Jerry Speziale

Jerry Speziale
Speziale in 2011
Police Director of the Paterson Police Department
Incumbent
Assumed office
July 2014
Police Chief of the Hazleton Police Department
In office
January 2016 – April 2020
Police Chief of the Prichard Police Department
In office
October 2013 – July 2014
Deputy Police Superintendent and Assistant Director of Public Safety of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department
In office
August 2010 – October 2013
Sheriff of Passaic County
In office
November 2001 – August 2010
Preceded byEdwin Englehardt
Police Chief of the New Hope Police Department
In office
May 2000 – September 2000
Personal details
Born1959 or 1960 (age 64–65)[1]
Political partyDemocratic

Gerald Speziale (born 1959 or 1960)[1] is an American law enforcement officer and Public Safety Director of the Paterson Police Department and the Paterson Fire Department in Paterson, New Jersey.[2] A former member of the New York City Police Department, Speziale has also served as the Sheriff of Passaic County, New Jersey, as Deputy Police Superintendent - Assistant Director of Public Safety for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department,[3] and as Chief of Police for the City of Prichard, Alabama. He has worked as an undercover officer in the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and for the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force while in the NYPD.

Jerry Speziale resigned in 2010 and took a position with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Speziale's decision to move from Passaic County to the Port Authority mid-election was the focus of controversy, and prompted allegations that the appointment was political. Sympathizing with Speziale's family situation, because his wife was suffering from a terminal illness, many respected his right to make this move, but local and countywide Democrats were disappointed with the abruptness of his departing.[4]

In 2003, Speziale had been described as a "flamboyant figure"[5][6] and as having a "flair for publicity."[7][8][9] In 1986, just a few years into his time with the New York City Police Department, Speziale was shot in the line of duty, where Speziale and his partner were ambushed and he was shot. Two other cops were shot and Speziale returned fire and killed the suspect. Speziale, later got involved in undercover drug work that took him to Colombia to help fight the powerful cartels.

Those experiences formed the basis of his published ghostwritten book: “Without a Badge: Undercover in the World’s Deadliest Criminal Organization,” describing his experiences working undercover,[6] and has been featured on the reality TV series Cops. Speziale also played a police captain and served as a "police consultant" for the 2010 film Brooklyn's Finest.[10]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference nypost was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Public Safety Department". www.patersonnj.gov.
  3. ^ Cowen, Richard; Cunningham, Jennifer; Alexander, Andrea (August 10, 2010). "Passaic County Sheriff Speziale resigns, accepts Port Authority post". NorthJersey.com. North Jersey Media Group. Archived from the original on October 9, 2014. Retrieved November 23, 2011.
  4. ^ Speziale steps down as Sheriff. NorthJersey.com. August 11, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2010 – via YouTube.
  5. ^ Rashbaum, William K. (August 20, 2010). "Inquiry Into Ex-Sheriff's Motor Pool". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Miller, Jonathan (February 9, 2003). "THE LAW; Passaic Sheriff Rides High On Attention". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022.
  7. ^ Koloff, Abbott (August 18, 2014). "Old Job Has Sway on Police Director". The Record. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015 – via HighBeam.
  8. ^ Alex, Patricia (August 31, 2010). "Former sheriff Jerry Speziale is a no-show at motorcycle run named for him". NorthJersey.com. North Jersey Media Group. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016.
  9. ^ Doblin, Alfred P. (August 13, 2010). "Steven Slater has nothing on Jerry Speziale". The Record – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Reich, Michael (November 25, 2018). "Police chief has gained fame, but remains committed to helping Hazleton". Times Leader. Civitas Media. Archived from the original on February 8, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2022.