Directors of Newark Police Department

The Newark Police Division’s leaders are committed to serving those who live, work and visit the City of Newark by extending the highest degree of integrity and respect to all. Our goal is to continue strengthening positive police-community relations by interacting with the public collaboratively to ensure safety.

 

Meet The Director

Fritz G. Fragé

Fritz G. Fragé is the Newark Public Safety Director, overseeing the City of Newark’s Police and Fire divisions, along with its Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. He has oversight of more than 1,000 sworn police officers, 650 firefighters, and over 350 civilian employees.

Previously, Director Fragé served as a 24-year veteran with the New Jersey State Police (NJSP), completing his tenure as Commander of the Investigations Branch.

He brings an expansive skillset to the Newark Police Division, including: operational, analytic, and intelligence expertise, including proficiency in cyber-crime, counter-terrorism, undercover operations, gun violence, homicide, drug enforcement, electronic surveillance, fugitive and missing persons, internet crimes against children, police-involved shootings, human trafficking, and more.
Director Fragé was instrumental in the establishment of three Real Time Crime Centers, including one housed at the Newark Police Headquarters, used to leverage partnerships and apply technology to provide real-time operational intelligence to the law enforcement community.

Earlier in his law enforcement career, Director Fragé served as an investigator with the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, where he conducted nationally classified investigations of individuals actively engaged in domestic and/or international terrorism activities.

Director Fragé is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Arts Degree from Seton Hall University. He immigrated to the United States from Haiti in 1974 and is fluent in French (Creole).

Meet The Deputy Director

Sharonda Morris

Sharonda Morris, a veteran law enforcement for the Newark Department of Public Safety, has been a member of the city’s police division for 23 years, rising through its ranks to recently become Deputy Director of Police Operations.

Morris takes on her new assignment in a career anchored by hard-earned promotions that have prepared her for this day.

She joined the force in 1998 as a West District foot patrol officer, who moved up to detective two years later in 2000. She held that post eight years, a productive stint in the Human Resources Department, where Morris was fiscally responsible and observant.

Morris monitored the police divisions’ overtime schedule and, during an audit project, she discovered outstanding funds the division had not been paid from the state of New Jersey for outside employment.

Her meticulous skillset didn’t go unnoticed when she became a sergeant in 2008. Over the next eight years, Morris led several police districts, supervised patrol units, implemented strategizes to track and reduce crime, and managed the police division’s finances.

In 2016, she was transferred to the Office of Professional Standards as an investigative sergeant. That role, however, didn’t last long as her professional value grew. In short order, Morris was promoted to lieutenant, then Executive Officer in 2017, continuing to showcase a leadership pedigree that would be recognized again.

Morris, a graduate of University High School in Newark and Rutgers University-Newark, was promoted to Captain in 2020 until Mayor Ras J. Baraka tapped her for the job she now holds – Deputy of Director of Police Operations.

Meet The Deputy Director

Ronald Slaughter

Ronald Slaughter is Deputy Public Safety Director of Community Relations, a newly created civilian position within the Newark Police Division. A clergyman, Rev. Slaughter also continues building upon 10 years of service as Senior Pastor of Saint James AME Church in Newark, NJ.

A consummate community leader, Pastor Slaughter proudly serves on several boards, including Wesley Theological Seminary (Washington, DC); New Brunswick Theological Seminary (New Brunswick, NJ); Turner Theological Seminary (Atlanta, GA); and Chair of St. Michael’s Medical Center Board (Newark, NJ).

Over the years, his meteoric rise took him from serving as an entry-level Firefighter to Fire Captain. In November 2010, he became the first Hispanic Newark Fire Division Battalion Chief. He also served as the executive officer for both the Fire Director and Fire Chief’s Offices. There, he became adept in managing the administrative affairs of the agency, encompassing budget preparation, recruitment, training and discipline, short and long term strategic planning, apparatus and equipment acquisition, and community outreach programming.

In September 2016 Interim Director Malave was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief, again becoming the first Hispanic to hold this impressive rank in the department’s history. His commitment and dedication to public service also afforded him the role of Deputy Essex County Fire Coordinator.

In January 2016, Interim Director Malave achieved the esteemed honor of being appointed Interim Director of the Newark Department of Public Safety. In this, the most challenging assignment of his career, he assists in providing executive oversight to the Police Division, Fire Division and Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security. Interim Director Malave has astutely applied his experience and vision toward implementing shared services throughout the department by harnessing the best practices of all three disciplines, thereby creating greater efficiency and enhancing the ongoing success of the department.

During his distinguished 22-year career, Interim Director Malave has garnered several awards and received significant training in Emergency Management and Urban Search and Rescue. He has also received a New Jersey Legislature Senate Resolution; the prestigious 200 Club Valor Award from the 200 Club of Essex County; a Life Saving Medal from the Newark Firefighter’s Union; the International Association of Firefighters Valor Award; the Hispanic Firefighter’s Achievement Award (1st Latino Battalion Chief); and the Grand Cordon Award Team Rescue Newark Firefighter’s Union for years 1998, 1999 and 2004.