By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Violent crime is down in Asbury Park and police are crediting the implementation of several new programs for the decrease.
Chief Mark Kinmon said this week the number of violent crimes was reduced from 355 in 2007 to 281 in 2008.
“It’s been a great year, violent crime is down,” he said although he acknowledged property crimes have gone up and cited the poor economy.Both the chief and Det. Eugene Dello, the P.B.A. representative, say the decrease in murders, rapes and assaults have allowed police to focus more on prevention and investigations.
“It’s allowed us to be more proactive, not reactive,” Dello said.
A major success this year was a program implemented by the local P.B.A. that allows callers to anonymously provide information to police about people in town in possession of handguns.
The caller is given a $500 reward, paid for from the P.B.A. dues.
“That shows how important it is to them,” Dello said.
This year 60 guns were collected due to anonymous calls.
“And all without incident,” Kinmon said. “That’s unheard of. There were no injuries to officers. The officers showed restraint. If it wasn’t for the dedication of the officer this would have never happened.”
“That’s 60 guns that won’t be used in the city,” he added.
Expressing his pride in the department Dello said, “There is not one officer that shouldn’t be commended, each and every one. They are heroes.”
Dello credits Kinmon’s leadership for both the declining crime rate and improved morale in the department.
“The chief is being very modest,” Dello said. “The crime rate is the lowest it’s been in 10 years.”
“Each and every officer has contributed. They come in when we have an incident. I remember when officers didn’t want to do that,” he said.
One of the major factors in the reduced crime rate is the department’s focus on working hand in hand with other law enforcement agencies such as the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the U.S. Marshal’s Office, the Monmouth County Sheriff and the F.B.I.
The cooperative efforts, said Kinmon, gives additional personnel to those agencies, but also provides more officers in the city when they are needed.
“It gives them additional people and if something happens, we pick up the phone and they’re there,” he said.
The number of gunshot incidents in the city was reduced to only five in 2008, down from 29 in 2007.
There was also a decrease in gang-related activity following two major crime sweeps carried out by several law enforcement agencies.
Also arrests for DWI rose from 36 in 2007 to 60 in 2008.
“The days of driving drunk through Asbury Park and thinking you are not going to get caught are over,” Dello said. “Because of the lower crime rate, we have time to do this.”
In fact, Kinmon said he used to get complaints from citizens about drivers ignoring the speed limit in the city.
Now he says he is getting complaints from people about being pulled over.
Drug complaints have also gone down from 1,038 n 2006 to 515 in 2007 and only 372 in 2008.
“We are getting these people off the streets,” he said. “The message is we’re not going to stop.”
Dello, who has been on the force for 25 years said Chief Kinmon has improved relations with the community.
“(Now) they call the department,” he said.
Other programs include a new tip line allows residents to call in with information regarding crimes and suspects.
The COPS program, or Citizens on Patrol, has also helped stem crime.
“The relationships our officers have built have paid off – the message we sent is that that’s how we want to do business,” Kinmon said.
The street crimes unit alone made 900 arrests, Kinmon said.
Another boost to the department is the expansion of court from once a week to three times a week.
The installation of surveillance cameras in the city in recent months has already resulted in several arrests.
The chief did not want to say where the cameras are located, but said more will be installed by the spring, some visible and others not visible. Police also have a floating camera than can be moved to various locations.
Dello said the department has a good relationship with the new county sheriff, Kim Guadagno, which he called, “a whole new friendship.”
Kinmon and Dello said the night of the power outage Dec. 9 the county offices were extremely helpful.
“There wasn’t one incident,” Kinmon said.
“That’s because we are working hand in hand with all these agencies,” Dello said.
“That’s the value of maintaining good relationships,” Kinmon said.
Dello said Asbury Park police officers have been recognized statewide for their efforts, winning awards from state and local organizations.
The VFW in Asbury Park named officer Ed Raisin, Police Officer of the Year for his efforts in the seizure of over 100 handguns in his eight years on the force.
He was also cited for his work as part of the Monmouth County Gang Task Force and prosecution of numbers members of the Bloods street gang.
Also the state P.B.A. presented an award for valor to one shift of the Asbury Park police department for their handling of a dangerous situation when a man with a knife, who was wanted in four New Jersey jurisdictions threatened officers and told his mother he was ready to die.
The subject refused to drop the knife but officers were able to shield themselves while disarming the man with no serious injuries.
“Because of their heroic efforts they are the most awarded cops in New Jersey,” Dello said.
Kinmon also said the relationship between the P.B.A. and police administration has improved.
“Before, the only time the union rep and the chief were in the same room was because there was a dispute,” Kinmon said.
Chief Kinmon also said the clearance rate for crimes has improved.
Police are fingerprinting every case, are investigating more and can be more thorough because of the reduced crime rate.
Guys are not going from call to call, they have time to investigate, Dello said.
“Nothing is falling through the cracks,” Kinmon added.
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