Newark Police Open New Precinct on South Orange/Maplewood Border (audio)

Newark Police Department opened its recently renovated Vailsburg precinct Friday on Irvington Avenue in the city's West Ward in an effort to help propel community policing.

[Click here for audio]

Acting Newark Police Director Samuel DeMaio said the red brick building on Irvington Avenue (next to Fine Fare and Colosseum Gym) that once housed undercover and technical units, will now be home to the city's new Vailsburg Task Force. The building is directly across the street from Maplewood, and a parking lot away from South Orange.

[Click here for audio]

Village President Alex Torpey and South Orange Police Chief Jim Chelel attended Friday's ceremony. "Anything we do on either side of the South Orange/Newark border to keep our residents safe will help each other, and we must take every opportunity to work together in leading our communities towards success," said Torpey. " I think the new precinct will be great for Newark and great for South Orange, and it was important for me and Chief Chelel to attend the opening on Friday to show our support for these important partnerships around public safety."

Torpey and Chelel are scheduled to meet with Newark Police Department Captain Steve Yablonski, captain of the new precinct, as well as with neighborhood association coordinators.

Check Patch Monday for a more in-depth story about the precinct and Friday's opening.