The City of Hackensack is proud to announce the appointment of Michael Antista as the city’s new Chief of Police, marking the first time in 14 years the position has been filled. This historic appointment is the culmination of a broader series of reforms implemented by Mayor John Labrosse and the City Council to enhance public safety and improve police department operations. The City held an official swearing-in ceremony for Chief Antista this past Tuesday night, during a special City Council meeting.
“Michael Antista has shown throughout his career that he is deeply committed to Hackensack’s safety and wellbeing. As we restore the Chief of Police position, we couldn’t ask for a more qualified and community-minded leader,” said Mayor Labrosse. “We’re confident that under Chief Antista’s leadership our police department will continue to grow in its service to the people of Hackensack.”
A graduate of Hackensack High School and currently completing his degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Chief Antista has dedicated nearly two decades of service to the Hackensack Police Department. Starting his career as a dispatcher and EMT, Antista became a police officer in 2005 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a sergeant in 2011, lieutenant in 2016, captain in 2021, and Officer in Charge in 2022. His experience spans both patrol and investigative services, and he has served as commander of the Narcotics Bureau, where his leadership earned the department the State Narcotics Unit of the Year award in 2021. Chief Antista, who lives in neighboring Rochelle Park with his wife and two young daughters, also shares the police force with his younger brother, Matthew, adding to the personal significance of his appointment.
“It is an incredible honor to be appointed Chief of Police in the town where I went to high school and spent my law enforcement career, and I look forward to continuing the work we’ve done to modernize our department, strengthen ties with the community, and ensure that every member of the Hackensack Police Department is held to the highest standard of service,” said Chief Antista. “As Chief of Police I am committed to making Hackensack a safer and stronger community for all of our residents.”
The Chief of Police position had not been in active use since 2010 following the arrest and prosecution of then-Chief Charles “Ken” Zisa for alleged insurance fraud relating to a 2008 incident. In the aftermath of that legal matter, the City ultimately eliminated the position of Chief in the Police Department’s Table of Organization and utilized a Captain to serve as the HPD’s highest ranking-officer. Since their election in 2013, Mayor Labrosse and the City Council have worked to reform the department and overcome the mismanagement that marked the end of Chief Zisa’s tenure.
In 2022, the City hired independent consulting firm R3 Strategies and Solutions to conduct a comprehensive audit of its police department. The resulting report highlighted deficiencies in leadership and a sharp decline in department performance, including a drop in arrests despite a steady number of calls for service. The findings prompted the City to hire Police Director Ray Guidetti, a seasoned law enforcement professional, to oversee reforms.
Since his arrival in Hackensack, Director Guidetti has introduced a range of accountability measures, including better timekeeping protocols, new technology for performance measurement, and an enhanced community engagement strategy. One of his primary objectives was to groom a new generation of leadership—culminating in Antista’s appointment.
“Restoring the Chief of Police position has been a key priority for the City, and Chief Antista has the experience, vision, and dedication to continue advancing our data-driven strategies and fostering meaningful community engagement. Congratulations and I wish him all the best as he leads the department toward its future goals,” added Director Guidetti.
