Mayor, Police Chief Update Chamber On Middle Township’s Present State

COURT HOUSE – Middle Township Chamber of Commerce held its annual State of the Township dinner March 10 with Mayor Michael Clark and Police Chief Christopher Leusner delivering remarks. 
Business leaders gathered for networking, buffet dinner and comments from Clark and Leusner at Bellevue Tavern.
Clark began with an upbeat message. The 2016 budget, about to be introduced by Township Committee March 21, will include no increase in the local use levy. He urged those present to attend committee’s workshop at 4 p.m. that day for a detailed budget presentation by the chief financial officer and township auditors. Introduction of the budget will occur at 6 p.m. regular meeting that day.
Clark spoke of the many reasons to be proud of the state of the township. He mentioned a ratable base that is increasing and that still has room to grow.
Middle Township, with its ideal location at the center of the county, is now “considered one of the best places to live in the county,” Clark said.
The mayor then discussed things the township is doing to make things “even better.” Highlights included efforts to promote shopping local, a tax abatement program under consideration to attract new business, extension of the bike path, considered important for tourism as well as resident recreation, and the developing efforts at the site of the new Okie Wisting Recreation Park. Clark spoke of the township, “rich in culture and history,” not ceding tourism dollars to beach resorts.
Clark’s address next turned to one of the most significant issues on the minds of community leaders, crime in the Rio Grande section. He said the township is “working tirelessly on crime in Rio Grande.”
Speaking of greater collaboration with the county and state on issues related to the concentration of individuals with criminal records and the reinstatement of the street crimes unit, Clark assured the chamber that the committee understands the problem and is aggressively addressing it.
Keeping his remarks short, Clark left the bulk of the remaining time for Leusner to explain steps being taking to resolve the problems that plague the Rio Grande area.
As one attendee remarked during the question-and-answer period following the presentations, “We should be talking about economic development and we are talking about crime, but we need to solve the one problem before we can encourage business to come to the township.”
Leusner noted that a quarter-mile stretch in Rio Grande accounts for more than a third of all criminal offenses in the over-72-square-mile township. 
It is an area of concentration of large retail outlets as well as state and county social services offices. The combination places a significant population of high-risk individuals, many recently released from incarceration, in the midst of a high-density business track.
Leusner spoke of an approach to the problem that has three major components: enforcement, intervention, and prevention. The reestablishment of the Street Crimes Unit has already begun showing results according to Leusner. He rattled off the large number of arrests and drug confiscations that have occurred since the unit’s reinstatement in January.
Programs to increase exposure of citizens to police officers, outside the context of criminal offense, is also important to Leusner.
Police officers need to be individuals the community trust. These same officers need to understand their role and be sensitive to how the community can react to perceived injustice or insensitivity. Leusner spoke of plans to take 20 officers to the Holocaust Museum to reinforce many of the values surrounding professional responsibility gone awry.
In intervention Leusner spoke of the advocate program for drug offenders in municipal court and of police use of substance abuse support groups in the county to help individuals end the chain of addiction and crime.
These efforts dovetail with education programs, particularly ones aimed at juveniles.
For Leusner, aggressive enforcement is a necessary step in a high-crime area like Rio Grande, but it alone will not solve the problem.
Asked specifically if the township had a gang problem, Leusner replied no. “Do we have sporadic gang related problems? Yes. Is there a gang problem? I don’t think so,” he said.
Leusner praised support the department has received from the governing body and other local officials. He spoke of the real difference the new, albeit expensive, radio system makes in public safety, of the increase in department’s manpower numbers, and the willingness of officials to be responsive to efforts that “look deeper at the issues.”
The chief called attention to the recent 2015 annual report, with specific goals for the 2016 year. That report is available on the department’s website.
The good news in the number is that the crime rate overall is declining and has been doing so since 2012. The bad news, as Leusner phrased it, is that violent crime is up.
Leusner and Clark emphasized the need for the township to make crime, especially in that small but all important quarter acre of Rio Grande, one of the township’s highest priorities.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.