Camden County Police credit score Metro Fun Night for enhancing belief, security locally

The sound of laughter, music, and even the occasional neigh stuffed the air Friday night because the Camden County Police Department hosted its second Metro Fun Night of the summer time in Camden; a part of its ongoing effort to strengthen ties with the neighborhood it serves.

Held within the coronary heart of town, the occasion featured every little thing from pony rides and a petting zoo to face portray, video games, and dwell music, all free for residents.

“We get people from the community to come out. We’re able to bond with them. We have officers out here from every single agency,” mentioned Lt. Luis Gonzalez, who has served with the division for 12 years. 

The Camden County Police Department was created in 2013, and has emphasised unity policing ever since — utilizing neighborhood engagement occasions like Metro Fun Night to construct belief and scale back crime. And the numbers appear to replicate that effort.

According to department data, violent crime is down 12% within the first half of 2025 in comparison with the identical interval final yr. Homicides have dropped 30%, and aggravated assaults with a firearm are down 31%. Overall, violent crime has declined 55% for the reason that division was created. 

When requested how occasions like this make a distinction, Gonzalez mentioned it is about altering perceptions.

“It makes a big difference because it shows that we’re not here for the negative aspect,” he mentioned. “We’re here to engage, have fun, play with the kids.”

For residents like Rashawn Stephens, that distinction is already being felt.

“It brings everybody out and the community together,” Stephens mentioned. “The kids are having a good time. School just started, so everybody is relaxed and cool. You get to interact with the officers. You see them driving by. You get to actually meet them. You don’t want to meet cops on bad terms.”

Neas Wilkins, one other Camden resident, echoed that sentiment.

“You got to have trust in order to build trust,” Wilkins mentioned. “So seeing them out here, talking to you; it leads somewhere. As long as you feel like it’s genuine, that’s all that matters.”

And for Gonzalez, that is precisely the objective.

“At the end of the day, this is just a uniform,” he mentioned. “We’re human beings just like them.”