CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ (WPVI) -- The crime rate in the City of Camden is now at a 55-year low, according to city leaders.
They gathered Tuesday to recognize the significant milestone.
"Camden is witnessing real change," Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen said during a press conference.
The city says since January 2012, total violent crime is down by 50 percent in the city of Camden. In that time, they said homicides are down by 75 percent, robberies are down 76 percent, and burglaries are down by 72 percent.
"We had 17 documented murders in 2024," said Camden County Police Chief Gabriel Rodriguez. "The last time we were that low was in 1985, 40 years ago."
"I like to measure our success not only by numbers but by seeing kids riding their bikes out in our streets, by seeing kids in our clean parks," Chief Rodriguez added.
According to city leaders, crime has been steadily falling since May 2013, when the Camden County Police Department was first formed.
"We dissolved a failing police department, one that was not serving its community, and constructed and rose up a police department that is second to none in this nation," said Camden County Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli.
On Tuesday night, Action News spoke with Steven Mack, who serves as the senior pastor at Little Rock Baptist Church.
"I have absolutely had people in the congregation tell me that it feels better and that it's just a better environment, a better vibe in the city," he said.
Mack said he came to Camden about a decade ago - around the time the new police department was formed.
"There was a little bit of skepticism just around the direction the city was going," Mack said.
But, he said over the past decade, there has been a focus on community policing throughout the city. He said he believes that has led to a reduction in crime. Mack is hopeful the trend will continue.
"There is an understanding that there is still work to be done," Mack said, "when children feel safe, when the community feels like they can trust their officers."
During Tuesday's press conference, city leaders said the drop in crime has far-reaching impacts - leading to economic growth, improved education and investments in infrastructure.