Officials in Newark say crime is down to its lowest numbers in nearly five decades. Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose says overall crime is down 15 percent from 2017.
“One key thing is we had one hundred and one less people shot in the cityof Newark in 2018, robberies have decreased thirty five percent in 2018, car jacking’s fifty six percent.”
Mayor Ras Baraka credits much of that reduction to economic development and improvements in community police relations through initiatives like the Newark community street team.
“They’re able to have conversations these guys can't have, they're able to resolve conflict, the police are there when you commit a crime to arrest you,a nd the other guys are there to prosecute you. These guys are there to try to stop you from committing a crime before you do.”
While overall crime is down in New Jersey’s largest city, officials say they have seen a spike in rapes and aggravated assaults.
