Cherry Hill to discuss community policing

By ADAM SMELTZ
Courier-Post Staff

Seeking to make Cherry Hill residents the eyes and ears of local law enforcement, township officers today will host a public meeting on community policing.

The community-policing unit -- about a half-dozen neighborhood officers -- aims to strengthen communication among the township neighborhoods and the municipal police force, authorities said.

Police want residents to feel comfortable in calling the neighborhood officers with nonemergency concerns, observations and ideas. The approach, designed as a partnership of sorts, is meant to avert crises and reduce crime, said Police Chief Charlie Jones.

And "it frees up time for officers on the street to answer (emergency) calls," Jones said.

At the meeting tonight, police will explain the concept of community policing and local crime-prevention strategies, according to a prepared statement.

Officers on hand also will address all concerns raised by the residents there, the police department reported. Problems best suited for community-policing officers can include chronically loud neighbors or pets, zoning complaints and other issues, police said.

The session, open to all Cherry Hill residents, is expected to be larger than neighborhood-specific gatherings that the township police have hosted in the past.