Camden's new policing style is both loved, hated

By Matt Katz

Inquirer Staff Writer

The soundtrack is a call for salvation through Jesus Christ, coming from speakers at a city park ministry.

On a porch, a man braids a woman's hair. On the corner, boys stand around doing nothing. On the street, two girls follow an ice cream truck.

Then, out of nowhere, 16 police cruisers, lights flashing, pull into the neighborhood. Car doors slam, officers fall into formation.

There's a 30-second briefing before officers are off to look for speeding motorcycles, teenagers smoking pot, and men wanted on warrants. In less than two hours on a summer evening, 38 pedestrians are questioned, 14 traffic tickets are issued, and one arrest is made within the Whitman Park neighborhood.

A year after the state installed new police leadership in Camden, perennially one of the country's most dangerous cities, this is the new face of policing.

Asked what the department was doing differently, Louis Vega, the civilian police director, said with a laugh: "Everything."

There are more officers on the street, more arrests being made, and more scenes like this one - random "mobilization drills," about twice a week at "hot spots" determined by computer analyses.

The department sweeps in, attacks quality-of-life problems, and hopes the bad guys wonder what's next.

According to Gov. Corzine and state Attorney General Anne Milgram, who held a news conference in Camden last week to tout a reduction in homicides in the city and the state, the approach has been an unqualified success.

But according to some officers, and particularly their union representatives, the strategy incorporates unfair labor practices, potential First Amendment violations, and a short-term strategy.

Corzine pointed to the fact that homicides were down substantially so far this year compared to the same period in 2008. As of Friday there had been 22 homicides, compared with 36 by the same date last year.

But the homicide rate is still higher than in 2006, and urban killings are down nationwide, according to published reports.

The homicide rate in Camden is part of a more complex picture. Overall violent crime in the city is up 9 percent, with aggravated assaults and robberies showing an uptick, according to statistics.

The police department, under state control since 2003, had its sixth leadership change in as many years when Milgram came to Camden on July 30, 2008, to announce the hiring of Vega, a former New York City police officer, and the promotion of John Scott Thomson, a 14-year department veteran, as chief.

Some officers said the last year under the new leaders has been rocky. They said their approach was doing little to reduce crime because the so-called hot spots were being replaced with new hot spots.

Homicides may be down, said John Williamson, president of Lodge 1 of the Fraternal Order of Police, because the drug dealers have free rein.

"There's no turf war. Everyone is making money," he said. "So if everyone is making money, there's no reason for the drug dealers to be killing each other."

Williamson's theory seemed to contradict department statistics that showed drug arrests in the first half of 2009 up 31 percent from last year. The department also reports fewer calls to dispatch about disturbances and use of firearms.

Williamson said the new approach had overworked officers. Lunch breaks have been forbidden, vacation time has been canceled, and more than 100 grievances have been filed against the department, he said.

"People are beating down the door to try to get out [of the department], and I definitely don't think that's a testament to good leadership," Williamson said.

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