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Police Department

Weather Advisory: Severe weather expected in our area Saturday through Monday; 3″- 5″ of rain, with winds up to 50mph, and possible flooding. 

A State of Emergency has been declared state-wide ahead of the northeastern that will impact our area.

Forecasts are calling for 3 to 5 inches of rain in some areas, beginning with showers this afternoon. Rain will become more steady overnight and is expected to continue through Sunday into Monday morning. 

Strong winds, with gusts of 40 to 50mph, are also expected. Downed trees and power outages are possible. 

This system brings a serious threat of coastal flooding. A coastal flood watch has been issued for several counties, including for our area. Tidal surge may extend through four consecutive tide cycles, with high tides at 12:32 a.m. and 12:58 p.m. on Sunday and 1:39 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Monday.

More severe conditions are expected south of us, and variations in the storm track could bring stronger rain and stronger winds to our area. Residents are encouraged to monitor weather conditions throughout the storm. Please sign up for Emergency Alerts by following the instructions here and continue to follow the Linden Police Department on social media for important updates. 

Non-emergency utility problems or outages should be reported directly using the contact points below: 

PSE&G 1-800-436-7734
Elizabethtown Gas 1-800-242-5830
New Jersey American water 1-800-272-1325
Comcast 1-800-266-2278
Verizon FiOS 1-888-438-3467
Verizon 1-800-827-4966 

As always, please reserve 9-1-1 for EMERGENCIES ONLY.

NJDEP Blue Acres Program – Buyout Guidance Consultations

In response to the recent flash flooding on July 14, 2025, NJDEP Blue Acres is offering in-person and online opportunities for homeowners to learn about the voluntary buyout process. These consultations provide personalized buyout guidance and support to those affected by the floods. 

Click here to view and/or download the informational flyer for The Blue Acres Buyout Process.

  • What: In-person and online opportunities for homeowners to learn about the voluntary buyout process. The NJDEP Blue Acres consultations provide personalized buyout guidance and support to those affected by the floods. 
  • When & Where:
    • In Person – Thursday, August 14 from 5:30pm until 7pm, at the Rahway Public Library, 2 City Hall Plaza, Rahway, New Jersey, 07065
    • Virtual – Wednesday, August 20 from 6pm until 8pm
    • Virtual – Tuesday, August 26 from 6pm until 8pm
    • In Person – Wednesday, August 27 from 5:30pm until 7pm, at the North Plainfield Library, 6 Rockview Avenue, North Plainfield, New Jersey, 07060
  • How: Registration is required for the virtual events. Click here to learn more about the Blue Acres program or to register for the virtual events. If you are unable to attend any of these scheduled events, please contact NJDEP by email here, or call 609-940-4140 to arrange a video or phone call at a time that works best for you.

July 15th Rainstorm Aftermath

Residents are encouraged to help the city by clearing any debris from catch basins near their homes. With more rain projected this week, staying weather-aware is essential. Residents who experienced damage to their property should begin the process of contacting their insurance carrier and safely remove any damaged property.

In the past, federal disaster declarations were essential to making assistance programs available for residents. There is currently no disaster declaration for in our area, therefore, monetary assistance programs are not available at this time.

Individuals living in flood prone areas should take common sense precautions and monitor conditions for potential flooding. It is advisable to have multiple ways to receive weather warnings, as the national weather service will issue flood warnings if necessary. All NWS warnings affecting Linden will be automatically broadcast through the Everbridge App, and they will be available on various weather apps and local news sources. Everbridge emergency messaging will be used in life-threatening situations.

To sign up for the Everbridge emergency alerts, please click here.

Report non-emergency incidents, such as wires or trees down or other calls that do not endanger persons to the Linden Central Dispatch at (908) 474-8500. Report all emergencies, such as sparking wires, trees into homes or buildings, utility emergencies, people trapped in flood water, etc., by calling 9-1-1. As a reminder, do not rely on email or social media to report these issues, even if they see minor or non-emergent. Please always call the non-emergency number if you are concerned and don’t believe it is an emergency warranting a 9-1-1 call.

Residents should report any utility or utility outages directly to the contact points below.

  • Report power outages to PSE&G at 1-800-436-7734. Download the PSE&G mobile app to report outages and receive information on restoration times, crew locations, and more. Register with myalerts to receive text messages at PSEG.com/outagecenter Report any outage and receive status updates by texting OUT to 4PSEG (47734), on the PSE&G app, or at pseg.com/myaccount
  • Elizabethtown Gas Company 1-800-242-5830
  • New Jersey American water 1-800-272-1325
  • Comcast 1-800-266-2278 
  • Verizon FiOS 1-888-438-3467 
  • Verizon 1-800-827-4966

City of Linden Cooling Centers 2025

Below is a list of the City of Linden’s Cooling Centers for 2025. These are the municipal buildings that are open and available to the public during their normal operating hours. 

Click here to view and/or download the informational flyer for the 2025 City of Linden Cooling Centers.

  • Linden Public Library – 31 East Henry Street
    • Monday through Wednesday from 9am until 9pm.
    • Thursday from 9am until 5pm
    • Friday from 9:30am until 5pm
    • Saturday from 9am until 5pm.
    • Closed on Sundays.
  • John T. Gregorio Recreation Center – 330 Helen Street
    • Monday through Friday from 8:30am until 4:30pm.
    • Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
  • Linden Multi-Purpose Center – 1025 John Street
    • Monday through Friday from 9am until 9pm.
    • Closed on Saturdays and Sundays.

2025 Bike Rodeo

Do you want to learn about bicycle safety? Come join us for the Linden Police Department Fifth Annual Bike Rodeo! Bike giveaway’s, helmet fittings, ice-cream truck, pizza and snacks! Sponsors include Andy’s Cycles, New Jersey Cycles, Walmart, and Pasquale’s Pizzeria IV.

Click here to view and/or download the informational flyer for this event.

  • Who: Open to all ages.
  • What: 2025 Bike Rodeo! Bike giveaway’s, helmet fittings, ice-cream truck, pizza and snacks!With the summer months ahead, bicycle safety is an important topic to discuss. Bring a decorated bicycle and helmet for a chance to win a prize! Join us for the Fastest Time Around the Pond Contest!
  • Where: Wilson Park, which is located at 1100 Summit Terrace.
  • When: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 3:30pm.
  • How: Free entry. With questions, contact the Traffic Bureau at 908-474-8505.

Nationwide Click It or Ticket Enforcement and Education Campaign

Linden Police to participate in Nationwide Click it or Ticket Enforcement and Education Campaign from May 19 through June 1, 2025. The Linden Police Department will join law enforcement officers from around the country in cracking down on unbuckled motorists and passengers as part of the national “Click it or Ticket” high-visibility enforcement effort.

  • Click here to view and/or download the memo regarding the 2025 Click it or Ticket Campaign.
  • Click here for more information about New Jersey seat belt laws.

The annual “Click It or Ticket” national mobilization, which coincides with the Memorial Day holiday, utilizes high visibility seat belt checkpoints and saturation patrols in combination with local and national publicity efforts to reiterate the life-saving value of seat belts.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 10,484 of the passengers killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2023 were not wearing seatbelts. While a national compliance rate near 92% seems high, the data reflects some concerning trends; 60% of the young adults killed and 56% of those killed in nighttime crashes were not buckled. “Putting on your seatbelt is the single most important step you can take when you get into a vehicle,” said Police Chief David Hart. “Taking just a few seconds to buckle up can cut your chances of being seriously hurt or killed in a crash by 45%, and it is 100% in your control.”

In New Jersey, everyone must be buckled up, regardless of where they’re sitting. A violation by the driver, front seat passenger, or passenger under the age of 18 is a primary offense, so a police officer may stop a vehicle and issue a ticket without witnessing any other violations. While passengers over the age of 18 are responsible for themselves, drivers are responsible for all passengers under the age of 18.

CPR Training

Mayor Derek Armstead, the City of Linden, the Linden Police Department and American Legion, are proud to offer this opportunity to learn CPR & AED operation from Certified First Responders. Registration is strictly limited, register today!

Click here to view and/or download the informational flyer for the CPR Training.

  • Who: Linden residents.
  • What: CPR training. This training focuses on practical application for people to use to potentially save the life of their family, friends, and loved ones. Please note that this training course does not provide any certification or certificate.
  • Where: American Legion Post #102, which is located at 112 West Elizabeth Avenue.
  • When: Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 9am until 12:30pm.
  • How: Free to Linden Residents. Click here to register. For more information, email here.

Nixle Upgrade – Critical & Time Sensitive Information

Everbridge is the company that owns Nixle, which the City of Linden uses to push critical alerts to Linden residents. Everbridge is deprecating the current legacy Nixle system in use, which means that residents will need to sign up to receive general and emergency notifications through Everbridge.

The new system includes enhanced features and customization, enabling residents to receive the messages they want and ignore the ones that are not relevant. It also allows residents to choose to receive information via text, email, push notifications, or all of the above!

Unfortunately, everyone will need to register for an Everbridge account, even if you are currently receiving Nixle alerts. The transition is expected to be completed on or about June 1, 2025, but there is no need to worry; all users will still receive Nixle alerts throughout the transition period.

Here’s what you’ll need to do:

  • Download and Install the Everbridge App directly from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android). The links will take you directly to the Everbridge App.
  • Register for an Everbridge account. You can find our organization by typing “07036” in the search bar and clicking on the Linden Police Department logo.
  • Login and manage your subscriptions under the “My Subscriptions ” tab.

You can also click here or on the button below to register directly on the Everbridge website.

Click here to register for an Everbridge account directly on their website!

Distracted Driving Campaign

Linden Police to Participate in “Put the Phone Down or Pay” Statewide Enforcement Action.

Linden Police Officers will join Officers from 158 police agencies across the state in a month-long enforcement campaign targeting distracted drivers. The “Put the Phone Down or Pay” campaign, which runs throughout the month of April, is aimed at saving lives and making New Jersey roadways safer.

The annual campaign takes place during Distracted Driving Awareness month and is meant to draw attention to the dangers of distracted driving. In addition to the enforcement campaign, the Division of Highway Traffic Safety has launched a public awareness campaign that includes public service announcements on New Jersey radio stations, social media messaging, and distribution of educational materials to educate and remind drivers about the dangers of distracted driving.

Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic on our roadways; preliminary data shows that almost half of drivers involved in crashes in New Jersey last year were engaged in distracted behavior, which resulted in 160 deaths and more than 1,400 serious injuries.

Linden was awarded a $12,250 grant to support increased enforcement efforts, the maximum amount available. Other towns in Union County awarded grants include Cranford, Elizabeth, Plainfield, Rahway and Roselle Park.

In New Jersey, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while using a handheld electronic device. Violating this law subjects motorists to fines of $200 to $400 for a first offense and could increase to $800 with the addition of three insurance points in subsequent violations.

Linden Police Recognized as an NJSACOP Accredited Agency

Click here to view and/or download the NJSACOP Accreditation News Release.

Linden Mayor Derek Armstead and Police Chief David Hart announced today that the Linden Police Department has earned accreditation by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP).

NJSACOP Accreditation Program Director Harry J. Delgado, Ed.S. attended the City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 18 and presented the Department with its first ever accreditation certificate.

During his remarks, Dr. Delgado praised the leadership of Chief Hart through the accreditation process. “Under the leadership of Chief Hart, a high level of competence, leadership and professionalism is evident within the agency. Leading a large police department through this rigorous process, despite the many challenges in law enforcement today: budgets, manpower and emerging technologies and to have no issues found is simply remarkable!”

The NJSACOP Accreditation Program is a nationally-certified program designed to enhance professionalism and transparency in the state’s public safety system. To earn accreditation, agencies must demonstrate compliance with one hundred and twelve (112) professional standards that reflect the best practices for law enforcement in the state of New Jersey. The process includes a comprehensive self-analysis of agency policy and operations that culminates with an independent, on-site audit conducted by a team of assessors.

“This accreditation stands as a powerful testament to the enduring hard work and professionalism that have defined our police department, both since and prior to my taking office.” said Mayor Derek Armstead

Attaining and maintaining an accreditation is an ongoing commitment; only 54% of police departments statewide achieve accreditation status, and this achievement demonstrates a commitment by the entire Department, Governing Body, and citizens to uphold the highest ethical and professional standards in law enforcement.

“This is a very proud day for the Linden Police Department,” said Police Chief David Hart. “This accreditation recognizes the incredible efforts our men and women take each and every day to serve our community with honor, pride, and professionalism.”

Chief Hart specifically thanked Sergeant Leon Pastor, who served as the Department’s Accreditation Manager, as well as Mayor Armstead and the members of the Linden City Council, whose continued support of the Police Department and our initiatives were instrumental in this achievement.