Jersey City Names New Director of Public Safety

The mayor of Jersey City has named a new director of public safety.

James Shea of the New York Police Department has been hired to oversee Jersey City's police and fire departments.

Shea is currently a deputy chief overseeing the NYPD's youth and gang crime division.

The appointment comes after Jersey City's longtime police chief and dozens of officers announced their retirements immediately following Fulop's election in May.

Fulop has criticized the exodus, saying the retirements will cost taxpayers millions of dollars in payouts for unused vacation and sick days.

He's vowed to audit every request for unpaid sick days for retiring officers.

The appointment comes a week after Fulop announced the hiring of former New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey to head a city commission on jobs.

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