the staff of the Ridgewood blog
TRENTON, NJ — A new bill under consideration in the New Jersey Legislature sponsored by District 6 (Burlington and Camden),Senator MICHAEL L. TESTA, JR.District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland), Senator ANTHONY M. BUCCO District 25 (Morris and Passaic) could dramatically change the chain of command for the New Jersey State Police, shifting oversight away from the state attorney general and placing the agency directly under the governor’s authority.
Currently, the New Jersey Attorney General—now Matthew J. Platkin—oversees the Department of Law and Public Safety, which includes the State Police. Under the proposed legislation, the Superintendent of State Police would report directly to the governor, creating an entirely separate state department.
🚨 How Would the New Structure Work?
Under the bill, the Superintendent of State Police would:
✅ Be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the State Senate
✅ Be required to have extensive training and experience within the State Police
✅ Serve during the governor’s term and until a successor is appointed
✅ Have sole authority over personnel changes within the agency—removing the attorney general from the equation
The superintendent would also retain the title of State Director of Emergency Management, continuing to oversee the Office of Emergency Management, which currently operates within the Division of State Police.
⚖️ Why the Push for Independence?
This move comes amid months of political tension surrounding Attorney General Platkin, who has faced scrutiny and even calls for impeachment from some Republican lawmakers.
In February 2025, GOP assembly leaders filed articles of impeachment against Platkin, accusing him of:
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Overstepping his authority within the Division of Criminal Justice
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Obstructing the careers of certain State Police employees
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Unlawfully taking control of the Paterson Police Department
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Mishandling state statutes and COVID-19 legal responses
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Mismanaging a rape allegation case tied to Governor Phil Murphy’s campaign staff
Platkin dismissed the impeachment resolution as a “partisan political attack.”
🏛️ Federal Tensions Add Fuel to the Fire
This isn’t the first time New Jersey’s top law enforcement has clashed with federal authorities. In April 2025, acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba announced a review of Governor Murphy’s and Platkin’s policies on federal immigration enforcement.
That probe came after New Jersey issued directives limiting cooperation between local/state law enforcement and ICE agents, a continuation of the Immigrant Trust Directive introduced under former AG Gurbir Grewal. Platkin claimed he made multiple attempts to engage with Habba but received no response.
🔍 What’s at Stake?
If passed, this bill would:
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Give the governor more direct control over the State Police
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Remove a layer of oversight from the attorney general’s office
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Reshape how emergency management and statewide law enforcement are managed in New Jersey
Critics argue it centralizes too much power in the governor’s office, while supporters say it streamlines command and removes political interference from the attorney general.
📅 What’s Next?
Lawmakers will continue debating the bill in the Senate Education Committee in the coming weeks. If approved, it could reshape the balance of power between the governor, attorney general, and state law enforcement for years to come.
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nobody voted for Platkin