Camden Offers Picture Of Police Unity After George Floyd's Death

CAMDEN, NJ — While images of rioting and looting in connection with protests over the death of George Floyd flooded news reports nationwide, a South Jersey scene commonly known as among the most dangerous in America was the scene of unity between the police and the community.

The Camden County Police Department joined members of the community for a unity walk on Saturday. One image showed Camden County Police Chief Joe Wysocki marching with protesters and holding a sign that reads, “Standing in Solidarity.”

“The unity walk and gathering yesterday on the steps of the police administration building was the culmination of years of outstanding work by the men and women of the Camden County Police Department, the city's clergy, residents throughout Camden, and our community's leaders,” Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. said. “Direct interaction, relationship building, and community policing has been the bedrock of our agency since it was started in 2013 and has made a tangible difference in the city. The agency's daily efforts to engage residents, adopting the most progressive and effective use of force policy in the nation, and constantly training all officers on the sanctity of life has made an out-sized difference in the city and the county. In turn, that strong level of engagement and communication also provides residents with the knowledge that we stand with them, we grieve with them, and that the ugly, tragic and appalling events that led to the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis will never occur here.”

State officials spoke about the example set in Camden during a news conference Monday afternoon.

"I watched as an example with tremendous pride to see the chief of police in Camden march in lockstep with residents on Saturday and to help them hold their banner," Gov. Phil Murphy said. "I spoke with the chief on Sunday morning to express that directly."

State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan said he spoke to Wysocki before the march on Saturday.

"He pointed to what he thought was going to be success, and he was right because he had the clergy, the organizers the law enforcement meet out ahead of that and his leading by example in standing in solidarity with his community," Callahan said. "I think that resonated not only throughout New Jersey but throughout the country with those faith-based leaders I had the honor of speaking with throughout the weekend."

Floyd, a black man, was handcuffed and lying face down on a Minneapolis street Monday when officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck for 8 minutes, 46 seconds. Floyd became unresponsive after 2 minutes, 53 seconds, according to the criminal complaint.

Chauvin was charged Friday with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. In the wake of Floyd's death, protests against racism and police brutality have sparked around the world.
Protests in other parts of the state also began peacefully before violence took hold later Sunday night. Protests also resulted in mass destruction in Philadelphia over the weekend.

But in Camden, long regarding as one of the most dangerous cities in America, police and residents offered a scene of peace throughout the weekend.

“Another example of the systemic change we brought to Camden,” former Governor Chris Christie said in a social media post. “It can happen for America too.”

That progress was praised as far back as 2015, when then-President Barack Obama visited the city to discuss the reduction in crime that came with the establishment of the Camden County Police Department.

“Camden is showing it can be done,” Obama said at the time. “I want America to show everyone around the world it can be done.”

The city saw a drop of 3 percent in violent crime last year, and a total drop in violent crime of 42 percent since 2012, according to statistics provided by the police department.

There were multiple changes in the city that were made last year, including the installation of a new police chief, the adoption of a new use of force guideline that was nationally recognized and a new virtual training mechanism for de-escalation and continued a strategy grounded in the tenets of community policing, mutual respect and the preservation of life.

Additionally, there has been a surge in the ability of 18-24-year-old Camden residents to get the education they need. From 2006 to 2010 approximately 68 percent of young adults in the city graduated high school, earned their G.E.D., attended some college, or received an associate’s, bachelor’s or advanced degree. The most recent estimate shows this population achieving high school or better levels of education at a stunning 83.3 percent, according to city officials.

“Change doesn’t happen overnight, but in findings like these we are seeing the very real snowballing effect of progressive policies put into place to better the lives of residents in the City,” Cappelli said. “Our commitment remains on ending the crippling effects of decades-long poverty and economic stagnation in the city, and continuing Camden’s recent renaissance. We have a lot of work still to do, but this data makes clear that we are on the right track and headed in the right direction.”