Camden Police Department (New Jersey)

Camden Police Department
Abbreviation CPD
Agency overview
Dissolved 2013
Superseding agency Camden County Police Department
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction Camden, New Jersey, USA
Size 11.4 square miles (30 km2)
Population 77,344
General nature • Local civilian agency
Headquarters Camden, New Jersey

Agency executive
  • Scott Thomson, Chief of Police
Website
Camden Police site

The Camden Police Department (CPD) was the primary law enforcement agency in Camden, New Jersey. It consisted of 460 police officers, and was the second-largest police force in southern New Jersey after Atlantic City.

From 2005 to 2012, the State of New Jersey operated the department. It ceased operations effective May 1, 2013, when the Camden County Police Department Metro Division, and only division, took over full responsibility for policing the city of Camden.[1]

Crime in Camden

Camden consistently ranks among the cities in the United States with the highest crime rate based on FBI statistics. In 2008, Camden had 2,333 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents, compared to the national rate of 455.[2] Camden has been ranked America's "most dangerous city" in 2004, 2005, and 2009 by CQ Press, which ranks cities based on reported murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft data.[2]

Disbandment

On August 2, 2012, the city of Camden and Camden County announced that the department would be disbanded in favor of a new county police department, the Camden County Police Department.[3] The new department took over for the Camden Police Department on May 1, 2013.[4] Like other county-wide police forces in the nation, this new department will be available to any other municipality in the county who wishes to disband its police forces and join the county police district.

Special Operations squad

The Special Operations squad coordinated specialized resources to aid police in daily field activities and special occurrences. The CPD operated the following forces:

  • K-9 Unit
  • S.W.A.T. team
  • Special Victims Unit
  • Domestic Violence Unit
  • Auto Squad
  • Detective Bureau
  • HIDTA
  • Anti-Crime Partnership
  • Marine Bureau
  • Mounted Horse Unit
  • Smash Team Unit
  • Tactical Negotiations Unit (TNT)
  • Patrol Division North
  • Patrol Bureau South
  • Patrol Unit Central

Controversy

Drug enforcement corruption probe

An ongoing federal investigation alleges that former Camden Police Officer Kevin Parry and four other officers planted drugs during illegal searches, pocketed money, and framed suspects.[5] Kevin Parry has pleaded guilty in the case, admitting a role in charges being overturned or dismissed in 185 drug cases.[6]Lawsuit settlements totaling $3.5 million were paid to 88 victims.[7] [8][9]Three other Camden officers, Jason Stetser, Antonio Figaro, and Dan Morris also pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison over the scandal.[10]

Trivia

Its logo looked very similar to that of the NYPD.

References

  1. ↑ "Holdouts lament police transition", Courier-Post, April 28, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Report ranks Camden most dangerous U.S. city, Courier-Post, November 24, 2009.
  3. ↑ , The Star-Ledger, August 2, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Holdouts lament police transition", Courier-Post, April 28, 2013.
  5. ↑ Camden police scandal has widespread consequences, The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 21, 2010.
  6. ↑ Camden Police Corruption Scandal Unraveled, 185 Drug Cases Dropped, Times Newsline, March 20, 2010.
  7. ↑ "185 Camden cases tossed". nypost.com. New York Post. April 3, 2010. Retrieved April 3, 2010.
  8. ↑ "Camden Agrees to Pay $3.5M to Victims of Police Corruption". aclu.org. ACLU. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  9. ↑ "2 NJ officers charged in police corruption case". foxnews.com. Fox News. October 14, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Former Camden cop sentenced to nearly 4 years for conspiracy". nj.com. nj.com. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
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