The Honorable Mayor Ted R. Green and the East Orange City Council will be joined by EOPD Police Chief Phyllis Bindi and EOFD Acting Fire Chief Bruce Davis for a press availability on Thursday, June 9 at 10:30 am for the announcement of East Orange’s “Safe City” Summer Initiative.
According to a preliminary statement released by Mayor Green, in light of an uptick in gun shootings and violent crimes across the nation, the City of East Orange has developed a plan to increase community policing and community outreach throughout the city, including pop-up parks and adopt-a-block visits and increased foot patrols in all neighborhoods and targeted hot spots.
Officials said this summer, under the leadership of Chief Bindi, EOPD will deploy the newly-created “C.A.R.E.S.” Unit, which stands for Concerned About Residents’ Equality and Safety.
Firefighters will also collaborate with police officers to increase their community presence and provide safe spaces for children and families to enjoy their summer.
“Our recent Community Wellness Surveys revealed that 88% of our residents feel safe during the day and nearly 82% feel safe at night. We won’t rest until 100% of our residents feel safe,” said Mayor Green.
“East Orange has held steady with a 24% decrease in violent crime over the past four years. We are committed to continuing to drive down crime through technology-led policing, community outreach and mentorship to build mutual respect and cooperation among citizens of all ages.”