Following a trend of decreased murders in Atlantic City in recent years, in the first week of 2024, there have been four homicides, two of them due to gun violence. City of Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr. called a Wednesday morning news conference to reassure the public the city is responding appropriately, and to urge the Atlantic City community to join the fight against violence. Mayor Small was joined by Chief of the Atlantic City Police Department James Sarkos, members of the city’s One Neighborhood Evolution Anti-Violence program, and members of the city’s recently formed Reentry Services division.

 

The Police Department will be intensifying police presence in the neighborhoods affected by recent violence, while increasing minimum staffing levels and continue collaborating with public safety partners in ongoing operations. To further aid public safety efforts, the installation of 1,000 state-of-the-art camera lenses in more than 200 locations throughout Atlantic City, with a focus on city neighborhoods, is currently happening. This project is expected to enhance public safety, reduce crime and increase police emergency response. The city was also recently awarded a $3.75-million Community Oriented Policing Services (C.O.P.S.) Hiring Grant that will bring 30 additional officers on board this year.

 

In 2021, the city formed the One Neighborhood Evolution Anti-Violence program, under the leadership of Director Floyd Tally, to integrate themselves in the community and educate individuals, particularly youth, on violence prevention through personal experience as a proactive approach. One Neighborhood Evolution is calling for a community movement to band all of Atlantic City together to reduce violence. In 2023, the city formed the Atlantic City Reentry Services division, focused on creating plans for formally incarcerated individual’s reentry into the community. Reentry Services have been working hand-in-hand in collaboration with One Neighborhood Evolution to reduce violence in Atlantic City. Both divisions are located in the Carnegie Library at 35 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd in Atlantic City and invite anyone in the community to come in to discuss further resolutions.

 

This Saturday, January 13th, One Neighborhood Evolution hosting a Peace Walk beginning at O’Donnell Park at 11:00am and ending at City Hall. This is open to anybody in the public.