Martin Hellwig Director of Public Affairs and Safety City of Plainfield 515 Watchung Avenue Plainfield, NJ 07060 908-753-3225

The Department of Public Affairs and Safety is responsible for ensuring the security of persons and properties (real and personal) from the threats posed by crime, anti-social behavior or fire.

Director Martin R. Hellwig began his public safety career in the Township of Verona in 1968. During his 27 years with the department, he steadily rose through the ranks of patrolman, sergeant, detective sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. He also spent several years as an undercover detective with a federally funded narcotics strike force.

In 1995, Director Hellwig took command of the Essex County Police Division. The following year he was promoted to Director of Public Safety for Essex County. His responsibilities included the Divisions of Police, Correctional Services, Police Academy, Medical Examiner’s Office and the Office of Emergency management. In 2000, Director Hellwig took office as Warden of the Essex County Jails system which is the twelfth largest county jail in the nation. Additionally, he spent eighteen months as the manager of Vendor Administration with the Department of Economic Development, Division of Welfare to Work Program.

He is a graduate of the prestigious Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in Quantico, Virginia and the F.B. I. Law Enforcement Executive Development training program conducted at Princeton University. Director Hellwig has completed a program in Public Service Administration with Fairleigh Dickinson University and holds a Certificate of Criminal Justice from the University of Virginia.

Director Hellwig is a member of the F.B.I National Academy Associates, New Jersey Chapter and the Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (LEEDA),and former Board of Trustee member of Offender Aid and Rehabilitation Inc.