Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose announced the completion of the Central Ward community initiative which yielded 57 arrests, over 200 traffic summonses, 97 motor vehicle stops, 6 vehicles towed, 19 quality of life summonses were issued, 71 citizen contacts were conducted, 42 citizens were interviews and 41 business visits.
According to authorities, five bicycle stops were conducted with 6 summonses issued for bicycle infractions.
One of the infractions ended in a bicyclist being arrested for possessing drugs authorities said.
The four day operation targeted an area which encompassed 7th Avenue to Park Avenue, Park Avenue to Martin Luther King Blvd and Martin Luther King Blvd to Clifton Avenue.
Director Ambrose explained, this is the first in a series of ongoing community initiatives designed to attack problematic crime and quality of life on a grander and more sustained scale.
This Central Ward location was selected by analyzing crime statistics, crime trends, narcotic and other quality of life complaints Director Ambrose said.
Ambrose said, community initiatives are divided into three distinct phases. The first phase targets gang members and those who have warrants in the targeted area and is called the roundup phase.
The second phase involves enforcement efforts. During this phase the emphasis is on addressing criminal and quality of life complaints with the final stages involving the stabilization of the targeted area with a visible presence.
The community initiatives are part of the department’s continuing crime fighting strategies and commitment to our citizen’s criminal and quality of life complaints through the use of sustained operations and strategies. We continue to make progress with a reduction in overall crime of 20% so far this year. It will take time stated Public Safety Director Ambrose, but through the combined efforts of the police and the community working together we will continue to make Newark a safer and more desirable destination.
Police are asking anyone with information about this or any other crime to contact the Department's 24-hour Crime Stoppers’ tip line at 877 NWK-TIPS (877 695-8477) or NWK-GUNS (877 695-4867). All anonymous Crime Stopper tips are kept confidential.