James O'Connor is a retired Detective Lieutenant of Police from Newark, New Jersey.  He is a senior partner and Director of Operations with Check M Out Security Services, Investigations, LLC and is a CAS- Certified anti-terrorism expert and certified instructor of the NJ SORA.  Jim has been the recipient of 2 Class A medals of honor and more than 1000 command citations.  He has attended continuing education programs with the FBI, Secret Service, ATF, DEA, LAPD and New Jersey State Police.​

 

Lt. James D. O'Connor  was a key figure in the Newark Police Department (NPD) in New Jersey during the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly associated with efforts to combat auto theft. Below is a summary of his role, the task force he helped lead, and related context based on available records.

 

Background and Role​

• Position and Tenure: O'Connor served as a Lieutenant in the NPD, where he was instrumental in selecting and vetting members for specialized units. He was described as a hands-on leader who ensured only highly qualified officers were assigned to high-impact task forces.

• In 1997 Lt. James O'Connor was assigned to the A.T.F.  Federal Task Force : Lt. Jim O'Connor was instrumental in having the Newark Police Department  Choose the IBIS SYSTEM -Integrated Ballistic Identification System (a forensic tool) A computerized system used in forensics to compare unique "signatures" on bullets and cartridge cases from different crime scenes, helping to link firearms to unsolved crimes. NPD Director Joseph Santiago made the Final decision ,  IBIS was chosen over the FBI "Drug Fire System' which at that time only traced the Projectile. Newark was the First major city to have this system on the East Coast.  This all came about when ATF Special Agent In Charge Dominick Palifrone (The Agent who brought the Iceman to justice) asking Lt. O'Connor for help.  As 2025  there are thousands of shell casing an projectiles in the IBIS systems, leading to arrests and countless lives saved. ​

• ​ATF Firearms tracing and mapping : Using historical firearms recovery data - Lt. OConnor used the Gun Maps provided by ATF to identifiy "gun hot spots '. 'Gun maps where displayed an part of roll call training.

• Involvement in Auto Theft Initiatives:

  • In the mid-1990s, under then-NPD Director Joseph Santiago, Lt. O'Connor was involved in early auto theft response efforts. Following a surge in teen-related car thefts, and gangs. Lt. Jim O'Connor reported his finding at a CompStat on the LA Gang "The Bloods" at 6th Ave an 14th street

  • when shown evidence the Captains laughed in disbelief, at Lt. Jim O'Connor , his only supporter was the Chief Of Police,  Three Days later Newark Had it's first Blood Gang related  homicide. (A Latin King was gunned down in a social club on Mt Pleasant street.)

  • CompStat meeting is a regular meeting for police leaders and commanders to review crime statistics for their areas, discuss crime patterns and strategies, and ensure accountability for crime reduction.

  • By 2003, O'Connor had advanced to overseeing personnel for the Newark Auto Theft Task Force (ATTF), a dedicated unit focused on recovering stolen vehicles, issuing citations, and disrupting theft rings. He hand-picked members, who required approval from the NPD Chief and Director.

                The Newark Police Auto Theft Task Force (ATTF) Units Nick name 'The Wolf Pack'.

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• Establishment and Mission: Formed in the early 2000s as part of NPD's broader crime reduction strategy, the ATTF targeted organized auto theft, including chop shops, export rings, and street-level recoveries and street gangs. It collaborated with federal, state, and local agencies,.

• ​Lt James O'Connor proved that Air to Ground operations worked in Newark,  N.J.  Using the NJ State Police Chopper NJ#4 to spot an track carjackers from the air "Air Wolf".

•  These efforts contributed to Newark's multi-year decline in overall crime rates.

• Under Lt. James O'Connor's Leadership , the ATTF produced the following results: 

• Newark NJ went from #1 in auto Theft to #21 in the Nation

• Violent crime was reduced by 25 %.

• Violent gang related crimes reduced by 54%

• 543 loaded firearms recovered with arrests

• 2 gang members caught selling guns

• 872 occupied stolen autos recovered with 1464 arrests

• 4 chop shops uncovered 2 with search warrants

• 43 armed car jackers arrested

• 5 homicide suspects arrested

• 83 armed robbery suspects arrested

• 3 gang members arrested for sexual assault/kidnapping

• 765 narcotics arrests and $202,277.90 confiscated

• 74 incidents were officers were assaulted - resulting in

• (1) Detective - Broken neck

• (4) Detectives - Disabling back injuries

• Total Arrests: 3164

• 12,435 motor vehicle summons

• Lt. James OConnor (NJ STATE MOI Certified) & Taught at the Newark Police Academy ​

• Leadership Structure:

  • Commander : Lt. James O'Connor.

  • Core Team (2003): Included Sergeant Gerry Guanci, Sergeant Arthur Jorge, and detectives such as Anthony Arce, John Batista, Kenny Brown, Vernon Bradbury, Lenny Breaux, Peter Bumalag, Stacy Conley, James Cosgrove, Andre Evans, Angel Gonzalez, Billy Devil Golpe, Victor Manata, Hector Moya, Steven Rivers, Matt Ruane, Tom Ruane, James Stewart Jr., Jose Vasquez, Efrain Velazquez, and Mike Walker. 

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• Recognition: In October 2003, the entire ATTF was honored as the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's Officers of the Month for their impact on crime prevention. NPD Director Robert K. Rankin Jr. praised the unit as a "fine example" of specialized initiatives driving Newark's crime reductions.​

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• •  Lt. James (Jim) O'Connor was one of the most Highly Decorated Police Officers on the Newark Police Department and is the only Police Officer in its History to receive : 2 (TWO)  Class A Medal of Honors in the same year 1988, 14 Class B Medals, 22 Class C Medals, 1,469 Command Citations, 12 Mayoral Proclamations, Newark Police Directors Award, Essex County Prosecutor's Award, DEA & ATF Awards, PBA# 3  and FOP#12 Valor Awards. Lt. James O'Connor was often referred as a Gun Magnet,  making  over 2562 firearm recoveries in his tenure.

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                  Newark Police ATTF - LT. James O'Connor was WTC-911 first responder and now WTC 911 Cancer Survivor. All WTC 911 Responders please                      stay healthy, an get an annual medical check up. ​

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Post-Retirement Career After retiring, O'Connor transitioned into private sector security and training:

• Current Roles:

  • Senior Partner and Director of Operations at Check M Out Security Services, Investigations, LLC (focuses on bug sweeping, hidden camera detection, Apple/Auto trackers, and investigations). ( # Police Defense Investigations)

  • Certified NJ State Police Training Commission Instructor (specializing in SORA – Security Officer Registration Act – training for armed/unarmed guards).

  • Fusion Center Liaison Officer (Private Sector, certified 2012 and 2024).

  • Certified Anti-Terrorism Specialist (CAS), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and Diplomate of the American Board for Certification in Homeland Security (CHS-Diplomate, 2016).

  • Member of the Mahwah Reginal chamber of Commerce. member of the board of directors for  14 years >(Ret)

  • Member of the Meadowlands Reginal Chamber of Commerce, member of the Board  of advisors  since 2004 

  • Retired Scout leader ASM/Training Troop 50 ​

• Notable Engagements:

  • Guest speaker at US-China Business Training Center on homeland security and civil disorder.

  • Chairman of the Public Safety and Terrorism Committee at Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce.

  • Provides DHS consulting, private investigations, and SORA renewal classes (e.g., via NjSora.com).

  • Executive Protection  from Celebrities  to Politicians - Does your team need a review, test or training? 

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