The Camden County Police Department announced on Apr. 3 that homicides in Camden City have dropped by 90% compared to the same period in 2012, the last full year of operation for the former city police department. The city has also experienced a significant decrease in overall violent crime and shootings, with violent crime down by 57% and shootings reduced by 89% across all neighborhoods.
This development comes after Camden’s first homicide-free winter in five decades and follows a year where the department recorded its lowest number of violent crimes and homicides since 1985. Chief Gabriel Rodriguez said on April 2 that these new metrics are strong indicators of progress: “We continue to make important progress with all of our partner organizations in the city to reduce crime to historic levels not seen in over 50 years,” Rodriguez said. “The men and women of this agency should be very proud of this accomplishment, but we are by no means done our work here. This is not a declaration of a victory over crime; we know that until every city block is secure, we have a critical job to do and one that is vitally important to the residents of Camden.”
During this period, robberies declined by nearly four-fifths while assaults involving firearms fell more than three-quarters compared with early-2012 figures. The police department has emphasized community engagement through initiatives such as open gym events, senior outreach programs, neighborhood cleanups, and youth sports leagues.
Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen highlighted how safety improvements have impacted daily life: “In Camden, safety isn’t just a statistic, it’s our top priority,” Carstarphen said. “It is the strong foundation for every other form of progress… Not only has our community had a homicide-free summer and winter, but our city has also realized a 90% reduction in homicides since 2012.”
Community partners including local nonprofits support many programs outside the main budget. George E. Norcross III noted changes since earlier years: “Since that time a drastic change has taken place and under the leadership of one of the best chiefs in the nation, Gabe Rodriguez, Camden is unrecognizable from 2012.” Former Mayor Dana Redd reflected on efforts made during her tenure: “When we started down this path in 2011…we had a moral obligation to change the public safety paradigm here.”
Recent months saw zero homicides recorded between December and March—a first for winter—while shootings as of April numbered only three so far this year.
Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. called it “a tremendous tribute to the community and our officers,” but emphasized ongoing work ahead: “We need to continue…to ensure workforce development and education keep up with our strides in policing because ultimately everything is inextricably tied together.” According to the official website, Camden County advances community welfare through efforts like education improvement and workforce development alongside public services.
Camden County supports more than half-a-million residents across its thirty-seven municipalities according to county information. The county maintains facilities such as parks, libraries, nutrition centers as reported by its official site, operates under an elected seven-member Board serving staggered terms according to official records, focuses on enhancing quality-of-life via health care access and economic development according to county officials, with operations extending throughout southern New Jersey’s municipalities as stated online.
