In a stunning and possibly unprecedented move, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop announced today that he is removing Police Chief Robert Cowan as head of the city's police department.

The change comes less than nine months after Cowan was sworn-in as chief of the roughly 800-member police force, and just about a year after Fulop became mayor.

It also comes on the heels of a bloody weekend in Jersey City, one that has residents fearful of a repeat of last year's summer of violence. A 23-year-old man became the city's 12th homicide victim of the year on Sunday, and yesterday afternoon, a police officer shot and killed a 20-year-old man on Ege Avenue.

In a statement, Fulop said Cowan's removal reflects "structural changes" within the police department, and part of an effort to "implement best police practices and improve morale."

"As we approach the one-year mark, we also recognize there are issues which must be addressed in order to further improve our policing and morale in the Jersey City Police Department," the mayor said, adding that he thanks Cowan "for his service and commitment."

Cowan could not immediately be reached to comment.

Though the informed head of the police force, Cowan reports to James Shea, director of the city's public-safety department.

The police chief has been dogged by accusations of political retaliation. Officers have filed at least three separate lawsuits since Cowan took over alleging that he reassigned them as political retribution, claims Fulop's office has denied.

Sources tell The Jersey Journal that, outside of a major scandal, it's unprecedented for a mayor to remove a police chief, especially after only nine months on the job.

Carmine Disbrow, head of the local police union, told The Jersey Journal that he hadn't heard about Cowan's removal and couldn't comment on it. Disbrow said he was on his way to a meeting with Shea.

"What are they going to do? Is he leaving? Retiring? Or is he going to stay on?" Boggiano said. "I wish him all the luck in the world."

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