The spring session allowed residents to pose questions to police.
CAMDEN -- Six months after a community forum allowed Camden City residents to put questions to the Camden County Police Department, the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice has released the CCPD's answers.
The April event, held in conjunction with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General and the NAACP, aimed to "create space in which members of the community can safely share ideas and create plans for community action," organizers said.
The social justice institute, which county officials said requested the meeting, did not wish to comment on the answers provided by the CCPD. It remains unclear why the responses were released six months after the forum was held.
Camden County Spokesman Dan Keashen said the gathering "provides us with an excellent opportunity to have dialogue with residents on violent crime and their quality of life."
Below are popular topics raised by residents during the session and the police department's responses to them.
Question: How is the police department handling staffing, turnover and diversity issues?
Answer: As of Oct. 4, the department was staffed by 327 officers but was funded for 441. There had been a total of 151 resignations from the force and 36 retirements as of late August. The CCPD is "working diligently" to recruit officers, including identifying minority candidates, through job fairs and recruiting trips.
The department has also added 62 Special Law Enforcement Officers while awaiting the permanent Camden County hiring list from the Civil Service Commission.
Question: Where does the police-worn body camera issue currently stand?
Answer: The CCPD's policy on body cameras was approved this past June. It mandates that all uniformed officers will wear cameras while on-duty and performing police functions.
Information on the CCPD's body-worn camera program can be found here: https://policingproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/CCPD-Special-Order-2016-014-BWC.pdf.
Question: When will recordings made with a body-worn camera be released?
Answer: Courts will often decide when the public's need to view a video outweighs ongoing criminal investigations. It does not matter if the recordings place officers in a "good or bad light," police said in response to a resident's question.
New Jersey's body-worn camera policy can be found here: http://www.state.nj.us/lps/dcj/agguide/directives/2015-1_BWC.pdf.
Neighborhood becomes cops' eyes and ears
Question: What became of the Police Data Initiative and what is the possibility of civilian oversight?
Answer: The CCPD is working with "leading government scientists" and a private vendor to create its own computer-aided dispatch and records management system.
Question: Will a civilian board for oversight be created?
Answer: The CCPD said it has "no plans" to create such an entity in Camden, adding that the New Jersey Attorney General Guidelines outlines a review process for all internal affairs matters.
The New Jersey Attorney General's Office directive on police-involved shootings can be found here: http://www.state.nj.us/lps/dcj/agguide/directives/2006-5_SRT_OIS.pdf.
Camden County police talk turnover
Question: How can Camden youth be protected from violence and gang activity?
Answer: The "vast majority" of Camden City shootings are personal disputes, even if those involved have gang ties. As for helping city youth, CCPD is working to create an environment where people can speak freely and not feel threatened by police.
The Camden City Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Strategic Plan can be found here: http://www.ci.camden.nj.us/wp-content/flyers/camdencityforumplan2013.pdf.
Camden City and the CCPD are part of the National Youth Forum. Information on that effort is available here: http://youth.gov/youth-topics/preventing-youth-violence/forum-communities/camden.
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find NJ.com on Facebook.