MONROE – Citing Monroe’s low crime rate and the preventative measures taken by the police to educate residents, Monroe was named the 61st Safest City in America and the 15th Safest City in New Jersey by the private security company SafeWise.
“We are honored to be named among the safest cities in America,” Mayor Gerald W. Tamburro said in a statement released by the township. “For many years, Monroe has maintained low crime, which is a testament to our proactive Police Department and the good work they do, as well as the many services and programs we provide to all members of the community.”
SafeWise, a community-focused safety organization committed to increasing home and community safety, education, awareness, and preparedness, released its annual 100 Safest Cities in America Report on April 18. According to the company, SafeWise analysts considered the most recent FBI crime data from 2014 to rank these cities, which all have a minimum population of 10,000 people.
The report praised the Police Department’s special senior citizen crime prevention officer who is in charge of keeping older adults safe from crime through education and advocacy.
“We feel it is important to protect all of our citizens, including those who need it the most, and that is not just our seniors,” Tamburro said. “We just held our L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs) graduations at the middle school. Our officers have been teaching in the schools for many years, and the long-running cooperative effort with the school district is aimed at keeping our children educated about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse and reducing crime.”
Furthermore, each August the Police Department holds its annual National Night Out event in Thompson Park. The gathering provides residents with an opportunity to meet one-on-one with police and other first responders to strengthen the relationship between the community, police and other emergency management personnel. The annual event provides a fun environment with games and presentations that engage children in a fun way, while educating them about the dangers of drugs, drinking and driving, safe bicycle riding practices and so much more, according to the statement.
This year’s event is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Aug. 2.
“It always nice to be honored for hard work, especially when the honors come unsolicited by a private company,” Tamburro said. “Chief Michael Lloyd and the Monroe Township Police Department should be commended for their continuous efforts to keep Monroe among the safest towns in the state. Through their efforts, the police will continue to forge relationships with our residents and help keep Monroe a great place to live, raise a family and retire.”