Six months after the attorney general's takeover of the embattled Paterson Police Department, the office today unveiled a path forward for its officers and the community they serve.

Senior correspondent Joanna Gagis has the story.

The people of Paterson deserve a department capable and ready to serve them.

Attorney General Matt Platkin today unveiled a strategic plan for reforming Paterson's police department.

The goal since the state took over the department in March.

Platkin joined with the officer he tagged to lead the overhaul.

Isa Abbassi, who described the approach as a.

Vision to rebuild trust and restore order in our community.

The strategic plan was formed after speaking with hundreds, if not thousands, of Paterson residents, according to Abbassi.

We heard.

Recurring themes address, courtesy and accountability, move internal affairs and civilian complaint interviews out of police headquarters have officers be more visible in the community and increase transparency while seeking sustained community.

Input.

Abbassi says these goals will transform the department into a regional leader in policing, a far cry from how residents have described the Paterson police in recent years.

To get there, they've outlined 55 initiatives that include things like a website where complaints against officers will be made public and QR codes on officer IDs to make it easier for residents to file complaints.

Or that we now require dispatch of a supervisor to the scene of every arrest to verify the circumstances and validity of that.

Arrest.

Supervisors will also be called to any crisis response where a person could be a danger to themselves or others.

To require that officers be equipped with alternative, less lethal devices, including OC spray and conducted energy devices such as Tasers to prevent unintended or avoidable uses of deadly force.

Plus additional training, increased community policing efforts and regular community listening sessions.

It's also created three councils a police advisory council, a Paterson Police Community Council made up of community elected residents and a faith based clergy council.

One change residents did not hear today.

The creation of a Civilian Complaint Review Board.

Platkin punted on that one.

CCRBs requires statutory change, so that's really a question for the Legislature.

Abbassi instead highlighting the fact that civilian complaints will be moved out of police headquarters.

They don't want to have to walk into police headquarters and potentially walk past the officer that they're alleging a complaint against.

But what hasn't changed?

Our internal affairs, our members of Paterson Police Department.

I personally think that complaints of that nature should be handled by an outside internal affairs as well.

If we really want to be, you know what I mean?

Because the police can't police the police.

But overall, activist Corey Teague was encouraged by what he heard today.

To me, this is the most strategic plan I've heard yet.

Now we know that between putting out the plan and implementing it, we know that it could be the difference in night and day.

But the plan itself, on its face, sounds excellent.

It sounds like something that will include the community.

Most of the reforms in the strategic plan have already begun, but the state and police departments say it'll take some time to see real change.

The first progress report will be released in the summer of 2025.

In Paterson, I'm Joanna Gagis.

NJ Spotlight News.