Jiles H. Ship

Chapter President, Commissioner, New Jersey Police Training Commission

Commissioner Jiles H. Ship currently serves as Commissioner of the New Jersey Police Training Commission (PTC) and was recently on an assignment for the United States Department of Justice, Community Oriented Police Services (COPS) Office and the Police Foundation to review the policing practices and policies of the St. Louis County Police Department (SLCPD). HGS via the Police Foundation is providing technical assistance to SLCPD on a wide variety of criminal justice issues—from use-of-force practices, to the deployment of crisis intervention teams, to building trust with the community. The Collaborative Reform Initiative (CRI) is a means to organizational transformation through an analysis of policies, practices, training, tactics, and accountability methods around a specific issue such as, excessive use of force, officer involved shootings, or ethical decision-making.

Jiles H. Ship served over 30 years in the field of law enforcement, starting his career in 1985, first serving as an officer on the Edison Police Department (NJ). While serving he arrested a high volume of offenders in the areas of narcotics, burglary, larceny, auto theft, assault, domestic violence, driving under the influence and a multitude of other local, state and federal crimes. He was also a member of the Emergency Response Team (SWAT)) and served as an Instructor for the Middlesex County Police Academy in the areas of Patrol Practices, Unarmed Defensive Tactics and Physical Fitness Training. He represented the Chief of Police and the department on news outlets and at public forums. In 1996, Ship was selected by the Atlanta Committee of the Olympic Games (ACOG) to serve on the International Police Security Team.

In 2002, Mr. Ship was asked to serve as a Special Assistant to the Director in the State of New Jersey Attorney General’s Office – Division of Criminal Justice, and was sworn in by the Honorable Peter C. Harvey. During his tenure at the office, he served as a Supervising State Investigator, Lieutenant State Investigator and Administrator of Investigations, in the, Special Prosecutions, Anti-Trust, Fraud and Public Protection, Law Enforcement Services, and Medicaid Fraud Units. Overseeing and directing investigations, including multimillion dollar investigations, conducted by assigned investigative personnel to prepare for prosecution cases involving violations of New Jersey criminal state statutes and regulatory abuses. As a Special Assistant to the Director, he participated in and coordinated anti-crime and community justice initiatives to reduce crime and coordinate law enforcement efforts on the federal, state, county and municipal levels. He served on various Task Forces and represented the Attorney General and Director of Criminal Justice at numerous forums.

In 2004, Mr. Ship was asked by the Honorable Mayor Al McWilliams to serve as the Director of Public Safety for the City of Plainfield, New Jersey. As Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Public Safety, he oversaw the Police Division, Fire Division and the Office of Emergency Management, having responsibility for 254 sworn personnel and 51 civilian employees and managing a budget of over $25 million.

Mr. Ship received numerous awards and commendations for his many years of dedicated service and achievements as a law enforcement officer, as well as for his countless hours of community service. When Ship is not “on the job”, he can be found giving back to his community by working closely with civic organizations and public service groups, educational institutions and juvenile justice agencies.

He also served as a governing board member of the New Jersey Regional Community Policing Institute (NJCPI), Past President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) and is a member of the International Associations of Chiefs of Police (IACP), New Jersey Association of Criminal Justice Educators (NJCJE), Ex-Officio member of Commission of Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), Community Policing Consortium (CPC), National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEMF) and the Law Enforcement Information Technology Standards Council (LEITSC).

In 2011, Director Ship was elected to serve as the 34th National President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE). He was responsible to a board of 20 Federal, state and local chiefs of police, law enforcement executives, command-level officials and criminal justice educators and practitioners, overseeing an organization of 57 US national chapters and 3 international chapters, with over 5,000 members worldwide. Chaired round tables on the design and implementation of strategies to improve the administration and delivery of law enforcement services, such as; community policing, family violence, traffic safety, homeland security, environmental crimes and justice, use of technology.

Director Ship is a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in the field of law enforcement and makes televised media appearances, testifies at US Congressional hearings, serves on the US Attorney General Task Force, blue ribbon panels and has participated as a presenter on countless public forms.

Director Ship served as an Adjunct Professor at Bergen Community College, where he taught Police Administration and Criminal Justice.

He earned his M.A. from Seton Hall University, College of Education in Administration and Supervision, where he graduated with honors, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society. He also gained Certificates in Leadership and Management, as well as, Human Resources Training and Development. He earned his B.S. in Administration of Justice.

Director Ship is also a Certified Community Policing Practitioner (US Department of Justice) and a Certified Police Academy Instructor (State of New Jersey).

He’s a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and Progressive Lodge #17 Free and Accepted Masons, PHA.

Mr. Ship has been a guest of the President and Vice-President at The White House on a number of occasions for briefings and to discuss important law enforcement matters.

He has also served on the Law and Public Safety Transition Teams for two New Jersey Governors and several Mayors of urban centers.