NEWARK POLICE TASK FORCE PLANS ATTACK ON DRUGS, GANGS

A special task force of 200 Newark police officers fanned Friday to
combat gang violence and drug sales in areas of the city where
residents have complained about a poor quality of life.

The officers, during roll call at the department's command center,
were told by Police Chief Anthony Ambrose that they should get to know
the community, make arrests when needed and gather as much information
to determine how many gangs there are in the city.

"Make it safer," Ambrose said. "We have a drug problem. When you see
them sneakers on the wires (drug dealers throw sneakers over a utility
line to advertise a drug location), make sure we have them removed,
make sure we stay in the area. When we go in, make sure we stabilize
the area."

Newark Mayor Sharpe James said the city should continue its efforts
decrease crime, which is down 54 percent in the last five years, while
people are reinvesting in Newark by purchasing new homes.

"We heard the hue and cry from our citizens and today we're going to
take action," James said. "We're going to clean up our streets. We're
going to clean up our neighborhoods. We're going to prove that the
investment the citizens have made is a wise one."

Implementation of the task force comes on the heels of 112 officers
joining the department in December. Later this month, Ambrose said. 75
to 100 recruits will join the academy. He said the task force will
start out with 200 officers on the streets each day, but then be
scaled back to 75 officers a day, working seven days a week.

Newark Council President Donald Bradley praised the department for the
initiative.

"We know about the war on terrorism, but here in the city of Newark
we're going to have a war on drug activity," Bradley said. "We're
going to have a war on gang activity."

In addition to having officers on the street, the department is going
into the schools with a program - Greater Resistance Education and
Training - to steer kids away from gangs. Ambrose said the department
also has plans to meet with probation and corrections officials to
find out when inmates, who belong to a gang, are getting out of jail.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office, which also has a gang task
force, has pledged its support and will share information with the
police department.

Police officials and city officials called on the public for its
support to improve their community. They encouraged people to call
(888) NPD- PUSH with drug information and (888) NOGUNS2 with
information about guns.