Herman Cohen Collection

Herman Cohen (1904-1974) was born in Newark and attended Newark public schools. He joined the Newark Police Department on June 29, 1929 as a patrolman and rose steadily through the ranks. He was promoted to Sergeant on January 1, 1942 and to Lieutenant on November 15, 1947. On May 21, 1950 he was promoted again, to become the first Jewish captain in the Department. He did well on the Inspectors Examination in 1956, resulting in another promotion in June of that year, followed by elevation to the post of Deputy Chief in 1959. Finally, he became Chief of Detectives in 1961 and Chief of Police in December 1967. Each of Cohen’s promotions was the occasion of an outpouring of congratulatory letters and telegrams from friends and local notables.

Over the years Cohen honed his skills by taking training courses at Rutgers and other universities, and served in a variety of positions within the Department. In the mid-1940s he worked in the Missing Persons Bureau and in the late 1940s on the Alien and Subversive Squad; he eventually became head of the Radio Division. In 1948-1949 he played a role in the high-profile Ruth Eisenberg murder case, in which he and other Newark officers traveled to New Hampshire, where the Newark nurse’s body was found. Newark jewelers played a part in the investigation, when it became necessary to identify the victim’s jewelry, found in the possession of the accused murderer.

Cohen was also active in the Jewish community and as a member of The Shomrim Society, the organization of Jewish police officers. He was elected president of New Jersey Shomrim in 1956. In 1951 he was a leading organizer of a well-attended Israel Bond fundraiser honoring a delegation from the Israeli Navy at the Mosque Theatre. Cohen was a member of the Advisory Board of the South Ward Boys Club of Newark, and was Chairman of the Youth Activities Committee. Cohen was also a member of the Young Men’s Hebrew Club, Loyal Order of the Moose, Jersey Brandeis Lodge, Brith Abraham #230, PBA Local #3, Superior Officers Association of Newark, and a member of the Young Israel Synagogue.

Cohen’s correspondence file for June 1956 reveals his negotiations with Newark Chief of Police Frederick P. Lacey regarding leave for a group of Jewish NPD officers to act as an honor guard at the installation ceremony for a new Torah scroll, acquired in Israel by Rabbi Mordechai Ehrenkrantz of Congregation Ahavath Israel, 209-211 Wainwright St., Newark. This event was partly organized and hosted by Cohen’s friend, Councilman Jack Waldor. There is some, very mild, suggestion in Cohen’s correspondence with Waldor that Cohen’s progress in the NPD was slowed by the fact that he was Jewish.

Herman Cohen retired in 1969 and moved from Newark to Edison NJ. He died on June 23, 1974 at John F. Kennedy Hospital in Edison at the age of 69. He was survived by his wife Pearl; a daughter, Mrs. Lynda Gibson; two sons, Barry and David; three brothers, Leo, Edward and Meyer, and eight grandchildren.