City of Newburgh Police Commissioner José A. Gomérez announced his resignation on Tuesday after three years of service.

“It is with mixed feelings that I announce my decision to resign from my position, effective June 7th,” said Gomérez in a statement. “I want to thank the citizens of Newburgh, the members of the council, and the city manager for the opportunity to serve. A big thank you especially to all the members of the Newburgh Police Department for their service to the city and their commitment to changing the narrative for this city. I will always be cheering for you.”

Gomérez told the Mid Hudson Times he plans to spend more time with his family.

Commissioner Gomérez and former City Police Chief Anthony Geraci were both brought in as the newest police department leadership in 2021.

Within the last month, Geraci left the Newburgh Police Department and was appointed as the new Director of Safety and Security for the Newburgh Enlarged City School District. The city appointed Brandon Rola as the newest police chief to fill the vacancy left behind by Geraci.

“The City recognizes the progress that was made during Mr. Gomérez’s tenure as Commissioner, and we thank him for his service to our community,” City Manager Todd Venning said in a prepared statement.

Gomérez is a native of the Dominican Republic and one of 12 children. He immigrated to the United States at 20 and became a New York City Police cadet in 1997. Gomérez became a U.S. Citizen two years later. He also obtained a bachelor of arts degree from the City University of New York. Gomérez’s career in law enforcement spans more than 23 years with service in the New York City Police Department and the Village of Mamaroneck Police Department. He served as a Police Sergeant in the Village of Mamaroneck.

In his resignation statement Gomérez cited these accomplishments during tenure as the city police commissioner:

Historic Decreases in Crime: shooting victims showed a 50% reduction in 2023 compared to 2022; the last two years (2022-2023) compared to the previous two years (2020-2021) showed a 13% decrease in shooting victim figures and a 4% reduction in violent crime; Shooting victim totals in 2023 showed a 35% reduction compared to the five-year average and Total Part One crime in 2023 showed a 4% reduction compared to the ten-year average for the city, including a 15% reduction in violent crime. Shooting victim levels showed a 53% reduction in 2023 compared to the ten-year average.

Increase in Minority Hiring: Sworn officers include 50% racial or ethnic minority and 19% are female and civilian staff is comprised of 60% racial or ethnic minority and 85% are female.

Several department breakdowns are as follows: Sworn Minority Breakdown (50%): 14% Black; 34% Hispanic and 2% Native American; Gender Breakdown: 9% Female and 41% Male; Civilian Minority Breakdown (60%): 20% Black and 40% Hispanic; Civilian Gender Breakdown: 85% Female and 15% Male and Women in Department: 19% of sworn officers are female and 85% of civilian staff are female.

Grants and Achievements: $837,969 for Group Violence Intervention from the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) grant program; a Law Enforcement Technology Grant in the amount of $1.7 million dedicated to surveillance cameras, license plate readers, unmanned aerial vehicles, 3-D crime scene laser scanner, a new records management system, and new computers and printers for our patrol vehicles; a Highway Safety Grant for bike safety rodeo events; a Child Passenger Safety Grant for child safety seat events; a Police Traffic Services (PTS) Grant to participate in the Statewide Police Traffic Services Program; the Stop DWI program; a Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Grant for purchasing patrol PCs, laptops, and bulletproof vests; a Protect Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Grant for comprehensive technology upgrade in the detective division; a United States Department of Justice (USDOJ) grant for bulletproof vests; a Livescan Grant for new Livescan machines; a Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Body-Worn Camera Grant to help equip all PD personnel with body-worn cameras; DCJS Law Enforcement Equipment Grant for new portable radios; a Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) Grant for a new emergency response vehicle/mobile command vehicle; new and redesigned vehicle fleet; license plate readers for parking enforcement vehicles; new software for handling civilian complaints; increased community engagement with activities/events such as the Pop Out BBQ and Bike Rodeo; creation and swearing in of a Chaplaincy unit; restructuring and exponential increase of our auxiliary unit membership; a social worker program and intern to provide direct assistance for substance abuse and mental illness; instituting Gun and Shield Day for newly sworn officers; addition of a full-time animal control officer to enforce city local codes and agriculture and markets law and the creation, implementation and graduation of the first-ever citizen police academy.

“We have accomplished this as a team of dedicated law enforcement professionals who have worked closely with the community and its leaders to achieve what some thought would not be possible in the City of Newburgh,” said Gomérez.