Hellwig On Leave, Served Two Terms

Public Safety Director Martin R. Hellwig, the only department head to have served through all eight years of Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs' tenure, is now on leave until the end of the year.
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Hellwig is sworn in, January 2006

As noted on the city web site, Hellwig's law enforcement career began with 27 years' service in Verona and he served in other roles in Essex County.

As director of the Department of Public Affairs & Safety, Hellwig oversaw the Police and Fire divisions, which both had chiefs initially. In mid-2007, Hellwig proposed elimination of the police chief title in a surprise move which caught Police Chief Edward Santiago unaware. Santiago called it "a dangerous politicization" of the Police Division, but in 2008 he was laid off, with the option of remaining on the force as captain, which he took.

The title of police director was created by ordinance in 2008 and Hellwig became acting director in addition to department head, in effect reporting to himself.


Hellwig is named Police Director in March 2009

After a year, he was given the permanent title of police director, but there was no salary attached to the title until January 2010. Though holding both titles, he received only one salary ($106,267 in 2013).

In September 2009, City Hall was the scene of Hellwig's wedding to Huiling Liu, with Robinson-Briggs officiating and Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson walking the bride down the aisle in the elaborately-decorated City Hall Library.

In February 2010, Hellwig was suspended for three days for an unspecified infraction. Neither Plaintalker nor the Courier News reported on the incident, as there was no official corroboration of the reason, but other sources linked it to a Craig's List assignation in June 2009.

Several officers allegedly tied to an investigation of the incident were later demoted, including Michael Gilliam, who went from a captain to lieutenant to sergeant. Gilliam sued Hellwig and the city and in April won back his title and pay  for the period of his demotion. Gilliam is now the acting department director while Hellwig is on leave.

Among his achievements, Hellwig pointed to a drop in homicides during his tenure. He reorganized the Police Division and won City Council approval for a ShotSpotter system to pinpoint gunshots for quick response. Even though he never moved to the city, he attended council meetings and many community events every year.


Hellwig at Senior Center event, May 2009

Mayor-elect Adrian Mapp will have to name a new Public Affairs & Safety director in January and decide whether he wants a civilian police director instead of a chief to head the Police Division.

Good luck to Director Hellwig in his future endeavors.

--Bernice