PATERSON – Officer in Charge Isa Abbassi today announced the 2024 Summer Crime and Quality of Life Strategy which will be implemented between Memorial Day and Labor Day. In 2023 during that same period, the City of Paterson saw a historic reduction in violent crime including a 60% reduction in murders, a 41% reduction in shootings, a 38% reduction in robberies, and a 10% decline in aggravated assaults.
“We are building on our successes with this year’s summer strategy to make sure every person in Paterson feels safe as they enjoy the warmer weather,” said Officer in Charge Abbassi. “As all law enforcement officers know, major cities can see an increase in violent crime during the summer months. Through the precision deployment of resources, enforcement of quality-of-life offenses, and effective community and youth engagement strategies, we will ensure that our visitors and residents can safely enjoy our city and everything it has to offer.”
With support from Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and Governor Phil Murphy, along with state and local public safety partners, the Paterson Police Department has developed an innovative new strategy for 2024 to increase overall safety in the City of Paterson while strengthening community relationships.
“Last summer Paterson saw one of its safest on record thanks in large part to the strategy put in place by Officer in Charge Abbassi and carried out by the brave officers of the Paterson Police Department,” said Attorney General Platkin. “We want the people of Paterson to feel safe as they enjoy the summer months, and I have confidence this strategy will do just that.”
Highlights of the plan include:
- Violence Reduction Initiative: Thanks to supplemental state funding, the Paterson Police Department will be increasing the number of personnel assigned to dedicated hotspots in an effort to further improve upon the historic violence reduction successes of 2023. Enhanced patrol techniques that de-escalate tense situations paired with data-driven enforcement actions are designed to promote a safer community for those who live and work in Paterson as well as its summer visitors.
- Nightlife Taskforce: This bold new initiative addresses the underground nightlife culture that has fueled violence and quality-of-life concerns in the city of Paterson for many years. Through a strong partnership with the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), and the City of Paterson Law Department, the PPD is leading the effort to conduct zero-tolerance enforcement of both licensed and unlicensed nightlife establishments that are hotbeds for illegal alcohol sales, violent crime, drug and human trafficking, and gambling. Working with our agency partners, the Taskforce is pursuing both civil actions and criminal prosecutions in order to improve the safety and living conditions for the residents of Paterson.
- Safe Parks/Safe Spaces Program: Part of PPD’s public safety strategy is the activation of safe spaces so young people can enjoy a summer free from fear. The Safe Parks/Safe Spaces program will place Paterson Police officers in designated city parks on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between the hours of 4 p.m. and park closing. These officers will work with community coaches and mentors to provide a safe and fun space for children and young people, and the PPD will provide refreshments and light snacks during program hours. A published summer schedule can be found here.
- Police Advisory and Paterson Police Clergy Councils: Working in partnership with our Police Advisory Council and Police Clergy Council, the PPD will be supporting a number of community engagement events throughout the summer, including a Seniors Appreciation Day and BBQ which will take place on June 1 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Paterson Adult Day Center located at 163 Rosa Parks Boulevard.
- PPD Day of Play: OIC Abbassi and the PPD Community Partnerships Bureau will be hosting a PPD Anti-Violence Day of Play in each of the city’s six wards during the course of the summer. Locations and schedules will be published during the month of June for events in July and August. Residents can look forward to food, refreshments, children’s games, and public safety programming.
- Operation ‘All-Out’: Resources not typically used by police to patrol the city, such as the Traffic Unit, Emergency Response Team, and certain investigative units, will be repurposed this summer to key areas throughout Paterson. A portion of each officer’s shift will be spent in areas identified by data analysis as those with high levels of crime and large numbers of quality-of-life complaints. Additionally, designated personnel who handle administrative duties at PPD will be required to spend time on patrol during the summer months to enhance police presence in the city, improve police accountability and supervision, and ensure that the members of the PPD gain greater familiarity with the community members they serve.
- Quality-of-Life Response Program: PPD personnel will be assigned to off-duty details to exclusively address quality of life calls for service during weekend night hours. Personnel will also focus on patrolling public parks to ensure compliance with park rules and closing times.
- Summer Youth Programming and Community Partnerships: In addition to our very successful Community Affairs Division’s Anti-Violence Summer Youth Camp, PPD is partnering with community organizations throughout the city to provide opportunities for youth engagement, summer employment, camp experiences, and meaningful partnerships. It will provide young people in Paterson with a safe place to go and a constructive setting while school is out during the summer months. A flyer for the camp can be found here.
- Working with Community Partners: PPD is committed to actively participating in and expanding the work of violence intervention programs in the City of Paterson. These efforts focus on the important work of identifying those at risk and providing the resources and interventions that only come through coordinated and collaborative relationships. Through our newly designated Community Liaison, Theodore “Teddie” Martinez, PPD will continue conducting direct violence intervention engagement through our “Street Meets” program as well as through our citywide Community Roundtable Discussions. Throughout the summer, and beyond, the community roundtable discussion sessions will allow the PPD to better understand the community’s needs and how the Department is meeting them in smaller group discussions. This meeting schedule will be announced monthly, and opportunities to sign up will be provided via telephone, at patersonpd.com, and through the email address CommunityCares@patersonpd.com. PPD will also seek to expand working relationships and outreach with the city’s community-based violence intervention programs.
“The women and men of the PPD stand ready to make this summer the safest yet,” said Officer in Charge Abbassi. “We look forward to a great summer filled with family activities, parades, and community events. Our officers will be out and visible on the streets, in parks and playgrounds, and in every neighborhood making sure that the residents of Paterson know we are there keeping the city safe.”
