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In response to concerns from residents about speeding and parking issues, the Asbury Park Police Department has made an effort to increase their patrol division’s awareness in the city, according to Police Chief Mark Kinmon.

Before the start of the New Year, Capt. Anthony Salerno was shifted to lead the patrol division and Capt. Marshawn Love was moved to head up the investigative unit, he said.

“Capt. Salerno is doing patrol now, and part of it is being more productive of traffic enforcement as a whole,” Kinmon said.

Issues among concern include residents and business owners parking on sidewalks, especially in the Memorial Drive corridor, and general speeding along major thoroughfares like Main Street, Asbury Park’s major north-to-south artery, and along Third, Fourth and Fifth avenues, which run east-to-west.

“We’re trying to pay attention to those areas as much as we can,” Kinmon said. “Tony isn’t changing the world here, but he is ensuring traffic squads are doing their part in a more concerted effort to address traffic-related problems.”

Kinmon did not have actual numbers available, but said patrol units have upped the amount of traffic-related summonses issued since the start of last year. Things to keep in mind to avoid a ticket are to remain mindful of the speed limit and, simply, don’t double park, he said.

“It is easy to get on fourth avenue and go faster, but be mindful of the fact that there is a 25 mph speed limit,” he said.

An additional 12 special officers will assist the department’s policing efforts over the summer season and five regular officers are expected to be hired within the coming months, he said. The five officers come through a Community Oriented Policing Services grant Senator Pallone’s office announced in September.

The department is under a mandate from the state to hire officers that have been laid off, but since none of the officers on the list are located in the local area they will turn to the residents on the civil service list, he said.

Hiring officers from the list of those laid off provides a quicker turnaround for the department, since the majority of those on the civil service list have no formal training and must first attend the police academy, he said.

The next academy starts Aug. 4 and puts the potential officers on track to graduate by Dec. 18, according to Tom Collow, training officer at the Monmouth County Police Academy.

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