Just two months into 2026, the Jersey City Police
Department has made 17 arrests for unlawful possession of a handgun, as part of focused
enforcement efforts targeting illegal handguns. In connection with those arrests, officers safely
recovered nine firearms.
Among the weapons recovered was a “ghost gun” assembled without a serial number and a
firearm that investigators have connected to three separate cases involving the same actor. All
were charged under New Jersey law with unlawful possession of a handgun.
Citywide, a total of 32 firearms have been removed from circulation so far this year. The
enforcement results reflect the Solomon Administration’s commitment to proactive public safety.
“Every illegal firearm taken off the street represents a potential act of violence prevented,” said
Jersey City Mayor James Solomon. “Our strategy is clear. We are identifying illegal
weapons, intervening early, and holding individuals accountable before those firearms can be
used to harm someone else. This is about prevention, not reaction.”
“Our officers are removing these firearms from our neighborhoods without using their service
weapons, placing themselves in harm’s way to prevent further violence. That is disciplined
policing focused on protection, not escalation,” said Acting Public Safety Director Anthony
Ambrose. “We are sending a clear message that carrying an unlawful handgun in Jersey City
will result in arrest.”
In the coming weeks, the Administration will advance several additional public safety initiatives
to further strengthen crime reduction efforts, including patrol restructuring to enhance on-theground deployment and the reorganization of 911 dispatch operations to improve response times
and coordination.
The Jersey City Police Department continues to encourage residents to report suspicious
activity. Community cooperation remains a critical component in preventing gun violence and
ensuring safe neighborhoods across the city.
Anyone with information related to these or other incidents is asked to contact the Jersey City
Police Department or submit tips anonymously through email at policetips@njjcps.org or by
calling 855-JCP-TIPS.
