STATE
POLICE BEGIN FULL-SCALE IRVINGTON PATROLS
Multi-Agency Essex County Anti-Crime
Partnership Works to Win Back Irvington Streets
Irvington, N.J. - Attorney
General Peter Harvey and State Police Superintendent Rick
Fuentes today announced the beginning of full-scale State
Police patrols in the crime-ridden areas of Irvington. As
a part of the recently formed Essex County Anti-Crime Partnership,
the strengths of the State Police are being coupled with the
Division of Criminal Justice, the Essex County Prosecutor’s
Office, the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, Irvington
Police Department, Newark Police Department, the U.S. Drug
Enforcement Agency and the Rutgers University Institute for
Police Studies. The partnership is aiming to dramatically
reduce street crime in response to requests for aid from the
Irvington Police Department and the citizens of Irvington.
Attorney General Peter Harvey,
praising the initial work of the partnership stated, “We
are at the beginning of a new day for Irvington. The partnership
will empower the Irvington Police Department and give the
city back to the people.”
Colonel Rick Fuentes sees the
effort as an example of the ‘New Paradigm of Partnerships.’
“The State Police can most effectively improve the situation
in high crime areas by building a rapport with civic and faith-based
groups, strengthening relationships with local and county
law enforcement, and then confronting the problems with the
combined strengths of everyone,” said Fuentes. “The
response we received from the citizens in Irvington has been
positive and it tells us the partnership is right on the track.”
For the past several weeks
the partnership has been in the early operational stages,
with multi-agency teams of detectives arresting scores of
drug dealers and fugitives. Additionally, Troopers in the
State Police Commercial Carrier Unit have been targeting certain
Irvington Streets for truck inspections where drivers have
been known to solicit prostitutes. But the largest impact
has been made by the State Police Street Gang Unit, which
has been concentrating on the Irvington area for several months
with dramatic results. The
The Essex County Anticrime
Partnership got its start almost a year ago when Irvington
Mayor Wayne Smith approached Colonel Fuentes requesting assistance
with a growing problem with street gang violence and drug
dealers.
"I made a promise to the people
of Irvington that we would reduce crime and make the streets
safe, and I am making use of all available resources to keep
that pledge," the mayor said. "Our citizens expect and deserve
the best in services, whether it involves law enforcement
or any other issue that will boost their quality of life,"
Smith added.
To help build broad-based support,
Smith and Irvington Police Director Michael Damiano facilitated
meetings between law enforcement and the public at several
schools and churches. In May, the involved law enforcement
agencies met with staff from Rutgers University School for
Police Studies to work out the details of the partnership.
Some city residents were surveyed
to learn more about the public's perception of law enforcement
and the state of their neighborhoods. The respondents noted
that they see gang activity, drug transactions and prostitution
on a daily basis; that they do not feel safe on their own
streets; and that they do not see enough of a police presence.
Additional comments were helpful in planning when and where
to concentrate patrols.
The progress of the partnership
will be reviewed by a committee on a regular basis to determine
its effectiveness and direction. Eventually, the assistance
of the State Police will no longer be needed. By that time,
the citizens of Irvington will be living in a much safer and
happier community.
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