Newark Mayor Baraka announced Captain Lee Douglas will be named the Acting Police Chief effective on Friday, January 1st. The Mayor’s Office released the below statement:

NEWARK – December 30, 2020 – Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka today announced that Captain Lee Douglas, 24-year Newark Police veteran and commander of the 5th Precinct, will be named Acting Chief of Police effective January 1, 2021.

“I’ve worked with Captain Douglas ever since my days as a Newark City Council Member,” Mayor Baraka said. “He has consistently served the community from the heart, with both a keen sense of professionalism and a personal commitment to our residents. He brings over two decades of dedicated public service and hands-on supervisory experience resulting in the highest caliber of community engagement and respect.

“I have known and worked with Captain Douglas for the past 24 years,” Director Ambrose said. “He offers the perfect blend of a consummate law enforcement professional coupled with a heartfelt passion to serve each and every Newarker as if they were family. He will continue building upon the work we have established to change the culture of policing and in making Newark a safer City with fewer victims,” Director Ambrose added.

Acting Chief Douglas joined the Newark Police Division in July 1996. He replaces former Newark Police Chief Darnell Henry, who retired on September 30, 2020.