TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Several groups including Black Lives Matter held a protest for George Floyd the man killed in police custody in Minneapolis, MN. at the NJ Statehouse this afternoon.
BREAKING NEWS: This is from reports from the scene and official information will be posted once received.
May 30, 2020
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–A van traveling in the area of the 58 mile marker on the NJ Turnpike caught fire this afternoon at 4:55 pm. (Allentown-Yardville Road Bridge area).
Robbinsville Township and Bordentown Township firefighters responded to the scene and found a van full of construction materials well involved in fire. The fire was quickly knocked down. Firefighters remained on scene to overhaul and mop up.
Breaking:According to police radio traffic this van may have been involved in a hit an run north of the location. Announced over police radio a few moments ago NJSP are looking for a black man who fled the scene and possible walking in the area.
BREAKING NEWS: This is from reports from the scene and official information will be posted once received.
Photo sent in by a passersby on the New Jersey Turnpike
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A group of about 35 protesters assembled at the corner of Route 9 and Schanck Road this afternoon at 1 pm. The “March On Route 9” for George Floyd is protesting the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis, MN.
An event flyer circulated on the Internet for the “March On Route 9” stated that it was going to be held at iPlayAmerica on Schanck Road but that location was sealed off by gates and barrels marked “private property”
The protest was peaceful and was expected to last until 7 pm tonight.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Last night, Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 149, allowing the resumption of child care services, youth day camps, and organized sports. This Order rescinds the emergency child care program under Executive Order No. 110 as of June 15, and permits child care centers to resume normal operations on or after June 15, subject to their compliance with COVID-19-specific health and safety standards. Additionally, youth day camps can open on or after July 6, and must comply with COVID-19-specific health and safety standards.
The Order also suspends the prohibition on individuals engaging in organized sporting activities as of June 22, provided that activities remain outdoors and are non-contact, and the Department of Health will issue health and safety standards for these activities. High school sports under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) may resume only in accordance with reopening protocols issued by NJSIAA, and cannot resume any earlier than June 30.
“My Administration has been steadfast in our commitment to let science, data, and facts guide New Jersey’s restart and recovery process,” said Governor Murphy. “In order to continue our momentum in restarting New Jersey’s economy, we must prepare our workforce to return to their jobs by ensuring a continuum of care for their children. Our child care centers, youth day camps, and organized sports will adhere to strict public health and safety protocols so that New Jerseyans can confidently participate in the restart and recovery process.”
Child Care Services
Effective 6:00 a.m. on June 15, 2020, child care centers and other child care facilities are permitted to resume operations for all clients, provided that they comply with the COVID-19 Child Care Standards and other applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders.
Each child care center must submit an attestation to the Department of Children and Families no later than 24 hours prior to the anticipated opening date, or in the case of currently operating emergency child care centers, within fourteen days of the effective date of this Order, attesting that it will follow all applicable health and safety standards, as detailed in the COVID-19 Child Care Standards.
Youth Day Camps
Youth summer camps shall be permitted to operate on or after Monday, July 6, 2020, provided that they comply with the COVID-19 Child Care and Youth Summer Camp Standards and other applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders.
Youth summer camps that wish to operate on or after July 6, 2020, must submit an attestation to the Department of Health no later than 24 hours prior to the anticipated opening date, attesting that they will follow all applicable health and safety standards, as detailed in the COVID-19 Youth Summer Camp Standards.
Residential and overnight camps are prohibited from operating.
Organized Sports
Effective June 22, 2020, sporting activities, including organized sporting activities, are permitted in outdoor settings only, provided that they do not involve person-to-person contact or routinely entail individuals interacting within six feet of one another. Any sporting activities that involve person-to-person contact or individuals routinely interacting in close proximity (within six feet of one another) will remain prohibited in any setting.
The Commissioner of the Department of Health shall impose health and safety standards regarding sporting activities before that date, and such activities must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and Executive Orders, including restrictions on gatherings in place at the time the sporting activities occur.
High school sporting activities under the jurisdiction of the NJSIAA may resume in accordance with reopening protocols issued by NJSIAA, which shall consider DOH guidance in issuing these protocols. However, these high school sporting activities cannot resume any earlier than June 30, 2020.
For a copy of Executive Order No. 149, click here.
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–The Mercer County Homicide Task Force is investigating a shooting death that occurred in Trenton early Saturday morning. At approximately 12:15 a.m., Trenton police received calls for shots fired in 400 block of Garfield Avenue and a report of a man down. Officers arrived on scene and located the victim lying on the sidewalk. The victim was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The victim, identified as Tyrone Campbell, 45, of Trenton, suffered numerous gunshot wounds to his torso. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the MCHTF at (609) 989-6406 or mchtftips@mercercounty.org.
Gun violence and shootings reach epidemic proportions see recent stories here: (There has been a lot more gun violence and shootings but these are ones we have enough information to report on)
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Governor Phil Murphy and Superintendent of the State Police Colonel Patrick Callahan today announced an Administrative Order authorizing horse racetracks to reopen on June 1st with no spectators, and with health and safety protocols in place. The Order will take effect immediately.
“Horse racing is an important part of our state economy and a beloved pastime in New Jersey.” said Governor Murphy. “I am happy to announce that after close consultation with our office, racetracks in our state will be able to reopen in the coming days.”
Racetracks will be able to open on June 1st, for racing without spectators. The AO also requires racetracks to adhere to a number of social distancing requirements that are laid out in the order. Under the order, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Racing Commission, or her designee, will have the authority to inspect racetracks to ensure that all required policies are being followed.
A copy of the Administrative Order can be found here.
WEST WINDSOR, NJ (MERCER)–Yesterday, I received a message from a young lady who messaged the police department to tell me that she is scared for her life and scared for her dad, her brother and her boyfriend. I have to say this message made me so sad. It made me hurt inside that the actions of someone in a profession whose very nature is to protect all and to serve the community broke that trust, committed this horrific act and sent a shockwave of anger and fear, which reached this young girl in West Windsor.
She went on to ask what we were doing to make sure this did not happen here and what we could do to improve community relations.
At this point, I was proud to say that as a police officer for 31 years and the Chief of Police I was confident in the men and women of the West Windsor Police Department. I was confident because we have spent a lifetime being a part of the community and making community policing the focus of our mission. I want our history to speak for itself. I want our social media over time to show how our officers truly care about all members of the community and have been there for them regardless of the situation. I have personally developed relationships with our religious communities and consider the leaders of the over 13 religious organizations in town my personal friends. We have stood side by side with them in laughter and celebration and stood in front of them in times of trouble.
I have also met with our African American Parent Support Group and have had serious conversations throughout the years about the police and its relationship with African American youth in West Windsor. We have worked hard to make sure our officers are seen as helpers and friends and this effort is ongoing and constantly evolves. I am thankful for the wisdom from both Joy and Latoya who are always welcome for coffee and a discussion on what we can do better.
We pride ourselves in well trained professional officers who exemplify Courage Knowledge and Integrity. These words are sewn into every West Windsor Patch and sewn into the fabric of each and every officer. Training is ongoing and never ends. In fact, training for our officers is a living, breathing life force which grows and evolves each and every year. Learning never stops. Whether it’s a quick lesson at briefing, an online training video and test or a training class, this learning continues. I am confident that this would never have happened in West Windsor because of the training of these officers and their respect for all life. Our officers are masters at de-escalation. When these dedicated men and women, who have faced COVID-19 each and every day without regard to their own safety and families, arrive on the scene, people breathe a sigh of relief because they know help has arrived.
We have already had roll call discussions on this horrific event and I have attached the words from one of my Sergeants about this training:
So I sat down this morning with 6 young officers when we were going on duty to talk about George Floyd and what happened. I solicited from them their opinions before giving them my opinion. My idea was to get their thoughts and then really give them an education on right/wrong, tactics, procedures, ethics and just plain caring for your fellow man, no matter what the circumstances. The conversation lasted over an hour and a half and I was surprised by their statements and thoughts. Not one of the young officers could find an inkling of justification. Each was appalled and embarrassed for how poorly some people represent our profession. Whereas I thought I was going to have to give some life’s lessons to the young ones, I didn’t have to. But, being me, I took the opportunity to still give the life’s lessons to reinforce what they already knew.
What happened to Floyd is truly tragic and could always be avoided. Standing around and doing nothing is just as bad as being the ignorant weak person that takes a life. But I am certain that the young officers that I work with know better, would act differently and will keep passing that down to others throughout their careers. A sad day for everyone. There are no winners only losers. But a proud moment for me this morning.
I am truly sorry for George Floyd and his family. I can promise you this agency will continue to train and continue to be the protectors of this community and more importantly be part of its family.
I am always available for anyone who would like to meet and would like to discuss any issues. I have always had my door open for a coffee to anyone who would like one. I hope this helps explain to those who worry what I see and why I am not worried about the men and women of West Windsor Police and their interactions.
Concerning Developments Following the Death of George Floyd
May 30, 2020
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Today, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension arrested Officer Derek Chauvin, taking an important first step in the search for justice following the tragic death of George Floyd. Like so many others, I was horrified by the footage of Mr. Floyd’s death, and I hope that law enforcement officials across the country continue to make clear that abusive police practices will not be tolerated.
Mr. Floyd’s death reminds us that our country has a long way to go not only in healing our nation’s racial divides, but also in addressing the systemic and implicit biases that prevent all Americans from equally securing our country’s great promises. Now more than ever, we must redouble our commitment to building trust between law enforcement and the people they serve, especially those from historically marginalized communities.
Here in New Jersey, we are absolutely committed to a criminal justice system that is fair, transparent, and free of bias. This past December, we rolled out a sweeping set of statewide policy reforms, known as the Excellence in Policing Initiative, to promote the culture of professionalism, accountability, and transparency that are hallmarks of New Jersey’s best law enforcement agencies. But we must do more, and we are committed to working with our partners in law enforcement and the broader community to identify additional opportunities for improvement.
Unfortunately, there remain occasions where an officer uses violent force against civilians without justification. We condemn such actions, not simply because they are wrong, but also because they do a disservice to the vast majority of law enforcement officers committed to upholding the highest standards of the profession.
We also prosecute such cases criminally and through the police disciplinary process. As Attorney General, I oversee the investigation of use-of-force cases in this State, a role that makes me particularly sensitive to the difficulties of investigating and prosecuting such cases. My role as Attorney General also prevents me from commenting on individual cases, even where the publicly available information is horrifying and the conduct at issue unconscionable.
The residents of New Jersey should rest assured that we will never tolerate the types of police practices that resulted in Mr. Floyd’s death. As part of our Excellence in Policing Initiative, we created new mechanisms for reporting allegations of police misconduct, including a standardized reporting form that must be offered by every police department in New Jersey. We take police-misconduct allegations seriously, and we are committed to ensuring justice and accountability for every resident of this state.
New Jersey’s Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal headshot at the Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton, N.J. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. (Office of Attorney General / Tim Larsen)
TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Trenton Police, Trenton Fire and Trenton EMS all reasponded to the 400 Block of Garfield Avenue for a shooting at 12:20 am. Units reported a male shot and a trauma code was called as the person was transported to the Trauma Center at Capitol Health Regional Medical Center.
BREAKING NEWS: These are from unconfirmed reports. If and when official information is released this story will be updated.
The last shooting we know of on Garfield Avenue was on a bloody Sunday April 5, 2020 when multiple shootings throughout the city left 2 dead and 5 injured.
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