CHERRY HILL NJ June 22 2013 — Camden County freeholders on Thursday night approved a plan for “public safety ambassadors” to bolster the police presence in Camden’s business districts.
But the private force, to be made up of 70 to 100 unarmed civilians in fluorescent vests, won’t hit the streets until the state provides needed funding, officials noted.
The ambassadors are intended to serve as the Camden County Police Department’s eyes and ears in the downtown business district along Broadway, as well as in shopping areas along Haddon and Mount Ephraim avenues, River Road and Federal Street, said Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson.
“They’d provide a highly visible security presence,” said Thomson. “That will free up police officers to be in the city’s neighborhoods, doing community policing and more particularly hitting the hot spots.”
“It’s part of a larger law enforcement strategy that will allow the Metro Division to focus on policing the neighborhoods,” said county spokesman Dan Keashen.
The freeholders, meeting in Cherry Hill, approved a contract with AlliedBarton, a nationwide security firm. The contract’s cost to the state will depend on the number of ambassadors hired, and a per-unit cost was not immediately available.
Thomson said the city’s business districts, while low-risk sites for deadly crimes, can attract robbers, car burglars and other petty criminals.
“That’s what we’re looking to deter,” he said, noting ambassadors would be in “constant contact” with police officers. The ambassadors would have no arrest powers, but could handle routine police chores, like verifying alarms.
“These guys are also trained as far as assisting with information,” the chief added. “They’re not just there as a deterrence. They’re also there to engage the business owners and the citizens.”
The county police force, which took effect last month, is expected to reach its goal of 401 sworn officers in about six months, after 90 recruits complete their training. Camden’s municipal police department, hit hard by layoffs and budget cuts, had about 270 officers.
Thomson said an ambassador program has been successful in Philadelphia.
“This is part of our overarching strategy to hit a tipping point where people feel safe,” he said. “It’s very difficult for bad people to do bad things when they’re surrounded by good people.”
Source-courier- post
But the private force, to be made up of 70 to 100 unarmed civilians in fluorescent vests, won’t hit the streets until the state provides needed funding, officials noted.
The ambassadors are intended to serve as the Camden County Police Department’s eyes and ears in the downtown business district along Broadway, as well as in shopping areas along Haddon and Mount Ephraim avenues, River Road and Federal Street, said Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson.
“They’d provide a highly visible security presence,” said Thomson. “That will free up police officers to be in the city’s neighborhoods, doing community policing and more particularly hitting the hot spots.”
“It’s part of a larger law enforcement strategy that will allow the Metro Division to focus on policing the neighborhoods,” said county spokesman Dan Keashen.
The freeholders, meeting in Cherry Hill, approved a contract with AlliedBarton, a nationwide security firm. The contract’s cost to the state will depend on the number of ambassadors hired, and a per-unit cost was not immediately available.
Thomson said the city’s business districts, while low-risk sites for deadly crimes, can attract robbers, car burglars and other petty criminals.
“That’s what we’re looking to deter,” he said, noting ambassadors would be in “constant contact” with police officers. The ambassadors would have no arrest powers, but could handle routine police chores, like verifying alarms.
“These guys are also trained as far as assisting with information,” the chief added. “They’re not just there as a deterrence. They’re also there to engage the business owners and the citizens.”
The county police force, which took effect last month, is expected to reach its goal of 401 sworn officers in about six months, after 90 recruits complete their training. Camden’s municipal police department, hit hard by layoffs and budget cuts, had about 270 officers.
Thomson said an ambassador program has been successful in Philadelphia.
“This is part of our overarching strategy to hit a tipping point where people feel safe,” he said. “It’s very difficult for bad people to do bad things when they’re surrounded by good people.”
Source-courier- post