E. Orange strategy, technology reduces crime

E. Orange strategy, technology reduces crime - Page 2
Figures are down 71% since 2003 in 5 of 7 areas

For the fifth year in a row, East Orange has posted another dramatic drop in most crimes in the city as police credited cutting-edge technology and smart tactics.

In preliminary figures released last week, crime declined last year in five of the seven major crime categories: murder, rape, robbery, larceny and auto theft. Aggravated assault and burglary increased, but were still down from 2003 levels.

Overall, crime incidents from 2003 to last year have declined from 7,249 to 2,118 -- a 71 percent reduction, Police Chief Ronald Borgo said.

"You have to have a vision to continue work on these things," Borgo said. "When you combine everything together, you get a reduction in crime."

In recent years, city police have adopted hi-tech tools such as surveillance cameras and gunshot sensors that cover 75 percent of the 3.9-square-mile city. Both the sensors and the cameras are synchronized so police can see the area in which the gun was fired. Even when a firecracker is picked up by the gunshot sensors, patrol cars arrive at the scene to calm down residents, Borgo said.

The department also installed GPS devices on patrol cars to monitor their location and the Law Enforcement Electronic Dashboard (LEED) system, a computerized database, is installed in laptops in officers' patrol cars. The system shows where crime is occurring in real time and how police are responding to the scene. Police can also access video surveillance cameras around the city, incident reports, and crime-trend projections through the computer.

"In my 31 years in this business, I could see that you can't fight today's crime with yesterday's technology," Borgo said.

The police department also gathers for weekly statistical-based strategy sessions called Comstat where they discuss and analyze crime trends and suspicious activities so they can take pro-active efforts to reduce crime.

Last November, the department's violent crimes task force raided locations throughout the city to curb activities by a violent Bloods street gang called the 1-5 Gunners gang. In that case, police jailed 32 people and confiscated five weapons and assorted drugs.

Departments from Australia, the United Kingdom and elsewhere have visited the department to see how they have cut crime levels, Borgo said.

On bustling Central Avenue, the city's main strip, merchants said they notice the difference.

From his perch at ARA Diamond and Gold Exchange, a jewelry shop, owner Abdul Ameer said he sees police all the time on Central Avenue as they patrol the street and shoo away people loitering in front of stores.

"I've been here six years and I have had no problems," Ameer said about crime.

Mayor Robert Bowser said residents can walk the streets at night and feel they are in good hands.

"We are a town in the middle of other towns with serious crimes," Bowser said. "Criminals got the message. If you want to do something wrong, don't go into East Orange."

The crime crackdown was sparked by the arrival in 2004 of Police Director Jose Cordero, who is now in charge of the state's anti-crime measures aimed at gangs and guns. Cordero put in innovative crime-fighting strategies that have dramatically cleaned up the streets, Bowser said.

Since Cordero left in late 2007 for the state post, Bowser said the city has searched for a new police director. Meanwhile, Cordero's policies and original command team including Borgo have remained intact, ensuring continued success, Bowser said.

Sharon Adarlo may be reached at sadarlo@starledger.com.


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