today is also an important milestone in the city of Camden 10 years ago its Police Department was disbanded and rebuilt from the ground up since then the Camden County police department has been hailed as a model of police reform leading to Sharp Cuts in crime and improved community relations the anniversary is especially significant this year after the State Attorney General's office recent takeover of the Patterson Police Department senior correspondent Joanna gagus reports 2022 there were three thousand less victims of crime in Camden City than there were in 2012. crime is down to a lowest level in 50 years this success isn't by accident we're seeing a reduction in crime because our police force is one that represents our community Camden City and County leaders gathered today to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the transformation of Camden's police department now called the Camden County Metro Police Department we actually dissolved an existing police force created a new one that began on May 1 10 years ago that dissolution included firing the police chief and rebuilding the force to better represent the majority minority community in Camden leaders are lauding the difference in the city today from a decade ago we had a crime rate in murder rate that was higher than the murder rate in some third world Nations we are proud to say that not only has it worked but more importantly crime is down significantly since 2012 and Camden continues to rise and Camden continues to witness record lows and violent and non-violent crime and that indeed deserves a celebration on today residents gave testimony about the differences they've seen in their neighborhoods we could look around and just see the change and feel the change kids were able to play outside we didn't have to fear the sight of drug dealers or drug users or any of those negative activities that we were so used to we spoke to some residents around the community to see if they've experienced the same changes we heard testimony of inside right now I do think the crime rate has died down because me in particular I live on the street uh where it's like 5th Street and that was a lot of crime going on so it's kind of getting more and more safer well there's a lot to celebrate 10 years later you can look around Camden and see there's still much work to be done in a city that has areas of extreme poverty the mayor says policing has to go hand in hand with other community initiatives to keep turning the city around continue getting to having our graduation rates be high as they are unemployment rate is down to an all-time low in the city at six point whatever percent infrastructure streets Road Public Safety discontinue that momentum but over the last 10 years what our Camden County police department has done in the charge of community policing and building that trust and confidence it's been outstanding it's been incredible it's been outstanding and it's been lauded across the country not only lauded but copied now in cities around New Jersey and the nation a crowning achievement for this still struggling City climbing toward a better future for NJ Spotlight news I'm Joanna gagis [Music]