Director of public safety

Career

The Director of Public Safety, Samuel Anthony DeMaio, began his career in law enforcement in 1986, following in his father’s footsteps and joining the Newark Police Department. Throughout his 28 year career with NPD, DeMaio ascended through the ranks from patrolman to Police Director. DeMaio was also involved in the creation of the Essex County Major Crimes Task Force and was an active participant in the FBI’s Violent Crime Task Force.

Police Director

In 2011, Mayor Cory Booker appointed DeMaio as Newark’s Police Director. That year, DeMaio reduced the city’s shooting and murder rates by 15 and 18% (respectively), while also lowering citizens’ complaints against the department. One of DeMaio’s personal highlights at NPD was creating the NPD Memorial Scholarship Fund, honoring officers who gave their lives in the line of duty by creating a scholarship fund for college-bound Newark students.

Retirement

DeMaio retired from the Newark Police Department in 2014 and became Bloomfield’s Police Director, where he is particularly focused on enhancing the department’s efficiency and improving the quality of life in Bloomfield.

Education

Director DeMaio is an active member of the Police Executive Research Forum and completed studies at the Senior Management Institute for Police at Boston University, the National Executive Institute at the FBI National Academy, and the Law Enforcement Management Studies Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.