CHIEF OF POLICE - Montclair Township

FROM THE OFFICE OF THECHIEF OF POLICEI am proud to present to you the Montclair Police Department’s 2007 Annual Report. Early inthe year the Police Department was faced with the challenge of dealing with an increase in violentcrime. Through the use of technology, directed staffing deployments, and crime analysis we havebeen able to close the year with a 19.5% reduction in total crime as reflected in the FBI’s UniformCrime Report Index. This represents a forty year low crime rate for our community. Thesignificance of this reduction cannot be overstated in a time of reduced resources and tightbudgets.I am extremely proud of all the police officers of this Department and all that they haveaccomplished in order to keep our community safe. It is a difficult job and I am very grateful fortheir efforts.2007 was marked by significant advancements in the Police Department’s use of technologyand in our community policing programs. We have installed and are now monitoring remotecrime cameras which have been strategically placed in high-incident locations. Plans have beendeveloped to add additional cameras in designated areas. The Montclair Police Department hasalso upgraded its in-car video systems. The new digital systems provide for much greater imagequality and reliability. In addition, a regional computer photo identity program has beenimplemented to help our investigators quickly identify criminal offenders. Finally, the PoliceDepartment has expanded the capabilities of our Identification Bureau by allowing for moreeffective collection and identification of crime scene evidence through the use of technology.Our Community Policing Bureau (CPB) has once again hosted the Junior Police Academy, theCitizens Police Academy, and National Night Out. The CPB has also conducted numerousneighborhood forums addressing various topics including: neighborhood crime concerns, quality oflife issues, traffic safety, block watch meetings, and home/business crime prevention inspections.The CPB’s DARE and GREAT programs in the elementary and middle schools have beentremendously successful and continue to be well received, as has the School Resource OfficerProgram at Montclair High School.Although, as Chief of Police, I am very pleased with our accomplishments, I know there is stillmuch to be done. The tremendous growth Montclair has experienced recently has createdchallenges to which the Police Department must respond. Included among these challenges is asignificant increase in motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic, providing proper police coverage in ourgrowing and vibrant business centers, and maintaining a police omnipresence to ensure ourresidents feel safe. Other important issues that will require our continued attention includeunderage drinking and impaired driving as well as gang activity,drug use, school safety, and youth violence.The Montclair Police Department has had some great successthis past year and will continue to work hard to address thechallenges that lie ahead. As you will see in the following pages,the Montclair Police Department offers a great deal of qualityprograms for our youth and our community in addition to the moretraditional role of crime fighting. You will be hard pressed to find afiner service oriented department in the state.David P. SabaghChief of Police