Quality of life crackdown is exactly what NJ needs: #BlueFriday

Today's #BlueFriday honoree is the Director of Public Safety in Newark, Anthony Ambrose.

Newark is a dangerous place as you know. Decades of failed leadership and increasing crime have hurt local residents. For many years I've been talking about solutions. One of those practical solutions is the effectiveness of "discretionary policing." This idea is based on the tremendous success of Rudy Giuliani in NYC basing law enforcement on the "Broken Windows" theory.

In Newark, Ambrose and Mayor Baraka seem to have adopted some of these policing policies, at least to the extent that they are focused on the 'Quality of Life Crackdown' for Newark residents.

For four days they conducted a crackdown in the West and Central wards arresting 18 suspects and stopping more than 100 vehicles and checking locations for criminal activities. This is a big change from the reactionary policing waiting for 911 to be called. This is a step in the direction of crime prevention instead of simply catching the criminals after the act. We're seeing similar police success in Camden and in Atlantic City whee crime is also on the decline.

I'll keep bringing you the stories of brave police officers serving our communities every Friday. Thanks to the leadership of Director Ambrose there are families breathing a bit easier in Newark over the weekend.