Recognize Police Sacrifices During the Holidays

As the holiday season and New Year approach, I want to take a moment to reflect on the tremendous sacrifices made every day by the men and women in uniform, especially the members of the Jersey City Police Department.

On December 10, we remembered one of our own, Detective Joseph A. Seals, who was tragically lost in a horrific attack. That fateful day forever linked the Jewish community with the Jersey City Police Department, as it was a day marked by both grief and solidarity. The events of December 10th impacted not only the police department but also the broader community. In the aftermath of that tragedy, the Jewish community came together to offer support, comfort, and compassion to the JCPD, standing shoulder to shoulder in the face of adversity. This bond of shared tragedy and resilience continues to grow as we remember the sacrifices made and honor those we lost.

That day also took the lives of three other innocent victims—Mindy Ferencz, Moshe Deutsch, and Douglas Miguel Rodriguez—whose families and loved ones now carry the weight of their absence, especially during this holiday season. We remember their lives, too, and the devastating impact their loss has had on our community. Their names will never be forgotten, and their families remain in our thoughts as we reflect on the pain of that tragic day.

The pain of such losses is felt deeply by the families left behind, not just in the immediate aftermath but for years to come. For them, the holiday season is a bittersweet reminder of empty chairs at the dinner table, where they no longer share the joy of carving the turkey. They will no longer hear the excited footsteps of their children on Christmas morning, eagerly rushing to see what Santa left under the tree. These moments, so cherished by many, are forever lost to the families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The holidays will never be the same for those who have lost a loved one, and for the wives, mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, and colleagues, this anguish is lifelong.

With over two decades of experience as a law enforcement professional, I have occasionally heard questions like, “Why are officers paid so much?” or “Why do they receive benefits that others in the private sector don’t?” The answer lies not in what officers do on a routine day, but in what we expect them to do when faced with danger—saving the lives of others, often strangers they have never met.

Here in Jersey City, our officers face exceptionally dangerous conditions. Few other municipalities within the law enforcement profession have endured what we have: seven line-of-duty deaths during my career, including the tragic losses of Det. Joseph A. Seals, Lt. Christopher Robateau, Det. Melvin V. Santiago, Det. Marc A. DiNardo, P.O. Shawn Carson, P.O. Robert Nguyen, P.O. Dominick J. Infantes Jr., and another seven officers lost to suicide—now recognized by federal law as job-related. These sobering statistics underscore the immense physical and emotional toll of this profession.

When discussing law enforcement in general terms, I urge Jersey City residents to consider the unique and life-threatening dangers the Jersey City Police Department faces every day. Our officers are among the most at-risk in New Jersey, and possibly the nation. The sacrifices made by these men and women are beyond measure, and the loss of life to preserve another is priceless.

As we reflect during this season of gratitude, I hope the residents of Jersey City will recognize the extraordinary dangers faced by the men and women of the JCPD. Let us also remember and honor all those lost during the horrific December 10th attack. The tragic events that day, and the response that followed, remind us all of the strength that comes from unity. Please keep the families of these officers, as well as the families of Mindy Ferencz, Moshe Deutsch, and Douglas Miguel Rodriguez, in your thoughts and prayers.

Capt. Pawel Wojtowicz

President, Jersey City Police Superior Officers Association