Belleville Crime Rate Drops, Violent Incidents Down By 24%: Cops

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Belleville saw a “dramatic” drop in overall crime last year, including violent incidents, according to town officials.

The Belleville Police Department released local crime statistics for 2018 earlier this month, touting a big reduction in criminal incidents in the township as compared to 2017.

According to municipal officials, Belleville saw a 13 percent drop in “overall crime” and a 24 percent reduction in “violent crime, a development that the town’s mayor and police chief applauded.

“We are very pleased with the reduction in crime due to our recent initiatives such as neighborhood policing, crime prevention education and a committed partnership with the community,” Police Chief Mark Minichini said.

Mayor Michael Melham said the drop in crime is fantastic news for Belleville.

“[Chief Minichini] is committed to community policing, which not only incudes officers engaging our teenagers, but physically getting out of the police car and walking around, talking to individuals on the street and local business owners,” Melham said. “This effort pays dividends and we are seeing the results.”

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For example, Melham touted the BPD’s reinstituted the local “Cops on Bikes” program, which he said has been received with “great fanfare” in town.

“Not only is crime down, but real estate values are up,” Melham said. “We continue to look forward to great things in 2019.”

• See related article: Crime Is Dropping Big Time In Newark, Officials Say

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