JERSEY CITY
FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE
LODGE #4

A-2846 SIGNED INTO LAW

On December 19, 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed A-2846 into law. We have been victorious in rectifying an issue brought on by a recently enacted law that restricted the number of rounds of ammunition that law enforcement could possess. We pushed hard to have it clarified and codified into law that active on and off duty officers were not restricted to less than 17 rounds of ammunition. The new law makes it clear that the number of rounds of ammunition that can be possessed and carried will increase to 17 for active on and off duty officers and 15 rounds for retired officers. This law wouldn’t have happened without us. FOP STRONG!

Dear Sirs:

Over the last few weeks, I have received a number of questions about recent changes to New Jersey’s gun laws and, specifically, whether those changes will affect the ability of law enforcement officers to carry firearms with large capacity magazines.

Here is the short answer. As of today, while on duty, a LEO may carry a service weapon with a magazine of any size. While off duty, this bill allows a law enforcement officer to possess and carry a magazine capable of holding 17 rounds of ammunition or less. In addition, the bill allows an off duty law enforcement officer to possess and carry a magazine capable of holding more than 17 rounds, provided it is used with the officer’s service firearm issued by the officer’s employer.

This afternoon, Governor Murphy signed Assembly Bill 4304/S2846 making these rules clear. I know there had been some confusion about whether the state’s new 10-round magazine limit would apply to active law enforcement officers, and A4304/S2846 provides some much needed clarification.

The Attorney General’s Office worked closely with the state’s police unions to ensure the passage of today’s law, and I am particularly grateful for the efforts of FOP and the PBA. As I have stated to each of you, we are working hard to prioritize the needs and concerns of our law enforcement partners, and I look forward to working with you on other projects in the coming months and years.

Respectfully,
Gurbir S. Grewal
Attorney General

AG GURBIL GREWAL PUSHES BACK ON ASSEMBLY BILL NO. 3115/SENATE BILL NO. 1036

(Trenton) Attorney General Gurbir Grewal spoke before the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Monday, December 10 regarding Assembly Bill No. 3115/Senate Bill No. 1036.

These bills would require the Attorney General to take over the investigation and grand jury presentation of every matter where a death occurs during an encounter with or while in custody of law enforcement. Below is his testimony “It is an important bill on a critically important subject matter. I know firsthand the extraordinarily powerful emotions these incidents elicit, and the very difficult challenges these investigations bring.

I have sat with families who have lost loved ones, and I have also seen the heavy toll these fatal encounters take on the officers themselves.

I commend not only the sponsors, but also the groups here today in support of this legislation, for their advocacy and commitment.

One thing is abundantly clear: all of us are committed to improving transparency, accountability and trust between law enforcement in this state and the communities we serve. That is precisely why I felt compelled to be here — to tell you in person, as the State’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer, as someone who has conducted, overseen and reviewed these investigations, and as someone who is committed to improving police¬ community relations, that this bill may, in the end, undermine public trust in law enforcement and will replace a system that already does everything that the sponsors seek to accomplish and much more.”

Read full testimony here