A Department Neighborhood Focus Operation ended this morning with the arrest of twenty-four suspects said Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose and Chief of Police Darnell Henry.
The neighborhood focus initiatives are in the 4th week, with the three previous operations conducted at various other locations throughout the city. The operations are ongoing with the locations selected through an analysis of crime and quality of life data and complaints.
The three-day operation started earlier in the week, and is comprised of three distinct phases, warrant roundup, enforcement and stabilization. The first phase in comprised of plainclothes and undercover officers seeking out gang members and wanted individuals known to live in or frequent the operation’s boundaries. This operation’s boundaries were from Orange Street to Springdale Avenue and from North 5th Street to North 13th Street.
By targeting gang members and other wanted individuals there is an immediate and noticeable difference in the quality of life in the targeted area with the individuals most likely engaged in criminal activity or wanted for outstanding warrants arrested.
The final two phases utilize a combination of visible and undercover officers who enforce quality of life offenses, and traffic enforcement with uniformed officers acting as a visible deterrent.
The arrests were primarily for suspects dealing or possessing drugs and for various warrants. The operation also yielded 100 traffic stops, more than 200 traffic tickets written, 3 vehicles were towed, 4 additional gang members were identified in the grid, 6 people received summonses for quality of life infractions, 112 businesses were checked, 64 individuals were interviewed and officers had conversations with 211 individuals. Approximately $4500 in cash was confiscated as were 240 vials of cocaine and 188 packets of heroin.
Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said, “I am keeping my promise to address crime and improve the quality of life in our neighborhood by making them safer. We are a city that identifies problems and takes corrective actions. We are helping to reduce the undesirable elements that have stigmatized Newark too long.
The Operation’s Commander, Captain Adolph Perez has been an extremely active and integral part in the success of these operations. He personally meets with the residents to help empower them to work with the police to rid the neighborhood of problematic individuals and locations.”
Ambrose urges people to continue reporting crimes and quality of life complaints by utilizing 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 and could result in a reward.