Paterson at a glance
Population by race and Hispanic origin
Cities in this database with the most similarly-sized populations
Full-time law enforcement staff, Paterson Police Department
- 412 Officers
- 68 Civilian staff
Full-time law enforcement officers per 1,000 residents
- 1.6 National average, cities with 100,000 to 249,999 population
- 2.2 National average
Federal grant funding for Paterson
USA spending grants for Paterson have not yet been reviewed, please check back soon. Alternatively, why not search for other states, cities, or counties in the database.
Military equipment transfers
Data last updated April 6, 2026
$3.4K value of military equipment has been transferred to the Paterson Police Department
The highest-value stock number reported is RIFLE,7.62 MILLIMETER with 6 items valued at $138.00 each
Recent equipment transfers
| Ship date | Item and National Stock Number (NSN) | Quantity | Acquisition value, each | Acquisition value, total | DEMIL code | DEMIL IC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/6/2000 | RIFLE,7.62 MILLIMETER 1005-00-589-1271 |
6 | 6 @ $138.00 | $828.00 | D | 1 |
| 8/17/1995 | RIFLE,7.62 MILLIMETER 1005-00-589-1271 |
10 | 10 @ $138.00 | $1,380.00 | D | 1 |
| 8/8/1994 | RIFLE,7.62 MILLIMETER 1005-00-589-1271 |
9 | 9 @ $138.00 | $1,242.00 | D | 1 |
Local police misconduct data, consent decrees, and settlements
Data last updated April 22, 2026
Settlements
We identified 1 publicly reported settlement that resulted in $240,000.00 in monetary compensation to victims.
| Year | Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 |
In August 2024, the City Council of Paterson, New Jersey, approved a $240,000 settlement with local Black Lives Matter leader Zellie Thomas and New York-based activist Walter “Hawk” Newsome, who were arrested while protesting the death of Jameek Lowery while in police custody. During a January 11, 2019, march, Paterson Police Department officers on motorcycles abruptly blocked the protesters’ path. Police arrested and handcuffed Thomas and Newsome, charging them with obstructing a public road and detaining them at police headquarters. According to the lawsuit, Thomas and Newsome were lawfully marching along a city street, had not erected barricades, and were not obstructing traffic at the time of their arrests. The lawsuit contended that the arrests were unlawful and violated their First Amendment rights to free speech and association. |
Compensation
$240,000.00 |