Gov. Christie Hails Crime Drop in Camden

NJ.com reports that Gov. Christie is hailing the crime drop in Camden under its new consolidated county-wide police department:

Just before Christie’s comments, the county police metro division — which took over sole responsibility for public safety in Camden from the former city force in May 2013 — released a report stating total crime in the city decreased 9 percent from the first five months of 2013 compared to the first five months of 2014. Compared to the same time period in 2012, these first five months of 2014 represent a 25 percent violent crime decrease, police said.

According to the report, Jan. 1 through May 31 saw 23 murders in 2012, compared to 20 murders during the same five months in 2013, and 16 murders during the that time period in 2014.

The stats also show a decrease in rape, from 36 reported instances from Jan. 1 to May 31 in 2012, to 20 during the same months in 2013, to 17 as of the end of last month this year.

 “It’s too early to declare victory, but there have been results,” Christie said. What will Camden do if it can no longer be represented, alongside Detroit, as the epitome of American despair?