NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Violent crime is following a downward trend in Camden. Officials released data on the first half of 2025, and the numbers are at lows not seen in nearly 50 years.
So far this year, there have been seven homicides, down from 10 last year at this time, and the total number of recorded violent incidents is 445, down from 484 last year, which was the safest year in decades.
Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen says this is further proof that what they are doing is working.
“The empowerment of feeling we are all in this together is there. And it makes you work and go even harder for the community. Since I’ve been here, communication has been there, and that’s just a collaboration of no egos,” he said.
Carstarphen says residents are buying in, and the police department continues to build trust in the community, which he says is a big reason for the improvements.
“With community, you can’t be one-offs, you do something and you don’t stay committed to it because residents, people see through that. You gotta be consistent, you gotta be optimistic in what you’re doing,” he said.
Carstarphen says there is still a lot of work to be done, and he plans to keep chugging along one day at a time.
“We’re pushing through. We’re just trying to wake up every day and be better.”