Camden peace march, safety rally tainted by robbery

Camden residents worried about a recent uptick in crime planned to respond Thursday with a peace march and a community discussion of public safety.

Instead, they got an all-too-real illustration of the problem: Two participants were robbed at gunpoint while walking from one church to the next.

About 60 angry residents lashed out at Camden Police Chief Scott Thomson during the discussion in the city's Cramer Hill section, saying their neighborhoods don't have enough police presence. Assemblyman Angel Fuentes (D., Camden) and City Councilman Luis Lopez also attended the meeting.

Thomson said Friday that he understood their frustrations, noting that crime is up about 34 percent from last year.

"With the city's financial situation," he said, "there is less of a presence."

In January, Mayor Dana L. Redd, facing a $26 million budget deficit, laid off 168 police officers, 60 firefighters, and more than 100 other city employees.

Since then, 88 police officers have been hired back through various grants. On Friday, Thomson stood with Redd to announce the rehiring of seven more police officers let go in January. The rehires - 12-year veterans of the force - are replacing recent retirees.

Also on the way in the next two to three weeks are 14 other rehires who will be paid through a federal $3.4 million Community-Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant.

Despite technological help such as the Eye in the Sky surveillance cameras and gunshot detectors throughout the city, police presence is still needed, State Sen. Donald Norcross (D., Camden) said at Friday's announcement.

"Nothing replaces boots on the ground," Norcross said.

That feeling is shared by residents in Cramer Hill, considered one of the safer city neighborhoods.

"There was outrage at the meeting because when they call police, the response is slow," said the Rev. Jud Weiksnar of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. "It's very notable here in Cramer Hill."

In preparation for the post-march community meeting Thursday, Jose Figueroa, a Pennsauken resident and parishioner at St. Anthony of Padua, was preparing a meeting room at the parish while the group gathered down the street.

When he was finished, he met up with his nephew, 29, to walk three blocks down River Avenue to join the group.

"I felt a hand in my back and shoulder, and someone say, 'Give me your money,' " Figueroa said. "Then I felt the gun."

Two young men in hoodies robbed Figueroa of $25 in cash and his BlackBerry as they walked by Von Nieda Park. The thieves also took $5 from Figueroa's nephew.

After the robbers ran away, Figueroa and his nephew continued to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, where they reported the incident to the police chief.

"We put a candle at the tree where they were held up," Weiksnar said, "and prayed."

Camden residents also are on edge because this weekend marks the 20th anniversary of Mischief Night, when the city's youth burned close to 150 buildings, causing an estimated $300,000 damage, mostly in North and East Camden. Dozens of people were arrested.

City officials are hoping to avert similar vandalism this weekend. Police and fire departments have boosted their manpower for the weekend.

A 10 p.m. youth curfew will be strictly enforced, Thomson said, adding that 35 percent of Camden's population is younger than 18.

Thomson called it a "unified approach" to making sure Camden's youths can have a safe Halloween weekend.

"We don't want our children to be afraid of trick-or-treating," Redd said.

Several Halloween events are scheduled for Sunday and Monday, including the City of Camden Halloween Costume Party on Monday at Millennium Skate World.