Wayne Mello Sworn In as Hudson County Prosecutor as Esther Suarez Retires

August 1, 2025 – Hudson County, NJ – After nearly a decade as Hudson County Prosecutor, Esther Suarez officially retired today, and Wayne L. Mello, her former First Assistant Prosecutor, was sworn in as her successor.

A Bitter Farewell to Esther Suarez

Esther Suarez leaves office amid mixed evaluations. During her ten years (starting in September 2015), she oversaw the creation of regional units—including collision investigation, arson task force, and a SWAT team—and presided over a homicide division that reportedly achieved a 100% clear rate, far exceeding the national average of ~58%  .

She also spearheaded major modernization: an in‑house DNA lab to eliminate backlogs, a cybersecurity lab, and a child advocacy center. Suarez promoted mental health courts, criminal justice reform, and participated in federal crime‑reduction initiatives, drawing praise from law enforcement unions and local chiefs  .

But the praise comes with caveats. Critics argue that her tenure masked persistent problems of token diversity and favoritism. According to investigative commentary from Real Garden State, while Suarez touted minority hiring, the leadership largely stayed dominated by white men. The first assistant and deputy roles held by Wayne Mello and Peter Stoma—key decision‑makers—remain white males, fueling accusations of an “optical illusion of diversity”  .

Sources also criticized her for effectively defending Gene Rubino, a politically connected white detective who lacked formal certification for his position—exposing a disconnect between rhetoric on equity and actual internal promotions  . Additionally, a lawsuit from a former female detective accused the office of penalizing motherhood in promotions—a lampoon of Suarez’s professed support for women in law enforcement  .

Perhaps most controversially, Suarez’s decision not to charge Al Alvarez in connection with a rape allegation during Governor Murphy’s 2017 campaign drew heavy scrutiny. Then‑AG Gurbir Grewal publicly ruled Suarez acted “appropriately,” but critics remain unconvinced. Or perhaps her rejection by the Biden White House in attempts to become the NJ District Attorney.

Wayne L. Mello: The New Prosecutor

At age 79 (born July 27, 1946), Wayne L. Mello steps into the top role. A Bayonne native with a J.D. from Rutgers in 1976, Mello worked in private practice focusing on civil litigation, criminal defense, and white‑collar cases before becoming First Assistant under Suarez in approximately 2017. His government payroll records list his 2023 salary at about $194,000—over double what many colleagues earned  .

Mello has long stood at the core of Suarez’s leadership team, including involvement in public events and policy efforts under her watch  . With Suarez’s departure, Mello inherits an office built around her vision—though not without inheriting her shortcomings.

While specific details about Mello’s own priorities or reforms remain scarce, his tenure as First Assistant suggests continuity rather than change. Critics may find little hope that diversity and accountability issues will be addressed unless fresh leadership emerges.

A Transition Fraught with Continuity

Today’s change feels more like a reshuffle than a reset. As Mello steps into the top role, if Suarez’s departure is praised as good riddance, it’s because many felt her leadership was more style than systemic substance.

● Accomplishments: built labs, task forces, crime‑solving infrastructure; a perfect homicide clearance rate; federal resources for crime reduction.

● Criticisms: superficial diversity; questionable promotions; allegations of inaction on sexual assault; failure to elevate genuine leadership diversity.

● Succession outlook: Mello’s rise signals more of the same rather than an overhaul.

Attorney General Matt Platkin may hold the interim until Governor Murphy—or his successor—nominates someone new for confirmation by Hudson County’s state senators  . Whether that nominee will break from the entrenched culture Suarez helped build remains to be seen.

Bottom line: Suarez may have left the office today, but her legacy—and controversies—remain in place. Wayne Mello takes the reins without promising reform, raising questions whether Hudson County truly wants change or just a familiar face at the top.