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Crime in Asbury Park is at the lowest point since 1979, according to Uniform Crime Reporting data, Acting Police Chief Anthony Salerno said.

The report is a compilation of data of all major crimes, including murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, rape, etc.

Salerno said the 91-member Police Department will look to continue and grow crime prevention initiatives started in 2014 as well as implement new ones. Currently the department is assisted by 20 special officers who work at variant times throughout the year.

Over the past two years, the Asbury Park Police department has increased its patrols in violent crime areas, implemented walking and bicycle patrol in those areas.

They’ve done this through better utilization of personnel, including moving some administrative personnel into field operation, he said.

If manpower allows, Salerno said they will look to increase the number of officers in the narcotics and gang units, a seven day a week proactive unit.

“In addition, in the early part of the new year we will be online with the city-wide camera program, which is going to help us detect and deter crime,” Salerno said. “We will be using state of the art fiber optic high definition cameras that are capable of turning and zooming in throughout the city.”

The cameras locations will not be released, he said. The equipment will help with the prosecution since it will allow for better opportunities to catch violent crimes in action, he said.

Also new in 2016, will be body worn cameras that meet the Attorney General’s criteria, for all field members of the police department.

“Just like high-definition cameras throughout the city, they are meant to deter police misconduct but also to capture incidents and criminal acts during all arrest situation,” Salerno said. “So, in essence we are not sitting back on past performance but forging ahead to reduce crime even further.”

Goals for the New Year will be to grow member of the police department should resources be available, Salerno said. They will look to grow the community relations programs, which works to place police officers throughout the community during non-confrontational situations, he said.

“It helps to relax some of the tension that has existed between police and the community,” Salerno said.

That relationship has helped the department effectuate the public’s assistance with regard to solving criminal cases.

“We will look to build upon that relationship in 2016 in hopes that we can establish a long standing trust,” Salerno said.

The issues between the community and police department did not occur overnight and will not change overnight, Salerno said.

“We need to continue to build that trust,” he said.  We’ve come a long way but we have a tremendous amount of work to do; we are aware of that.

Salerno said it is not just about crime reduction but a matter of taking on the most serious problem – the fear associated with crime for the city’s residents, business owners and tourists.

“Crime is not static, it’s dynamic in that it moves,” Salerno said. “So as crime moves within the city to different location, we are going to continue to move with it.”

Through the department’s in-house statistic and crime analysis, officers are directed to areas they are most needed, Salerno said.

The police department’s internal affair’s unit is aggressively working to charge officers for misconduct where appropriate, he said.

“It is only by policing one’s self and ferreting out the officers that do not or have not met the standards of our agency that we can improve on performance and trust throughout the community,” Salerno said.

Internal initiatives include a push for overall professionalism, including maintain attendance, productivity while on duty, and professional appearance with regard to the uniform.

The police department has reduced sick time by 200 work days over the last year, yielding in increased productivity increased in terms of officers being able to respond to criminal acts, issue summonses and make arrests, Salerno said.

“In terms of attendance, we’ve been able to deploy more officers on the street during their shifts, which will give business owners a better sense of security and safety,” he said.

Salerno said, the Asbury Park Police Department will look to continue relationships with outside agencies, including the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office that has a satellite office here on Main Street; the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, which has increased its patrol within the city; and the US Marshals Service – a new agreement has been signed for 2016 that will allow a liaison to be connected to police station. The agreement allows for assistance with regard to additional patrols and vehicles.

Forging a renewal of the relationship with the Federal Bureau of Investigation is also on the list of goals.

“It’s something that had gone to the wayside due to staffing but we look forward to reestablishing it during the upcoming year,” Salerno said.

“Until the city is no longer associated with crime, our job is not done,” he said.

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