Mayor Warren: Driving down crime in Orange
The Big Idea:
● Over the last six years, the city of Orange Township has seen lower crime rates and better police-community relationships through concerted efforts from the Department of Public Safety and Police Department.
● To improve safety and increase a sense of community, the township has increased the number of walking and bike patrols, created more mentorship and sports programs to engage at-risk youth, and hosted special events like pop-up block parties and community resource fairs.
● The effort has worked to drive down crime rates – with violent crime down by 20% and overall crime by 4% in 2022.
Background:
As Orange has evolved as a city throughout the years, it’s experienced various phases of crime and social transition, says Mayor Dwayne D. Warren, Esq, who has spearheaded the township’s efforts to reduce crime.
An additional way Mayor Warren and the city have reduced crime throughout the years is through the use of Automatic License Plate Readers, which can help police by identifying motor vehicles that may have been involved in past crimes.
While reducing crime has been a major focus, another focus has been bringing community members and the police department together through events such as the National Night Out, which happens annually on the first Tuesday in August.
Fun Fact:
According to the city’s Policy Department, Orange City experienced a 79% crime reduction in 2019, the township’s lowest crime rate in 30 years.
Their Take:
Mayor Dwayne Warren
“To combat crime, we’ve also focused on understanding the needs of those coming out of incarceration, providing opportunities for jobs and training, and involving the community in reporting crime.”
