Camden County Police Recognized For Reducing Crime Rates
By David Madden
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- This week's federal task force report on improving police procedures in America includes a number of suggestions from the Camden County police force, which has been helping to reduce serious crime numbers within the city of Camden.
Police Chief Scott Thomson and one of his officers provided testimony to the panel on how crime numbers have gone down over the last three years.
Once labeled the most dangerous city in America, homicide and violent crime numbers are down significantly and freeholder director Lou Cappelli says attention from the White House helps to improve the city's and the department's profile.
"We are becoming a national model on community policing. I think it reaffirms that our methods of policing are the best practices available today."
At the same time, Cappelli concedes their efforts are not yet done, but with community leaders working with police, as opposed to against them, he expects those crime numbers to continue to drop.
Cappelli says, "It's community policing and it's a true partnership with the residents of the community. Building the trust of the residents is really the most important factor.."
He now considers Camden's approach a national model, although in the same breath he concedes there's more work to be done.