New Police Precinct In Newark Opens In Downtown Area

NEWARK, NJ — There’s a new police precinct in Newark, and it will help support the city’s burgeoning arts community, officials say.

On Thursday, Newark public safety officials announced the grand opening of the Metro/9th Precinct with a community roll at 22 Franklin Street.

Police Chief Emanuel Miranda said the new precinct will extend from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to McCarter Highway, and from Bridge Street to the Routes 1&9 ramp. The busy downtown district includes Newark City Hall, Prudential Arena, Gateway Center, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark Symphony Hall, Military Park, several universities and schools, and a mix of public buildings and private businesses.

The precinct has roughly 70 police officers on staff, including two community service officers and a school resource officer. It is also supported by a metro substation at 189 Market Street, which is open to the public from 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.

“Opening the Metro/9th Precinct is an important milestone added to the City of Newark’s public safety ecosystem, as our Arts and Education District is experiencing exponential growth that calls for increased police presence,” Mayor Ras Baraka said.

“I am pleased to offer our city’s downtown residents and visitors the peace of mind that a full-service Newark police precinct is nearby, providing comprehensive patrol and investigative services directly in the community where they work, study, shop, attend entertainment venues and restaurants, and conduct business,” the mayor added.

Baraka noted that the new Metro/9th Precinct is staffed by members of the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery, who can offer social and referral services to the public.

• See Related: Newark’s Diverse Arts Scene Generates Big Bucks For City, Study Says

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