Newark’s police chief is calling it a career. Darnell Henry is retiring after 26 years on the force.
He became chief in 2016 after many years as a detective and as supervisor of the Cold Case Unit. In 2010 he and his team solved a case that dated to 1976.
Mayor Ras Baraka, at a sendoff ceremony Wednesday in front of the 5th Precinct, said Henry has made Newark a safer place. “He made great decisions in this community,” he said. “You can see the crime, with him and honestly the public safety director, crime in this city has been going downward.”
Henry and his detectives made national headlines in 2007 by arresting several men in one of Newark's most horrific crimes, the Mount Vernon School Yard Killings.
“It’s a loss for this city, it’s a loss for me as the mayor, it’s a loss for this police department,” said Baraka, “but because of the work he did he deserves this day. I wish him an incredible retirement.”
Henry paid tribute to Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose. “I have learned countless professional and personal lessons from you. I will always respect your incredible leadership,” he said, “and will forever value our time as partners, the dynamic duo, serving the people of Newark.”