In 1999, Director Charles Niedbalski of the Edgewater Park Twp. Police Department, decided to integrate a new Unit into the Police Department. This Unit would be assigned to assist the Police Department in working with problems from within the community that deal with issues concerning:
- Improving relationships with the public and dealing with certain "quality of life" issues that concern the residents of the Township of Edgewater Park.
- Improving relationships with local businesses and assisting the owners of local businesses to increase levels of security, train employeees as to how to handle emergency situations, assist the Police Department with investigations, and improving the overall outlook that the Township presents to present and future business prospects.
Director Niedbalski assigned Lt. Di Filippo to attend the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's (F.L.E.T.C.) Community Policing Instructors Program. Upon completion of the program, Sgt. Di Filippo was assignemd to be the Community Policing Coordinator and to come up with new programs and initiatives to the assist the Police Department and Township with its new Community Policing Goals. In other words, the Community Policing Unit should work with the Citizens and Community Leaders within the Township to identify problems and attempt to create solutions. These Community Policing Principles recognize that Police work is not an "isolated activity" performed in a social vacuum. Even traditional Police work, including preventative patrol, rapid response, and apprehending offenders, cannot be performed well iwthout the regular cooperation of ordinary citizens.
Over the past six years, Edgewater Park's Community Policing Unit has the responsibility for overseeing the present DARE Program, School Adopt-A-Cop Program, and Neighborhood Watch Programs. In addition to these programs, the Unit has created, and oversees, several new programs which have been created over the past six years since the Community Policing Unit's inception. These programs include; the School Safety Program, the B.E.S.T. Business Program, the Domestic Violence Response Team, the Helmets for Kids Program, the Community Outreach Program, and the upcoming Bicycle Patrol Unit.
The Edgewater Park Twp. Police Department is not one of the largest, in size, Police Department's in the State of New Jersey. This Department, however, prides itself in being able to offer many services and programs to its community that are not offered by even the largest of Police Departments that have more resources. We realize that our most important resources are the citizens and Community Leaders within our Township. Through these, and future programs, the Edgewater Park Twp. Police Department will continue to develop a closer relationship with its community and will also continue to provide the most professional and expertly completed Police services within our abilities.
If you have any questions about the Programs offered by the Edgewater Park Township Police Department's Community Policing Unit, or would like more information about any of our programs, please feel free to contact Lt. Gene J.
Di Filippo at any time. He can be reached through the Edgewater Park Twp. Police Department at (609) 877-4404.
