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Human Services Police provide protection
to DYFS caseworkers 2,000 times
Officers also help DYFS locate 1,500 missing children

TRENTON – Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner James M. Davy announced today the department’s Human Services Police have provided protection to Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) caseworkers 2,000 times this year while also helping staff locate 1,500 missing children.

“Our caseworkers often go into dangerous neighborhoods expecting the unexpected,” said Commissioner Davy. “With the support of our Human Services Police, they can knock on the door without fearing for their safety.”

In April 2003, DHS created a pilot program in Newark and Camden where the department began stationing Human Services Police officers in local DYFS offices to assist caseworkers in their child abuse investigations. Through August, Human Services Police have provided assistance to DYFS staff on 9,700 occasions this year.

“It is not just police protection – it also involves making arrests or communicating with law enforcement throughout the country,” explained Commissioner Davy. “Our Human Services Police will do whatever it takes to protect New Jersey’s children.”

In addition to providing police protection and locating missing children, Human Services Police help DYFS caseworkers get important information by serving as a point of contact with other law enforcement officials. Human Services Police have provided assistance like this over 4,000 times this year.

This year Human Services Police have also:
• Helped locate over 1,600 missing parents or caregivers
• Assisted DYFS caseworkers 330 times when they needed to do an emergency removal of a child from a home
• Transported over 220 juveniles who were in runaway status or high flight risks
• Made 120 arrests based on outstanding warrants or illegal activity.

Today, there are 13 Human Services Police stations covering 22 DYFS offices around the state. These 13 stations include 35 police officers and five sergeants. Under the child welfare reform plan, 23 additional officers and seven sergeants will be hired this fiscal year with a new station in Cape May county scheduled to open shortly.

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