Monday, September 29, 2008

Hellwig Cites Crime Responses

In an impromptu presentation to the City Council Monday, Public Safety Director/Police Director Martin Hellwig offered explanations of police response to recent shootings.

Hellwig said the fatal shooting that took place last Wednesday (even as the council was in session) and two subsequent shootings were believed to be related. The homicide is being investigated by the Union County Prosecutor's Office's new Homicide Task Force, which includes two Plainfield officers. The other two shootings are being investigated by Operation Ceasefire, an initiative that treats all shootings as potential homicides.

The Police Division set up its Mobile Command Center at Fourth Street and Plainfield Avenue after the three shootings to reassure residents of the effort to restore public safety.

A fourth new shooting is believed to be gang-related, Hellwig said, and may be the work of the Latin Kings.

Hellwig stressed that all the shootings were targeted to individuals and did not represent a threat to the public at large.

"We're doing everything within our power," he said .

Hellwig said all available police were being assigned to street duty at this time.

The Police Division is working with school officials to ensure safety, he said.

Hellwig said he is confident that through Operation Ceasefire, the most recent shooting will soon be solved.

--Bernice Paglia

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