Here’s How Newark Plans To Fight Crime This Summer (VIDEO)

NEWARK, NJ — Newark police are launching a “summer crime reduction initiative” in 2023.

On Thursday, several city officials gathered for a news conference to discuss the upcoming initiative, which will be done as a partnership between the Newark Police Department and the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery.

“Addressing crime as a public health issue is our unwavering mission statement, especially when children become the victims of gun violence,” Mayor Ras Baraka said, referencing a recent shooting that wounded a 13-year-old boy. See Related: Newark Boy Was Shot With 'Ghost Gun,' Authorities Say

Public Safety Director Fritz Fragé outlined what local police will be doing to cut down on crime in the city. The action plan includes:

• Operations with New Jersey State Police at Newark Housing Authority complexes
• Support from Irvington PD and East Orange PD regarding joint border patrols
• Increased patrols by NJ Transit in and around Penn Station
• Partnering with NJIT PD and Rutgers-Newark PD for increased police presence at hotspots in and around the universities and hospital
• Support from the U.S. Marshals in conducting warrant sweeps 3-4 days per month during June, July, and August
• Assistance from the Essex County Sheriff’s Office with patrols in the North and East Wards
• Support from the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Investigators to reduce violent crime
• NJ Division of Criminal Justice will support Newark by deploying detectives to assist NPD with investigations
• Newark Police Community Focus Team members will be deployed citywide to engage with community members

Fragé said that Newark police will also be supporting the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery’s (OVPTR) youth initiatives this summer.

This approach – trying to stop violence before it happens by providing outreach and services – is the driving philosophy behind Newark’s renewed approach to public safety. See Related: Obama Praises Newark's Efforts To Stop Violence By Boosting Its Youth

During Thursday's news conference, OVPTR Director Lakeesha Eure outlined her office’s summer initiatives, which will include:

• Providing over 150 jobs for at-risk youth and young adults, including an Earn-to-Learn program
• Offering mental health support service
• Convening neighborhood gatherings
• Conducting community engagements
• Providing trauma-reduction and social service resources directly to residents in “hot spot” areas
• Healing circles
• Family-oriented events such as cook-outs, and Family Fun Fridays
• Extending hours of recreation centers across the city for youth activities
• Ciphers (free-style rap sessions) every Tuesday and Thursday in hot spot areas
• Citywide community walks twice a week
• Wellness Wednesdays with therapists and social workers going into the community
• Expungement workshops
• Family Fun Fridays with food in crime hot spots
• Neighborhood vs. Neighborhood basketball games

“I am pleased that both Public Safety Director Fragé and Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery Director Eure have outlined best-practice strategies aimed at keeping Newark residents safe this summer,” Mayor Baraka said.

Watch Fragé speak about this summer’s initiative in the video below (video is cued to his comments).

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