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Mixed 'bag of tricks' help Trenton police combat crime

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Police Director Ernest Parrey, Jr. outlined the city's crime-fighting efforts during a media roundtable

TRENTON -- As temperatures rise, tempers flare. Every year, warm weather brings increased violence, and this year is no different.

The city has seen a spate of shootings in recent weeks, with the latest coming early Friday when five people were shot outside an apartment building.

"For the city to thrive, we have to be able to stem the violence occurring throughout," Police Director Ernest Parrey, Jr. said during a media roundtable Monday. "We've looked at things differently and we've gone back to the bag of tricks that we used back in the day and brought some things out that we thought worked and were effective at that point in time."

Some of the initiatives Parrey highlighted were:

  • Shooting Response Team

The team, which was reactivated in the second half of 2014, brings together detectives from Trenton, Lawrence, the county sheriff's and prosecutor's offices and the State Police to largely investigate nonfatal shootings. Last year, the team investigated 103 cases involving 116 gunshot victims and cleared 42 percent of the cases with criminal charges. The prosecutor's office adds manpower and covers overtime costs, Parrey said.

  • Violent Crimes Unit and Warrant Squad
The teams, which target violent offenders, have made 399 arrests and seized 74 weapons since January 2015.
"I'm not talking about the taped-up, beat-up .38 specials from the past," Parrey said. "We've made some large seizures of weapons that quite frankly scare me -- from ordnances that you would think was military."
  • SWAT team

The team was reintroduced as part of the department's Street Crimes Unit. It has begun stepping up efforts to train city and school employees on how to handle active shooter situations.

  • Body cameras

City Council last month approved a $234,786 contract to buy 150 body cameras and police expect to have them rolled out by late spring.

  • Trenton Violence Reduction Strategy
The volunteer program, which started in April 2014 just after the funeral shooting at Galilee Baptist Church, targets those who have a greater risk of being involved in gun violence, gang activity or narcotics trafficking.
"They are invited and they're encouraged to join our program," Parrey said. "If you don't join our program, then subsequently you're a target. We know that you may be the one out there who is next to commit a violent act."
The $1.1 million program is bankrolled by the AG's office and has been re-upped for the next three years.

Starting May 1, police will also have a beefed-up presence during the summer months as part of an effort to reduce violent crime.

"I think it's critical," Parrey said. "Summer is when we see the lion's share of issues. When things heat up, unfortunately temperaments seem to heat up a bit."

He said that everyone in the police department, from those in administrative positions to the detective bureau and communications, will pick up shifts patrolling the streets.

"This is supplemental patrol to what they are doing," Parrey said. "Plus, it gets the rust and dust off us. It gets us out there and back into the community where everybody needs to be."

Parrey also said that police can only do so much without the help and cooperation of the public.

"Community policing isn't about the police department bearing sole responsibility," he said. "The community needs to be involved with us. They have to push the envelope along with us. People can't shut in, close in."

Efforts are ongoing in the Latino communities, where Parrey said many immigrants are distrustful of police because they fear they will be turned over to immigration authorities.

"If you're a victim of a crime ... no one cares about your immigration status," Acting Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said. "No one cares about your immigration status. We see you as being a victim and ... we're just trying to let the community know that the police aren't ICE."

Parrey and Onofri pointed out a number of community initiatives that are helping to strengthen the relationship between police and residents, including the "Trunk or Treat," the police explorer's program for boys and girls ages 14 to 20 and a new partnership with the National Junior Tennis and Learning of Trenton, where officers coach and mentor schoolkids.

Following the success of "Trunk or Treat," which drew more than 3,000 people, the department will be holding a "Halfway to Halloween" street carnival at police headquarters in May.

"So many times, folks do only come down to Trenton police when there's a problem," Mayor Eric Jackson said. "We don't want that to be problem headquarters. ... It has to be a place where legislation of law takes place and where other good things can take place as well."

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.


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