They wear bright blue shirts and baseball caps, but don’t mistake them for just any civilians. In Montclair, the members of the small Community Police force are highly trained officers, but have become one of the newest examples of a public safety trend sweeping the country: community police.
At the Rotary Club of Montclair meeting yesterday, Montclair police chief David Sabagh explained how a recent summer rash of violence in the township lead to some new programs and initiatives. Sabagh said with the growth of population, and recent gang related shootings, assaults and drug busts, he knew there were “challenges to adapt to” in town. Like all towns in New Jersey, the hot weather seems to bring out more crime.
In Montclair, overall crime is down, to the tune of about 38 percent compared to 7 years ago.
But violent crime has creeped up. Just like neighboring towns such as West Orange and Broomfield have discovered, drugs and gangs have been causing problems throughout the county.
“The numbers may show overall crime is down, but if you are a victim of a robbery or crime, to you that doesn’t matter,” said Sabagh.
Now, along with a street crimes unit, Sabagh has instituted a new community force lead by Sgt. Tyrone Williams. Their clothing is low key so as not to alarm children; they travel to all wards of Montclair and their work is focused not just on the negative impact of crime but also on the good things that happen throughout Montclair on any given day.
“We visit schools, associations, crime watch meetings, and want to work with the public,” noted Williams. “We want to be there for the good times too, not just the bad times.”
Currently, there are 4 officers on the team, all working out of police headquarters - for now. Hopes are to add more officers when it is possible. This small force moves around the township, visiting each neighborhood.
“We are getting a command vehicle truck, that will be like an office on wheels,” noted Sabagh.
And, along with the softer looking uniforms, this community police force has a more personal feel as well.
“We will work with the children in town a lot,” said Williams. “Our goal is to focus on the young population.”
Reaching kids before they experiment with crime lessens the odds of children becoming criminals. Young boys in 1st and 2nd grades in Baltimore classrooms offered a game of “good behavior” in class, where they were rewarded for good behavior, had a 50 percent less chance of becoming drug addicts than their counterparts, who did not participate in the program. (Source: Fight Crime - Invest in Kids).
Some sobering statistics from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) report staggering numbers of violence among children:
“In 2010, 4,828 young people ages 10 to 24 were victims of homicide—an average of 13 each day.
Homicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24 years old.1
Among homicide victims 10 to 24 years old in 2010, 86% (4,171) were male and 14% (657) were female.
Among homicide victims ages 10 to 24 years old in 2010, 82.8% were killed with a firearm.
Each year, youth homicides and assault related injuries result in an estimated $16 billion in combined medical and work loss costs.”
With so much on the line as most families struggle with both parents working and their children home alone, or dealing with the temptations of teen drug use or gangs, community policing offers a more pro-active stance by working within the community, and focusing often on the needs of our most vulnerable residents: children.
“We do believe this is a pro-active approach,” said Sabagh.
Across the country, severe budget cuts have reduced the number of police in many small towns and big cities. With so many neighborhoods in search of adding more police, yet struggling with their budgets, the idea of community police is starting to take hold in some privately funded neighborhoods, such as Oakland California.
But Montclair is integrating this pro-active police unit within their own
police force and into the diverse Montclair community, within every ward. The idea, cutting edge today, is that the community police may offer a positive role model to children and also offer more eyes and ears on local streets, and harks back to the days when most everyone knew their cop on his local beat.
Of course, no one can replace the family unit, where children learn first hand their ethics and values. But at least in Montclair, this community police force offers another safe option for kids who may have free time on their hands and trouble on their block.
When you see any of the more casually dressed police officers on your street or in your school or neighborhood, be sure to offer them a smile and a handshake. Introduce them to your children.
You never know - their presence and acts of simple kindness may save your own child from following peer pressure or making that one big mistake that may cost him or her his future or even his life.
