NAACP and Montclair Police Department to host community-law enforcement meeting

The Montclair Police Department, in cooperation with the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and the Montclair NAACP-Criminal Justice Committee, is hosting a community meeting.

The meeting will take place Monday, July 18, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Salvation Army Montclair Citadel, 13 Trinity Place.

Officials said in light of recent police killings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota, and the deaths of five police officers in Texas, they want residents to come together and voice concerns.

The township recently swore in a new police chief, Todd M. Conforti, who vowed to improve community relations with the department.

“To the community, I promise an open and accountable police department responsive to your concerns,” Conforti said at his swearing-in ceremony. “Montclair expects a police chief who is publicly visible, accessible and approachable.”