The Newark Police Department and the Newark Police Athletic League (PAL) have revealed their newly developed, professionally crafted department mascot.

Created to enhance positive relationships between law enforcement and local youth, the mascot symbolizes the department’s dedication to engagement, visibility, and trust-building. Modeled after the eagle depicted on the department’s official shoulder patch, the character was designed in collaboration with Character Translations, a nationally acclaimed mascot production company known for crafting high-profile figures, including “Gritty,” the famous mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers.

The development of the Newark Police Department mascot marks a pioneering approach in community policing, employing a sports-team caliber character to bolster connections between officers and children. This initiative was fully funded through a grant awarded to the Newark PAL by the Delaware Criminal Justice Council, reflecting statewide endorsement for innovative, impactful strategies that promote youth engagement and encourage meaningful interactions with public safety officials.

As part of the unveiling process, nearly 2,000 elementary school students from area schools participated in the naming of the new mascot. A selection committee, composed of Newark Police officers and members of the Newark PAL Board of Directors, recently finalized their choice for the winning name.

The mascot’s name, along with the student who submitted the winning entry, will be revealed during a school pep rally scheduled for Friday, April 4, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at Downes Elementary School. The event will serve as the mascot’s first official appearance and celebrate the collaborative spirit behind its creation.