Title
Dept/ Agency: Offices of Municipal Council/City Clerk
Action: ( ) Ratifying (X) Authorizing ( ) Amending
Type of Service: Ceremonial Street Designation
Honoree: Former Newark Police Chief Thomas C. O’ Reilly
Date(s): Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Official Street Name(s): Intersection of Norman Road and Mount Vernon Place
Ceremonial Intersection Name: Chief Thomas C. O’ Reilly Way
Sponsor: Council Member, Luis A. Quintana
Additional Information:
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WHEREAS, Ordinance 6PDF-e, adopted on May 20, 2015, authorizes the designation of an intersection, etc., for honorary and ceremonial purposes; and
WHEREAS, Former Newark Police Chief Thomas C. O’Reilly was a lifelong Newark resident, who joined the Newark Police Department in 1956. He graduated from St. Columba School and St. Benedict’s Prep before serving two (2) years in the United States Army; and
WHEREAS, Former Newark Police Chief Thomas C. O’Reilly was renowned and revered for being a “cop’s cop”. Through dedicated service and hard work he advanced through the Newark Police Department and was appointed during the administration of Mayor Sharpe James as Chief of Police in 1992, a position he served until his retirement in 1999; and
WHEREAS, Former Newark Police Chief Thomas C. O’Reilly was extremely proud of his Irish heritage. One of the cultural highlights of his career was serving as the Grand Marshall of the noted Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1996. A devout Roman Catholic, Chief O’ Reilly noted that one of the most impactful events in during his lifetime was when he accompanied Pope John Paul II during his historic visit to Newark in 1995.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
1. The Municipal Council does hereby authorize the honorary and ceremonial renaming of the intersection of Norman Road and Mount Vernon Place “Chief Thomas C. O’ Reilly Way”.
2. The official name of the said streets shall remain Norman Road and Mount Vernon Place in their entirety.
STATEMENT
This resolution authorizes the naming of the intersection of Norman Road and Mount Vernon Place “Chief Thomas C. O’Reilly Way”, for honorary and ceremonial purposes.