Does Atlantic City Need More Police or a Better Image? Suleiman and Cronick Debate Public Safety as Crime Falls

Former Democratic chairman agrees with County Executive Dennis Levinson that more officers are needed, while WOND host points to dramatic improvements in crime statistics.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Atlantic City's crime statistics show substantial improvement in recent years, including sharp reductions in shootings and homicides. But a spirited discussion on local talk radio Monday raised a difficult question: Does the city need more police officers, or does it need to do a better job convincing visitors and residents that it is safe?

Former Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman and radio host Scott Cronick disagreed over that question during an October 26 interview on Off The Press on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.

Suleiman argued that Atlantic City needs a stronger police presence, particularly in neighborhoods where visitors and residents continue to feel uncomfortable.

Cronick countered that the city's improving crime statistics suggest its reputation may be a bigger problem than the actual level of crime.

Their exchange comes amid a separate public disagreement between Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson and Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small over police staffing, public safety and who should pay for additional officers.

Crime Statistics Show Significant Improvement

The latest publicly documented statistics reviewed by South Jersey NewsBeat show that Atlantic City has made substantial progress in reducing violent crime.

According to the city's January 2026 State of the City presentation, overall crime declined 12.25% between 2022 and 2025.

The city also reported that shooting incidents fell 50% from 2024 to 2025.

Atlantic City police achieved a 100% clearance rate for homicides and nonfatal shootings in 2025, according to the administration.

The New Jersey Attorney General's Office independently reported in January that Atlantic City was among the state's major cities experiencing shooting-victim reductions exceeding 50% in 2025.

More recent figures attributed to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office show that Atlantic City recorded just one homicide and five nonfatal shootings through July 31, 2026.

For comparison, the city recorded 11 homicides and 40 nonfatal shootings in 2021.

The figures indicate a major improvement over the past several years, although the 2026 numbers represent only the first seven months of the year.

South Jersey NewsBeat could not independently confirm a more recent city-specific homicide or shooting total through October 26.

The city has credited its public safety improvements to police work, surveillance technology, license plate readers, gunshot detection systems and cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

Despite those gains, the debate over whether Atlantic City has enough officers continues.

Suleiman: 'We Need More Police Officers in Atlantic City'

During Monday's interview, Suleiman discussed Levinson's recent criticism of public safety conditions in Atlantic City.

The former Democratic chairman said he believes the county executive has raised a legitimate concern.

"Whether you feel that the city is safe or not, you know, I could point to statistics, and there are statistics that the city is safer," Suleiman said.

"However, the perception doesn't match the statistics, right? Clearly, people don't feel safe in certain neighborhoods in Atlantic City."

Suleiman argued that the city's tourism-dependent economy makes public safety particularly important.

"There's bad neighborhoods in every city, and that's true, but not every city is a tourist city like Atlantic City," he said.

He suggested that law enforcement officials would welcome additional personnel.

"So I think if you were to ask public safety officials in Atlantic City, should we have more cops, they would say overwhelmingly, absolutely yes."

Suleiman was unequivocal about his position.

"We need more police officers in Atlantic City."

He also credited Eric Scheffler and CRDA for assisting with Boardwalk security.

"You get into who pays for that, whether it's city, county, state, whomever. My feeling is let's just get it done," Suleiman said.

Cronick: 'Does Atlantic City Need More Cops, or Does Atlantic City Need a PR Firm?'

Cronick challenged Suleiman's position by pointing to the city's declining crime numbers.

He questioned whether additional officers would necessarily change the perception that Atlantic City is unsafe.

"If there were zero murders in Atlantic City this year, would it still — would people still say Atlantic City is unsafe?" Cronick asked.

Suleiman responded that the perception problem extends beyond homicide statistics.

Cronick pressed the issue.

"What does it have to be, zero? Does it have to be zeros across the board for people to say it's unsafe?"

He then offered a different approach.

"Does Atlantic City need more cops, or does Atlantic City need a PR firm or a company to go and promote that Atlantic City is safe? I'll argue the latter."

Cronick said he believes the city has failed to communicate its public safety improvements effectively enough.

"It's not about the true safety of Atlantic City," he said. "It's about a perception of safety."

He suggested that the city's crime reductions should be more prominently promoted to residents, tourists and potential visitors.

"My whole point is, Michael, we are safe. The city needs a PR person to go out there and hammer these statistics home to show, hey, why is there this perception of it not being safe?"

Cronick acknowledged that additional improvements are always possible.

"Now, can it be safer? Absolutely, but you tell me a city in the world that can't be."

Suleiman: Perception Still Matters to Tourism

Suleiman agreed that Atlantic City's reputation does not necessarily reflect its recent crime statistics.

However, he argued that perceptions can have real economic consequences.

He pointed to areas of the city where some visitors may feel uncomfortable and said those experiences can influence whether people return.

"If people message me and say, hey, I was in this neighborhood. I didn't like it. I'm not coming back," Suleiman said, those reactions must be taken seriously.

He contrasted Atlantic City's economy with Philadelphia's, noting that Philadelphia has a much larger and more diversified year-round economy.

"Our economy, unfortunately, after 40 years of inaction from — we still rely on the season from Memorial Day to Labor Day," Suleiman said.

He argued that negative impressions of Atlantic City can be especially damaging because of its dependence on tourism.

"If you have issues and people don't come down because of the perception, you've got serious issues."

Cronick questioned whether concerns about individual neighborhoods should be allowed to define an entire city.

He noted that nearly every urban destination has areas where some visitors might feel uncomfortable.

"What city doesn't have shady areas? What city? You tell me. You tell me, and I'll go visit it," Cronick said.

Suleiman maintained that a more visible police presence could help address those concerns.

What Do the Staffing Numbers Show?

Police staffing figures provide additional context for the debate.

According to annual workforce information submitted to the FBI, the Atlantic City Police Department reported 295 sworn officers in 2025, the same number reported in 2024.

That compares with 270 officers in 2022 and 257 in 2021.

The department reported 307 sworn officers in 2015, before staffing declined substantially during the city's financial difficulties.

The figures indicate that Atlantic City's police force has grown from its earlier reduced staffing levels, although the department's 2026 authorized staffing level, current vacancies and actual deployment figures were not independently confirmed.

Staffing totals alone also do not show how many officers are available for patrol during any particular shift.

The city's tourism industry creates additional demands beyond those reflected by its residential population of approximately 39,000.

Atlantic City draws millions of visitors annually, placing pressure on police, emergency medical services and other public safety resources.

Whether additional officers would produce measurable improvements depends on where they are deployed, the types of calls they handle and how the department uses existing personnel and technology.

Levinson and Small Disagree Over Responsibility

The Suleiman-Cronick discussion follows recent public disagreements involving County Executive Levinson and Mayor Small.

Levinson has called for additional police officers in Atlantic City and argued that the state should provide financial assistance.

The county executive has emphasized that his criticism is not directed at the Atlantic City Police Department or its leadership.

Instead, he has pointed to the state's continuing oversight of Atlantic City's finances and municipal operations.

Small has defended the city's public safety record, citing declining crime and improvements in policing technology.

The mayor's administration has also emphasized the financial challenges involved in expanding municipal services.

Atlantic City's 2026 municipal budget totals approximately $283.8 million, including grants.

The city also announced a one-time $5,000 stipend for police officers in July, subject to acceptance.

The debate over additional staffing therefore raises questions about municipal finances, state assistance and whether public safety resources should be expanded despite improving crime statistics.

Both Credit Atlantic City Police

Despite their disagreement over staffing, Suleiman and Cronick both praised the work of Atlantic City police.

Suleiman specifically credited Police Chief James Sarkos and the department for the reductions in crime.

"The statistics are good, and kudos to Chief Sarkos and ACPD," he said.

"They do a terrific job. But, you know, they need more cops, and I think that's something we need to get done."

Suleiman also suggested that Atlantic City could learn from Camden's approach to combining police operations with community engagement.

"They really married good police work, which we already have in Atlantic City, with community engagement where the officers are embedded in the community and really have built relationships there," he said.

Cronick agreed that a visible police presence has value but questioned whether simply adding officers would solve the city's image problem.

He argued that improving public understanding of crime statistics could be a more cost-effective strategy.

'Neither Are True'

Toward the end of their discussion, Suleiman acknowledged that the debate over Atlantic City often becomes polarized.

He said some critics portray the city as unsafe and struggling, while others dismiss legitimate concerns.

"Whenever we talk about this stuff, there's either two camps," Suleiman said.

"It's either let's dunk on Atlantic City. Everything's horrible. It's terrible. Or it's everything's wonderful, nothing to see here."

He rejected both extremes.

"So neither are true."

"You've got to be in the middle, which is, hey, there are some great things happening in the city," Suleiman said.

He pointed to redevelopment efforts, including the former Trump Plaza property, while acknowledging that public safety challenges remain.

Cronick continued to emphasize the city's progress and the need to communicate that progress more effectively.

The latest documented crime figures support the conclusion that Atlantic City has become substantially safer by several important measures, particularly shootings and homicides.

But those numbers do not settle the question of whether additional police officers are needed, nor do they establish how safe residents and visitors feel in individual neighborhoods.

The unresolved issue is whether Atlantic City should invest more in police staffing, public education about declining crime, neighborhood improvements — or some combination of those approaches.

Michael Suleiman discussed Atlantic City's public safety challenges and recent crime reductions during an October 26 interview on Off The Press with Scott Cronick, heard weekdays from 4–6 p.m. on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND.