State Police To Patrol in Asbury Park

State troopers will help patrol the streets of Asbury Park.

Asbury Park Police cruiser (Asbury Park Police)

Four people have been killed and at least 25 have been wounded in shootings this year.

City Police Chief Mark Kinmon tells the Asbury Park Press around six troopers will focus on high crime areas one to two days a week. “We are hoping that it helps to address some of the ongoing issues that we have had here recently,” Kinmon told the newspaper.. “We will certainly make sure they are aware of the problems and gang activity that we are seeing.” They will focus on "quality of life" issues.

“They have no problem coming and are going to continue to do it as long as they can,” Kinmon told the Asbury Park Sun.

State Police spokesman Lt. Stephen Jones says the patrols will be done as part of the troopers' normal work schedule so they will not incur additional costs.

The police chief says the 83 officers in the department are not enough to address all the city's needs. Kinmon says he would need closer to 100 officers. The department recently received a $625,000 federal grant for five new officers.