East Orange, NJ, December 17, 2018: Mayor Ted R. Green today announced that Domingos Saldida has been named Public Safety Director for the City of East Orange during a press conference held at East Orange Police Headquarters.

“Public safety has always been my number one priority and I am excited to bring on a strong and committed leader who can provide a fresh perspective on lowering crime and better enhancing the quality of life for our residents,” said Mayor Green. “Mr. Saldida officially completes my new administrative team and we are ready to make significant progress moving into 2019.”

Saldida was selected from a pool that included over a dozen potential candidates who were interviewed by a Selection Committee Panel comprised of Public Safety Transition Chair and Retired EOPD Captain Billy Oliver, Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, Newark Lt. David Whatley, and Irvington Police Director Tracy Bowers.

Saldida most recently worked as the Public Safety Director for the Town of Dover before retiring in 2016. Before that, he served 26 years in the Newark Police Department before his retirement in 2015 as Deputy Chief of Police. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Electronic Technology from New Jersey Institute of Technology and holds numerous certifications, including from Harvard University, Boston College, Rutgers University and Northwestern University.

“I am diverse, I have integrity, I have a mission and my mission and vision are the same as the Mayor of East Orange,” said Director Saldida, who acknowledged both EOPD Chief Phyllis Bindi and EOFD Chief André Williams for welcoming him with open arms. “I am going to build on what Mayor Green has started and we are going to move forward together.”

Mayor Green also thanked Public Safety Liaison José Cordero for returning to East Orange to lend his expertise while the city finalized their decision.

Under Cordero’s leadership, EOPD launched several high-impact initiatives, including establishment of the “Drive Right, Be Right” Campaign, re-activation of the Violent Crimes Task Force and creation of a Joint Border Patrol Program with the City of Newark. Since Mayor Green took office in January, East Orange’s crime rate has dropped 21% overall and 29% in violent crimes compared to 2017.

Elected officials and law enforcement personnel from neighboring communities attended the press conference to demonstrate their support.

Among those in attendance were: East Orange City Councilmembers Christopher James (1^st Ward), Christopher Awe (2^nd Ward), Quilla Talmadge (3^rd Ward), Casim Gomez (4^th Ward), Mustafa Brent (5^th Ward); Essex County Prosecutor Ted Stephens; Essex County Chairman LeRoy Jones; Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura; Essex County Undersheriff Amir Jones; Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnick; Public Safety Transition Chair and Retired EOPD Captain Billy Oliver; Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose; Newark Lt. David Whatley; Irvington Police Director Tracy Bowers; Orange Police Director Todd Warren; Bloomfield Public Safety Director Samuel DeMaio, and Glen Ridge Police Chief Sheila Byron Lagattuta.

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