Camden reaches significant crimefighting milestone in New Jersey, touting declining crime rates

CAMDEN, N.J. (WPVI) -- The beginning of fall marked a huge milestone in the city of Camden.

They got through the entire summer with no homicides. It's the first time that's happened in five decades.

The reduction is due to a change in policing that focuses both on increasing watchful eyes on the street and improving relationships with community members.

"We're making sure that we have eyes and ears on everything," said Camden City Police Department Deputy Chief Chris Sarlo of the department's Real Time Tactical Operation Intelligence Center.

The room is filled with screens showing real-time cameras across the city. Police department employees watch the cameras and make immediate reports to the lieutenant on duty when a crime happens. There are more than 1,000 cameras across the city.

The center is the heart of the Camden County Police Department and the epicenter of a "seismic reduction in crime."

"Homicides are down 75%," said Camden County Commissioner Director Lou Cappelli Jr.

For the first time in 50 years, Camden had a summer with no homicides.

"I'm just so happy for the residents of this city. They deserve this kind of safety," said Cappelli.

The homicide-free summer is part of a larger change that Camden has been pursuing since 2013.

"It was bad," said Cappelli. "The murder rate in this city was higher than in some third-world nations."

That year, Camden changed how it approaches policing.

"We dissolved the police department of Camden City, formed and brought up a new county department that oversees this city," said Cappelli.

Camden also shifted to a community policing approach. It centers around officers connecting with the community.

Captain Vivian Coley is among the officers who have connected with local community leaders. She partners with the organization Rising Leaders Global, a nonprofit, to host community events that have changed relationships between the police and the people they serve.

"There's definitely a shift. People are happy to see us, they trust us," she said.

"To start with our youth at such a young age, for them to understand that the police aren't their enemies, it means a lot," said Rising Leaders Global founder N'Namdee Nelson.

It's the type of outcome other police departments hope for.

"We've had police departments from all over the country, actually, from other parts of the world, come to Camden to see exactly how we're policing," said Cappelli.

"It's just a tribute to all the other great things going on in the city of Camden, and we've just got to keep working," said Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen.

The first six months of this year have, statistically, been one of the best in five decades when it comes to crime in Camden.

Leaders say one of the next steps is increasing residential growth.