George D. Pugh, 74, headed police in Camden, Atlantic City

George D. "Bob" Pugh, 74, a former Camden police chief and director of public safety in Atlantic City, died at Fox Chase Cancer Center on Tuesday, June 21, of a heart attack following surgery.

Camden Mayor Dana L. Redd said in a statement that the city and its residents "deeply mourn the loss of one of its own."

"Bobby Pugh was born in Camden, lived in the Parkside community, and led a long, distinguished policing career," she said.

He became a Camden police officer in 1965, was named chief in 1988, and retired in 1996, Redd said.

"As chief, he was known to be a tremendous motivator and for being fair. He had a unique ability for evaluating his personnel and recognized how to get the most out of his officers," Redd wrote.

His tenure in Camden was not entirely smooth. An Inquirer report in 2002 noted that he left the city "amid a swirl of controversy and calls for his resignation due to the rising murder rate and slow police response times."

Yet, the report said, he "was praised for his promoting of minority officers, community policing, and developing stronger ties with federal departments."

In January 1997, Mr. Pugh became director of public safety in Atlantic City, returning to his Voorhees home on weekends. He left the post in September 2000 to be closer to his family.

State Sen. Jim Whelan, former longtime mayor of Atlantic City, said he hired Mr. Pugh because of his understanding of policing at the street level.

"I wanted a cop's cop, and he was an excellent administrator, very good at community relations, but underneath it all he was a cop's cop," Whelan said. "He understood the dynamics of the street."

Like many others, the Atlantic City Police Department had begun using "community policing," Whelan said, and he recalled going with Mr. Pugh into corner stores around the city to test whether the department's efforts were working.

In 2002, Mr. Pugh was named director of public safety in Lawnside, son David said.

Mr. Pugh was elected to the town council in Cheswold, Del., in 2009, served for a time as mayor there, and ended his public career in 2010, his son said.

Mr. Pugh graduated from Camden High School in 1960 and completed a 15-week program at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va., in 1974.

Besides his son, Mr. Pugh is survived by his wife, Renee; sons Marlon, Byron, and Jeris; and 10 grandchildren.

A viewing was set from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 28, at First Nazarene Baptist Church, 1500 S. Eighth St., Camden, before a noon memorial service.

Condolences may be offered to the family at www.mayfuneralhomes.com.

wnaedele@phillynews.com

610-313-8134 @WNaedele

Staff writer Jonathan Lai contributed to this article.