History of the Englewood Police Department

From Roots to Resilience.

The Englewood Police Department, located in Englewood, New Jersey, was established in 1899 and has served the community ever since.
The department is organized into three main divisions:
- Administrative
- Investigative
- Uniformed
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Within these divisions, there are several key bureaus:
- Patrol
- Detective
- Juvenile
- Traffic
- Records

Contemporary Englewood
Today, Englewood is a sophisticated city that blends its historic charm with a lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere. The city is a place of striking contrasts:
- Victorian mansions alongside modern low-rise condominiums
- Tree-lined neighborhoods near a busy business district
- Large private estates as well as affordable apartments
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Its proximity to New York City remains a major asset, but Englewood has a unique identity of its own—shaped by the diverse backgrounds, professions, and talents of its residents.

The population is more varied than many surrounding suburbs in Bergen County. Residents include:
- Doctors (thanks in part to Englewood Hospital and nearby NYC hospitals)
- Lawyers, business professionals, engineers, professors
- Artists, musicians, entertainers, and athletes

One of its most distinguished residents was jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie, for whom a downtown area is now named.

Englewood Becomes a City
Originally part of Hackensack Township, Englewood gained independence during a major reorganization of Bergen County in 1871, which divided the area into four new townships:
- Hackensack
- Palisade
- Ridgefield
- Englewood

In 1894, New Jersey law eliminated large township school districts, making each municipality its own district. Residents were required to pay off previous district debts proportionally, but boroughs, towns, villages, and cities were exempt, sparking a rush to incorporate.

Englewood voted to become a city in 1896, but due to a defect in state legislation, the incorporation wasn’t finalized until March 1899.

Earlier, two communities had seceded:
- Teaneck in 1891
- Englewood Cliffs in 1895

These separations stemmed from local dissatisfaction. It was hoped that formal city status would prevent further division.