Mayor Eric Jackson and Police Director Ernest Parrey called for increased community involvement to help stem the tide of gun violence
TRENTON - Mayor Eric Jackson and Police Director Ernest Parrey at a news conference held in the West Ward called on city residents to help police reduce violence in Trenton following a recent spike in gun violence, including the shooting death of a 16-year-old girl.
Jackson and Parrey, flanked by law enforcement and community leaders in a vacant lot at the intersection of Monmouth Street and Walnut Avenue, asked for more help from residents to stem the recent tide of violence that claimed the life of Ciony Kirkman, who died of her injuries after being shot in the head last month.
Kirkman when she was shot April 24 while riding in a stolen car with six other juveniles on . Her accused killer, a 17-year-old Trenton boy, has been arrested and charged with Kirkman's murder.
"I'm asking Trenton parents, to join with me to do everything within their power to be involved in the lives of their children and family,'' Jackson said. "Because when police get involved in the lives of our kids for criminal activity, it's normally far too late."
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The city's latest murder took place on May 1 when Jamar McCoy, 32, of Ewing, shot Jermaine Johnson, 26, on the first block of Hillcrest Avenue. Johnson died at a local hospital a short time later. McCoy is being held on $1 million bail.
"The recent spate of gun violence has shaken our sanity, tested our faith, but not our resolve,'' Jackson said.
Parrey also beseeched residents to help police their neighborhoods, rooting out and turning in criminals. Parrey also said police have begun a summer initiative that will put every member of the Trenton Police force on the streets for the next few months.
"Every individual officer within the Trenton Police Department, regardless of their duty, regardless of their rank, will don the uniform and will be put out on the street and engage in patrol activities,'' Parrey said.
Trenton's longstanding partnerships with the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office, State Police and other agencies will continue through the summer. Those details, which combat violent crime exclusively, will be increased, Parrey said.
Jackson and Parrey each touted the MyBlock program, an online form that sends anonymous information through the Trenton Police website (www.trentonpolice.com). Parrey also said reward money for information leading to the arrest and conviction of violent criminals will be increase through the second generation of the Crime Stoppers program.
"We understand the problems. We understand the fears. We understand the concerns and we do no take them lightly,'' Parrey said.
Darren "Freedom" Green, and Pastor John Taylor from Friendship Baptist Church lauded Trenton residents for cooperating with police to help identify and find the suspects in slayings of Kirkman and Johnson and encouraged them to continue.
"We teach our young people that the police are our allies," Green said. "Until we become part of the change we want to see in our communities, it won't change."
Keith Brown may be reached at kbrown@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBrownTrenton. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.