Guardian: Independent Study Says Atlantic City Needs 50 More Police Officers

ATLANTIC CITY — An independent review of the Atlantic City Police Department has concluded the city needs approximately 50 additional police officers, according to state Assemblyman Don Guardian.

Guardian disclosed the finding Thursday while guest-hosting Off the Press with Scott Cronick on WOND, saying the extensive study was commissioned by the independent Atlantic City Police Foundation and conducted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

The report has not yet been released publicly.

“We were able to raise about $50,000, and we hired the International Association of Police Chiefs to do an independent review of how Atlantic City's Police Department is doing,” Guardian said.

The review examined staffing and deployment as well as what the department is doing well and where improvements could be made, Guardian said.

“What are we doing right? What are we doing wrong? How many people should we have out there? Where should they be?” Guardian said. “And they've done an extensive report.”

Guardian said the document is approximately 200 pages.

“It has not yet been made available to the public,” he said.

But Guardian revealed what he described as one of its key conclusions: Atlantic City needs substantially more officers.

“One of the key issues there is, above the 320 police officers, we need another 50 police officers,” Guardian said.

That would represent an increase of more than 15% over the approximately 320 officers Guardian cited.

Guardian, a former Atlantic City mayor, said he met with the governor's office Thursday and raised the issue of finding money to expand the department.

“I want to tell you that I was just with the governor's office today,” Guardian said.

He said potential funding sources could include changes involving casino payments and state revenue generated by internet and sports gaming.

“One of the issues that I had is, as we talk about the PILOT from the casinos coming forward next year, as well as rethinking how internet and sports gaming revenue that goes to the state is being used, I think it's very critical that over a three-year period, we bring in those 50 additional police officers,” Guardian said.

Guardian said the additional manpower would help increase the visible police presence throughout Atlantic City.

“That'll give you the police officer that you're going to see on the Boardwalk, on the streets, on the sidewalks, in bicycles and things,” Guardian said.

Guardian made the comments during a broader discussion with Atlantic County Sheriff Joe O'Donoghue about crime, policing and cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

Both Guardian and O'Donoghue said they believe greater cooperation among local police departments, the Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies has contributed to improvements in public safety.

But Guardian argued that reducing crime statistics is only part of the equation in a tourism destination such as Atlantic City.

“Sometimes, you know, we look to you to actually prevent crime,” Guardian told O'Donoghue. “But we also have to have the vision of the place feeling safe.”

Guardian said perceptions of the city can linger even among people who have not visited recently.

“You got to feel safe, too,” he said. “And I think that's a point that we've got to do in Atlantic City.”

Guardian said it frustrates him when people criticize public safety in Atlantic City despite not having visited for several years.

The disclosure of the staffing recommendation raises several unanswered questions, including when the full independent report will be released, how the recommended 50 officers would be deployed and how much adding them would cost.

Guardian's proposal would phase in the additional officers over three years if funding can be secured.