substantive and procedural issues arising from complaints in lieu of prerogative writs, orders to show cause, and motion practice. These include appeals from decisions by planning and zoning boards and local government bodies, bidding challenges under the Local Public Contract Law, Open Public Records Act requests, the taking of private property under the eminent domain statute, and election law disputes. In addition, Mr. Barbati, as a certified mediator, mediated many small claims disputes in the Special Civil Part.

Mr. Barbati received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, magna cum laude, from Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Upon graduating, Mr. Barbati attended Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware. In 2007, he received his juris doctorate, magna cum laude, graduating in the top five percent of his class. During law school, Mr. Barbati interned for the Honorable Joseph E. Irenas, Senior United States District Court Judge for the District of New Jersey in Camden, New Jersey, assisting on various constitutional, employment, and Third Circuit Court of Appeals litigation, including numerous civil rights, social security, and immigration cases.

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