Paterson Police Department Announces Decline in Crime Over the Summer Months Following Summer Strategy for Public Safety

Paterson – Officer in Charge Isa Abbassi today announced that summer crime is down in Paterson following the implementation of the Summer Crime and Quality of Life Strategy. With support from Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, along with state and local public safety partners, the strategy increases police presence and communication with the community to increase overall safety in the city. Since the commencement of the summer violence initiative on Memorial Day, shooting incidents have declined 48.1% as compared to the same period in 2022.

In the 28-day period ending August 13th, Paterson saw a 75% decrease in shooting incidents compared to the same period in 2022. This contributes to the 27.4% decrease in shooting incidents in the year to date with 45 shootings in 2023 and 62 in 2022. Paterson also saw declines in other major violent crime categories in the 28-day period:

• There were no murders compared with 2 in 2022.
• Robbery decreased 48.9% (23 vs. 45).
• Aggravated assault decreased 9.4% (87 vs. 96).

“This data demonstrates that the strategies we have put in place are lowering crime and improving public safety in the city of Paterson,” said Officer in Charge Abbassi. “People on the street stop our officers to thank them or let them know they are able to go outside and walk around their neighborhoods without fear. I want to thank the men and women of the Paterson Police Department for their dedication and vigilance in making Paterson a safer place for every resident and visitor.”

The Summer Strategy was made possible by Attorney General Platkin’s ongoing commitment to Paterson through the allocation of State resources, personnel, technology, and nearly $1 million dollars in additional summer funding. It was implemented Memorial Day and will continue through Labor Day, the period in which most major cities see an increase in criminal activity, specifically violent crimes. Highlights of the plan include a violence reduction initiative, in which Paterson Police Officers provide additional coverage to dedicated hot spots, and the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, in which police resources are positioned to reclaim and revitalize portions of the community that have been challenged by significant public safety and quality of life concerns.

“Even when the summer months end we will continue implementing new plans and strategies to further our mission of creating a safer Paterson. I would like to thank Attorney General Matthew Platkin and the State of New Jersey for their continued support and funding to the Paterson Police Department since the supersession in late March,” Abbassi added. “There is still a lot of work to be done in this city and we are far from finished but this data shows we are headed in the right direction.”

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