The Camden County Police Department (CCPD) is continuing to build upon its unity policing model with a colorful and cozy mobile game truck, which is making its rounds throughout the City of Camden. The newly and fully furnished game truck is equipped with multiple HD TVs, numerous game consoles and controllers, over a dozen new video games, and a light-up LED cloud ceiling. The truck, officially named the ‘CCPD Gaming Truck,’ provides a unique opportunity for community residents to engage with police officers in a fun and accessible way.
Camden County Commissioner, Jonathan Young Sr., shared his excitement about the new game truck and how it directly helps to build community engagement. “We want to go where you [the community] are, and this shows how far we can expand our reach,” says Young, “there is no place that we can’t go to hear directly from and touch the community, and that’s a huge part of our mission.” The Camden County Police Department recently celebrated its 10th anniversary within the City of Camden, where it has received national attention for its community policing model. It has been a full decade since Camden City dissolved its City police force, and a county-wide police department began implementing a community policing approach.
According to a data report from the Camden County Police Department, overall crime and violent crime have both been reduced to 50-year lows, with Camden reporting a 62% decrease in shootings since 2012. The CCPD Gaming Truck was purchased and remodeled using forfeiture funds seized from illegal drug sales. “We’ve turned the negative into the positive and made it kidfriendly,” said Captain Vivian Coley of the Camden County Police Department. The Game Truck is an electrifying addition to weekly Open Gym nights hosted by the Camden County Police Department at local community centers throughout Camden. Open Gym, which launched in the Summer of 2021, creates a safe space
for youth to engage in basketball, board games, arts and crafts, and learn more about local resources that are geared towards youth.
Captain Coley says that the CCPD Gaming Truck helps to engage even more City residents who have an interest in gaming, “not everyone is interested in playing basketball or doing crafts at our Open Gym Nights, so this is a way to keep kids safe who enjoy playing video games.” She added that the truck helps to strengthen community relationships as well, “instead of youth being home alone playing …
Thank you for reading Jenise Rolle, South Jersey, Information Equity Project article on scoopnewsusa.com. For more on “Camden County Police plan to increase public safety through new video game truck“, please subscribe to SCOOP USA Media. Print subscriptions are $75 and online subscriptions (Print, Digital, and VIZION) are $90. (52 weeks / 1 year).
