The Daily News: Camden names top cops in crime battle

By JASON NARK (Philadelphia Daily News) narkj@phillynews.com 856-779-3231

Camden resident Ronald Evans sat on a park bench outside the city's police headquarters yesterday holding a small sign. It read:

Are you going to have another plan in 6 months?

Inside, New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram was unveiling the latest law-enforcement plan aimed at making Camden - twice named America's most-dangerous city - safe.

Milgram's plan starts at the top, with Camden Deputy Chief Scott Thomson, a 14-year department veteran, taking the helm as chief, and the appointment of a new civilian Police Director in Louis Vega, a former deputy to Miami Police Chief John Timoney, a former Philadelphia top cop.

Thomson and Vega will be in charge of overhauling the department, of requiring nearly all of the city's 414 officers to be out on patrols, and of aggressively targeting crime and problem areas.

"This plan will work," Milgram said.

She said that the Camden Community Safety Initiative will more than triple the number of officers on the streets. They'll be supplemented with state police helicopters, a so-called Comp-Stat (collecting and analyzing enforcement data) program designed to help police map high-crime areas, and more technology such as laptops for patrol cars.

The key, Milgram said, is for the department to become more active than reactive.

"Today we had our 34th homicide and 100th shooting," she said. "Despite our best efforts, the rate of violence is alarming. Doing more of the same is not an option."

While some major crimes, such as aggravated assault and robbery are down, overall crime in Camden is up more than 8 percent from this time last year. Rapes have increased more than 50 percent, and murders are at a record pace.

Thomson, 36, said that he plans to work with Vega, Milgram and surrounding law-enforcement agencies to make the plan succeed.

"My mission isn't going to be to do it, it's going to be 'follow me,' " said the married father of two.

Vega, 64, was raised in the South Bronx and spent 30 years with the NYPD. He admitted that he hasn't had much time to get to know Camden, but said that making the city safer isn't an insurmountable task.

"This department has what is necessary to get the job done," he said.

Thomson replaces Chief Edward Hargis, who resigned July 18, after less than six months, for a job in the private sector.

Yesterday's announcement marked the sixth change in leadership of the Camden cops since the Attorney General's Office began monitoring the department in 2003.

Back outside, Ronald Evans and representatives from Camden Churches Organized for People said that Hargis and Carmelo Huertas Jr., former civilian police director, had just been starting to rebuild the department's relationship with the community.

The church group, which claimed that it wasn't allowed into Milgram's news conference, questioned whether another regime change and the latest in a series of anti-crime initiatives would make inroads.

"We've had so many plans before," said Evans, a lifelong resident. "Only time will tell if this plan works. God knows I hope it will."

Cat super highway

Congratulations, Patrick!

Our friend, Patrick, recently bought a sweet townhouse in Virginia. Last weekend, we had the opportunity to go do to VA and celebrate all the great things that have happened since he got back from Afghanistan less than a year ago -- getting a great job, dating a superb gal and purchasing his first home. Rock on, Patrick and Carrie! We are blessed to have such wonderful friends.

Newest Addition to the Family

Yes, we now have a piano in our dinning room. A 100-buck-Craig's-List-found-slightly-out-of-tune-but-all-the-keys-work piano. It's awesome and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to plunk around on it whenever I want. It makes me appreciate all of those piano lessons as a kid. (Thanks, Mom and Dad!)

Independence and Kloders!

Due to last minute vacation rescheduling, we ended up staying in Philadelphia for the 4th of July. A day at the beach (including a fun dinner with David and Jess!), a few projects around the house and lots of lazing about together made for a fun extended weekend of vacation time.

Due to all the rain, we enjoyed our picnic dinner under a big umbrella before the official Philadelphia fireworks over the Art Museum:

Once Joshua came back from California, we finished up the flower boxes and were able to plant our tomatoes and some climbing plants just in time for Kate and Neal to visit us from Pittsburgh. It was SO MUCH FUN having them stay with us. I feel so blessed to have a bunch of close friends who are so well-rounded, funny and entertaining. Moreover, Kate and Neal are the easiest guest ever that we were teasing that we should write them a thank you note after they left.

It was nice to break in the backyard with them ... and shoot off some fireworks in the street in front of our house, too.

Then on Saturday, we had some close family and friends over for a big brunch to celebrate Kate's graduation from her pediatric residency program and Joshua's promotion. We really appreciate all the support we have in our lives. Joshua and Padre really seemed to enjoy the espressos Matt made for everyone.

File Under: Why Not

Our attempt at making Joshua's face like an anchor while transitioning between a full beard and clean-shaven:





(Ha ha ha ... I can't believe we count as adults!)

While Joshua was in California for a work conference and his grandfather's funeral, I have had a busy week and a half.

Mid-work week I was able to go camping and kayaking on the Delaware River at the Delaware Water Gap. Since the company where I am interning (DVRPC) works on transportation and environmental projects in the area, they make an investment in staff development to do some field work (or, in this case, field enjoyment) in the counties where the mapping and analysis is performed. I had the opportunity to share a double kayak with Victoria, the undergraduate intern who has been teaching me everything she knows about cartography -- which is a lot! I would be lost without her and feel like I should be paying her tuition for all that she is teaching me. Good thing Victoria and I share a desk and I'm a quick learner because otherwise this internship might have been a bust. Anyway, the camping and kayaking trip was great and the scenery was beautiful.



On Saturday, I was able to attend the wedding of two close friends -- Robin and Bobby (known to us as Bobbin!). They used to live one floor below us when we were in an apartment on 4th Street in Philly. Greatest guys ever. Bobby has recently become my running partner and Robin often hooks us up with tickets to opera performances or tips regarding good theater events.

Their wedding was beautiful and I cried for most of the service. The reception was a delight -- they have TONS of physical theater actor friends who were the greatest/most interesting dancers. Too fun to watch. I had a difficult time dancing because I was laughing so hard. I felt very honored that we were invited to their wedding because it was evident that they attract really great people.

I love this picture of their cake-cutting! Side note: A few weeks ago, we had them over for dinner directly after they had their cake-tasting, so we had the opportunity to eat 10+ of the wedding cupcake's trial versions. Yum!


This week I also managed to make large flower boxes for the backyard. They are painted Superman blue to match with the orange wall. Awesome. (Photos coming soon....)