|
REVIEW
OF OPERATION D.I.G.G. SHOWS UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS IN NEWARK
Newark, N.J. - The Newark City
Drug Interdiction and Gang Group, known as Operation D.I.G.G.,
reviewed the results of the recent initiative and liked what
they saw. Over the 70 days during which the operation was
active, D.I.G.G. members investigated 222 cases, making 374
arrests for 1332 criminal charges. In addition, the taskforce
confiscated $49,730 in narcotics, $49,807 in cash and $9,600
in miscellaneous property. Eight gang members were identified
and arrested, and 38 weapons were taken off the streets.
The Drug Interdiction and Gang
Group was a partnership established between the New Jersey
State Police and the Newark Police Department to address quality
of life and crime issues in parts of the city. State Police
Superintendent Joseph J. Santiago and then Acting Newark Police
Director Anthony Ambrose announced the partnership on April
18, 2002.
Commenting on the D.I.G.G.
initiative Attorney General David Samson said, "This
is the kind of partnership that helps stem the tide of crime
and reclaims public spaces for law abiding citizens. I hope
to see these efforts modeled throughout every city in the
state."
The partners' critical first
step was to reach out to community and faith-based groups
as well as political and corporate leaders to obtain the consent
and cooperation of the city's citizens.
"This initiative is based
on the concept that police officers and community members
can work together in creative ways to solve crime-related
problems and reverse neighborhood decay," said Superintendent
Santiago. "This is the same plan of shared responsibility
that continues to produce dramatic results in Camden."
The Camden effort has been
named the Camden Anti-Crime Partnership, or C.A.P. The coalition
includes the New Jersey State Police, Camden City Police Department,
Camden County Prosecutor's Office and the Camden County Sheriff's
Office along with other state agencies and community groups.
The partnership addresses crime and quality of life issues
within the city of Camden. Since its inception, the Camden
Anti-Crime Partnership has focused on working toward building
trust with the community and in particular the city's youth.
Superintendent Santiago, current
Police Director Robert Rankin and Chief Anthony Ambrose were
impressed with the speed and efficiency with which D.I.G.G.
made the Newark partnership work. Twenty-three State Police
personnel were assigned on a full-time basis. Troopers were
coupled with officers from the Newark Police Department to
work uniformed, undercover and investigative details in problem
areas identified through crime trend statistics.
"We appreciate the assistance
of the State Police and commit that the ground we gained through
this initiative will not be given back to the gangs and the
drug dealers," said Chief Ambrose.
# # #
|
