In the wake of residents’ concerns about recent robberies and home burglaries in town, Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Corcoran spoke at the April 14 Town Council meeting and tried to curb criticism that the department isn’t doing enough to address these crimes.
Since the beginning of the year, there have been six residential break-ins, with the most recent incident occurring on April 3 in which two women who were home were tied up. There have been several car break-ins as well.
Although the council had promised to bring the chief to its meetings in the past and had met with him in closed session, last Tuesday marked the first time Chief Corcoran addressed residents directly about the break-ins.
The meeting also marked the first time the chief has given details of specific measures the department is taking.
“I really question how they are using the police officers they have,” said resident Pat Belenski prior to Corcoran’s presentation. “They have a senior officer who sits in on the municipal court, and when they start televising [Town Council] meetings, they’re talking about having an officer sit in on the meetings. It seems to me it would be a better use of their time for them to be out on the street patrolling.”
Special unit created
Among the details provided by the police chief was the creation of a Special Police Detail that was established within the Police Department’s Investigation Division. The Special Police Detail was created by Detective Captain John Buckley at Corcoran’s direction in February specifically to address the residential burglaries and thefts, the chief said at the meeting.
“This Police Detail consisted of personnel from both the Uniform Patrol Bureau and the Detective Bureau,” Corcoran said. “Police personnel were assigned to residential neighborhoods and [supplemented] the regularly assigned Uniform Patrol Bureau personnel in those neighborhoods. All personnel assigned to this Detail were instructed and supervised in proactive policing.”
Using data supplied to him by Captain Buckley, Chief Corcoran said that since the Special Police Detail was created, officers assigned to the unit have stopped 399 vehicles, issued 99 summonses, have stopped 66 “suspicious” individuals, and have made 27 arrests. Officers on the Special Police Detail have also logged 944 hours of duty and have driven 4,769 miles while on patrol.
As further evidence that this special unit has been effective, Corcoran noted that there was an attempted burglary on Monday, April 14 on Grace Avenue and an arrest was made within 24 hours of the alleged crime.
More cops coming
With 57 officers on the Secaucus police force, some residents have questioned whether the department needs more manpower. Even Corcoran has said he would like to have 63 officers.
At the meeting, the chief announced that six additional officers will be hired in the fall and currently there is a test being developed for prospective new recruits. However, it is unclear how the town will pay for these new hires. Corcoran indicated that some money might be available through various grants that have been submitted.
Corcoran has rejected suggestions by critics that the department needs 68 officers, which it had in the 1980s when the crime rate in Secaucus was much higher than it is now.
Residents respond
Before the meeting, some residents said too little information had been released to the public, possibly leaving people more vulnerable to crime. But all those interviewed praised the police for the job they are doing in town.
“I think the cops are doing a great job with the resources they have,” said resident Eugene Salati, who last year saw a suspicious person in his neighborhood supposedly looking for “window repair” work. “I always see them patrolling on my street, both in marked and unmarked cars.”
Anecdotally, at least one resident said she has noticed stepped up police presence in her neighborhood.
“I had my front door open some days ago,” one elderly resident who asked not to be identified told Corcoran after the meeting. “I have a screen door that was closed. And a policeman on patrol came up to my house and told me I should be careful and close my door. I let him know the screen door was locked. That’s never happened before, so I can tell the cops are really out there watching out.”
“That was excellent. That was what we needed to hear,” said resident John Scheiner during the meeting, referring to Corcoran’s presentation. “I can see a lot is really being done to address these crimes. That’s what was missing before. That information wasn’t getting out there. I didn’t doubt that the police were doing their jobs ’cause the Secaucus Police Department is one of the best police departments I’ve ever seen. But hearing the information the chief gave out tonight, I think, will alleviate people’s concerns.”
Break-ins under investigation
The six break-ins remain under investigation, the chief said.
In the April 3 incident, Corcoran said the homeowner was specifically targeted and was not the victim of a random crime.
Investigators believe the other five incidents are part of a string of burglaries that have taken place in Secaucus and several towns in Bergen County.
Reach E. Assata Wright at awright@hudsonreporter.com.