Paterson: Landlord offers cops free apartments

PATERSON – A prominent Paterson real estate investor is offering law enforcement officers rent-free apartments in six buildings he owns in some of the city’s most crime-ridden neighborhoods.

The investor, Charles Florio, said he is making the offer to Paterson police officers and Passaic County Sheriff’s Officers. The officers would only have to pay for their utilities, Florio said, and they could have the apartments for as long as they want.

“When a police officer moves in, the building automatically becomes safer,” said Florio.

Local law enforcement officials commended Florio for his proposal, but said they needed to look into the legality of the plan before anyone starts packing moving boxes.

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“It’s a great concept — he’s really thinking outside the box,” said Paterson police director Jerry Speziale. “The bridge we have to cross is the ethical questions. You have to be very careful when you’re talking about police officers accepting gifts.”

“The sheriff’s department is supportive of this as long as it is in compliance with all laws and ethical regulations,” said Bill Maer, spokesman for Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik.

Paterson’s law director, Domenick Stampone, said he would have to research the legalities of the offer – a step he said he would take if any city police officers wanted to move into one of the Florio apartments.

Florio owns several hundred properties in Paterson, most of them in troubled sections of the 4th Ward. Last year, Florio hired private armed security guards to watch over several of his buildings.

A controversial figure, Florio was the developer who hired a private investigator to follow then-mayor Jose “Joey” Torres in 2014. The video recordings taken by the investigator set in motion the state criminal probe that put Torres in prison last year.

Florio often disputes the accuracy of official statistics that show violent crime is on the decline in Paterson. He acknowledged in an interview on Wednesday that he doesn’t expect any police officers to accept his offer. The lack of takers, Florio said, would prove his point that Paterson is not as safe as authorities say it is.

“If any of them want to move in, then it’s a win-win,” said Florio.

Florio said he has 10 apartments available for police officers at 44 12th Avenue, 42 Auburn Street, 83-85 Auburn Street, 83-85 North 5th Street, 92 Carroll Street, and 200 Governor Street. The offer includes one- and two-bedroom apartments, which he said would rent for $1,000 to $1,400 each.

Alex Cruz, the president of the Paterson police officers union, did not respond to a phone call seeking his comments for this story.