Newark, NJ – October 28, 2011 – Mayor Cory A. Booker, Police Director Samuel A. DeMaio, and Police Chief Sheilah A. Coley offered tips to residents today to help them enjoy a safe Halloween on Monday, October 31, and also reminded residents that the City will enforce the Curfew Ordinance upon unaccompanied minors aged 18 and below, who are more than 100 yards from their residence between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

 

“It is important for residents to be safety-conscious at all times to prevent hazardous situations, particularly on Halloween night, when more children are out on our streets making their rounds to get holiday treats. I encourage all of our residents to follow the safety tips provided by our Police Department to ensure that Halloween is a fun time for everyone,” said Mayor Booker.

 

“During the Halloween festivities, children should be accompanied and closely monitored by a parent or a responsible adult. However, we will ensure that there is ample police presence in the neighborhoods to abate any safety issues that may arise. Just be aware that officers will also be enforcing the city’s curfew ordinance,” said Police Director DeMaio.

 

Director DeMaio gave a list of safety tips, as follows:

 

 

Newark City Ordinance, 20:2-4, Curfew for Minors, states it shall be unlawful for any minor under the age of 18 years to loiter within the confines of the City or to be more than 100 yards from his or her place of residence between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.  The provisions of this ordinance do not apply to any minor accompanied by his or her parent, guardian or other adult person having care of custody of the minor, or when the minor is upon an emergency errand required to preserve the life of a person. It also excludes minors who are traveling to and from work, extracurricular school activities, activities sponsored by religious or community-based organizations and other cultural educational and social events.

 

Any juvenile found to be in violation of the ordinance along with the parent or guardian will be issued a written warning that will be kept on file with the Police Department for a period of six months. A second infraction during that period will result in the arrest of the juvenile. If within six months from the second infraction the juvenile is found in violation of the ordinance, the juvenile and the parent or guardian will be summonsed to appear in court before a judge. Fines can range from $100 to $1,000.

 

 

Since the program began police have received more than 4,100 calls and paid out more than $84,000 in reward money resulting in more than 260 arrests, the recovery of 106 guns, and the confiscation of more than $250,000 worth of illegal narcotics. The impact of these initiatives has also been seen in Newark experiencing an overall 21 percent crime rate reduction since 2006, with a 46 percent drop in shootings. In 2008, Newark gained recognition for leading the nation in violent crime reduction. In March 2010, the City saw its first homicide-free calendar month since 1966.

 

More than 1,100 officers make up the Newark Police Department, making it the largest municipal department in the State of New Jersey. This November, the Department is scheduled to open its new 5^th Precinct in the South Ward, a state-of-the-art 75,000-square-foot facility that will include the City’s Office of Emergency Management. The Department also received a $1 million grant earlier this year to provide for a specialized vehicle that can read license plates numbers.

 

Anyone with information about any crime in Newark is urged to call the Department’s 24-hour “Crime Stoppers” anonymous tip line at 877 NWK-TIPS (877 695-8477) or 877 NWK-GUNS (877 695-4867). Tips leading to arrests and indictments could result in cash rewards of up to $2,000 to the person who provides the information or $1,000 per gun for calls into the gun hot line.

 

 

Contact:         Newark Press Information Office – (973) 733-8004

-NEWARK –

Newark, commonly referred to as Brick City, is the third oldest city in the United States and the largest in New Jersey, with a population of more than 280,000 people. Newark sits on one of the nation’s largest transportation super-structures including an international airport, major commuter and freight rail lines, major highway intersections and the busiest seaport on the east coast.

 

With a new Administration as of July 2006, Newark continues to see signs of a strong revival. Its population showed growth in the most recent census. Its six major colleges and universities are further expanding their presence. The rate of production of affordable housing has doubled, and new businesses are moving in. There is still much work to be done but Newark is on its way to achieving its mission: to set a national standard for urban transformation.

 

For more information on the City of Newark, please visit our website at www.ci.newark.nj.us

 

 

SITE MAP  |  SECURITY AND PRIVACY POLICY
© Copyright 2004-2009 City of Newark, NJ. All rights reserved.
920 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102 (973) 733-6400