Statewide crackdown on gangs has led to more than 1,800 arrests
More than $4 million in illegal narcotics seized


By Ed Johnson • STAFF WRITER • December 9, 2008




TRENTON — Flanked by other top law officers in the state, New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram reported today that a statewide anti-gang initiative had made strong inroads in a campaign to target the most violent criminals.

Thus far, authorities have made 1,844 arrests and seized more than $4 million in illegal narcotics through what Milgram called a systematic and synchronized effort by federal, state and local authorities.

An example of the initiative's effectiveness can be gauged by crime statistics that show the state is on track to see the second straight year where there will be a decline in both homicides and violent crimes overall, said Jose Cordero, the statewide director of gangs, guns and violent crime control strategies.

The anti-gang operations began in March with efforts to gather intelligence across the state and then map out operational plans with each of the state's 21 county prosecutors. By year's end, coordinated operations will have occurred in 19 of the state's 21 counties, Milgram said.

Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin said the state operations dovetailed with his office's gang task force, an amalgam of county and municipal police that has worked to stem gang activity since 2006.

"These efforts ensure that our communities are safe," Valentin said. "But most importantly we have to credit the citizens of our communities who provide law enforcement with information on gang activities and have the courage to come forward and testify in court."

Ocean County Prosecutor Marlene Lynch Ford, whose office has just convicted three men in a gang-related murder case out of Lakewood, said Ocean County has recently reorganized its Narcotics Strike Force with an eye toward gang investigations.

"We were already moving toward these coordinated investigations when the statewide initiative began," she said.

Milgram said the present successes do not mean that law officers can relax. Rather, they need to catch their collective breath and tackle such problems as gang activities in the prisons and indications that formerly bitter gangland enemies like the Crips and the Bloods have now formed alliances.

Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow said a recently completed investigation in her county found the rival gangs had cooperated together on a major drug operation there.

The statewide initiative, which had teamed state troopers and investigators with county prosecutors and federal agents, will now look to computer analyses to bolster its effectiveness, Milgram said.

The state plans to unveil a "gangstat" reporting program, similar to the compstat model the New York Police used to move resources to the areas of the city where they were most needed, Milgram said.

Locally, the coordinated efforts have resulted in gang arrests in Asbury Park, Freehold, Howell, Marlboro and Neptune in Monmouth County and Barnegat, Berkeley, Brick, Lakewood, Little Egg Harbor, Seaside Heights, Stafford, South Toms River and Toms River in Ocean County, officials said.

Statewide, investigators said the initiative has helped clear 17 homicides and prevented three others.

In addition, state records show that 22 assault weapons were among the 162 guns seized along with $857,769 in cash.

It's just a beginning, Cordero, the statewide coordinator said.

"We can never claim victory if our citizens don't feel safe to run errands in their neighborhoods, or don't feel safe to let their children out to play, which is why this is just the start," Milgram said. "Let me put the drug dealers and gun traffickers on notice: We are in this for the long haul."

"People have a right to be safe. They have a right to send their children out to play or to go to school without the fear of gang violence," Valentin said. "That's what this is all about."






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