Newark is teaming up with other local municipalities and federal agencies in an effort to keep communities safer this summer.
The initiative to curb a seasonal spike in crime, announced Thursday, comes days after police say a so-called ghost gun was used to shoot a 13-year-old boy at a park near Boyd Street. The teen was rushed to University Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition. Officials confirm an 18-year-old person of interest is now in custody.
“Historically, we see an increase in statewide incidents of shooting between May and September. Last year during these months, there were a total of 500 shootings in the state of New Jersey. That represents 48% of the shootings that year,” said Fritz Fragé, Newark’s public safety director.
The city’s plan includes using intelligence-based policing to patrol areas around the city indicated by data as criminal hot spots. It also includes more community-based programs to prevent crime from happening in the first place.
