Levinson Calls for More Police Visibility in Atlantic City Despite Falling Crime Rates

Atlantic County executive praises improvements under Mayor Marty Small but says visitors need to feel safe walking beyond the casinos. City reports a 12.25% crime reduction and recently welcomed 19 new officers.

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson is renewing his call for a stronger police presence on Atlantic City's streets, arguing that declining crime statistics alone are not enough to convince visitors to explore the resort beyond its casinos.

During a Thursday, November 12, appearance on Talking with Anne on News Talk 1400 & 92.3 WOND, Levinson praised Mayor Marty Small's administration for improvements to the city's appearance but expressed frustration with what he considers a lack of visible police patrols.

"Now, Marty Small and the Commission in Atlantic City, they have cleaned the city up. I'm happy with that," Levinson said.

"But I am not pleased with the public safety. I do believe there should be more visibility of the police. If they don't have enough police, hire them."

Levinson said he visits Atlantic City almost daily and believes a stronger police presence is necessary to encourage visitors to leave their hotels and casinos and patronize local businesses.

"I'm there just about every day, Anne, and I do not see police," he said.

His comments come despite statistics showing substantial improvements in several categories of crime and recent efforts to expand police staffing and patrols.

Crime Down 12.25% Since 2022, City Reports

Atlantic City's January 2026 State of the City presentation highlighted three consecutive years of declining crime.

According to figures presented by the Small administration, overall crime decreased 12.25% between 2022 and 2025.

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

Police officials attributed improvements in public safety and investigations partly to investments in surveillance cameras, gunshot detection technology, license plate readers and other law enforcement tools.

The city also reported that the Atlantic City Police Department solved all homicide and nonfatal shooting investigations during 2025.

Those figures reflect the city's reported results for 2025 and do not establish how crime has changed during the entirety of 2026.

Federal crime reporting provides additional context.

According to FBI crime data compiled by Police Census, the Atlantic City Police Department reported 693 violent offenses in 2024, compared with 593 in 2025.

That represents a decrease of approximately 14.4%.

Reported property offenses also declined, from 2,428 in 2024 to 2,340 in 2025, a reduction of approximately 3.6%.

The federal figures support the broader finding that reported crime declined, although they measure specific offense categories rather than the city's overall crime total.

Levinson acknowledged that crime has fallen but said he believes public confidence remains a separate challenge.

"Now, I know the numbers have gone down, and it's gone down all over the country as far as public safety is concerned. But you have to have that feeling," he said.

"And the feeling is not secure. And that has to be changed. This is my opinion."

Levinson Wants Visitors to Explore Beyond Casinos

Levinson repeatedly connected public safety to Atlantic City's economic future.

He argued that visitors who feel uncomfortable walking through the city may limit their spending to casino properties rather than visiting independent restaurants and other attractions.

"And there is the key to the future of Atlantic City, people going there and feeling safe, rather than just driving it to a casino and stay for the weekend and then driving home," Levinson said.

"We want them to come out and, you know, have a good time, a full experience."

He pointed to Atlantic City's restaurant industry, beaches and Boardwalk as assets that should attract visitors throughout the resort.

"We want people to come here and spend money other than just in the casinos. We have wonderful restaurants, the best chefs in the world. And we have a beach and boardwalk, which is unmatched anywhere."

Levinson specifically mentioned restaurants including Dock's Oyster House, Knife and Fork Inn, 2825 Atlantic and Chef Vola's as examples of businesses that benefit when visitors feel comfortable exploring the city.

"But whether people want to venture out or not is a problem. We got to get them to feel secure and be able to walk. It's a walking city," he said.

He argued that the city's relatively compact geography should make visible patrols manageable.

"It's only 47 blocks, the whole city itself. And I do believe it is manageable. All you need is the will."

Atlantic City Recently Welcomed 19 New Police Officers

Levinson's comments come just weeks after the Atlantic City Police Department welcomed 19 new officers who graduated from Police Academy Class 32.

The officers were among 72 recruits who completed six months of academy training and graduated October 22.

The department announced their arrival October 27.

"Congratulations to Class 32 and to the 19 graduates joining the Atlantic City Police Department. You have worked hard to earn this opportunity, and we are proud to welcome you to our ranks," Deputy Police Chief Andrew Leonard said at the time.

The new officers represent an additional graduating class for a department responsible for policing a major tourism destination with a year-round population of approximately 39,000.

Atlantic City's actual policing demands are considerably broader because of the millions of visitors who travel to the resort for casinos, entertainment, conventions and other attractions.

Federal workforce data reported for 2025 listed 295 sworn Atlantic City police officers and 42 civilian employees.

However, those figures do not establish how many officers were available for street patrols at any particular time.

They also do not account for retirements, departures, promotions, leave, administrative assignments or other staffing changes since the reporting period.

The addition of 19 academy graduates does not necessarily mean the department's total sworn staffing increased by 19 officers.

During Thursday's interview, host Anne Baker mentioned an unverified breakdown of officers assigned to desk duties compared with street patrols.

Levinson made clear that he did not know the department's actual staffing or deployment arrangements.

"Now, I don't know if there is enough police, but I am assuming that there are not, because there is no visibility or very little visibility on the Atlantic City streets," he said.

"So I don't know what the makeup is. I don't know how the deployment is. I don't know. But I do know if they are not on the street, they need more police."

The actual number of officers assigned to patrol, investigative, administrative and other duties has not been independently established.

City Received $3 Million for Additional Tourism District Patrols

Atlantic City has already taken steps intended to increase visible policing in areas frequented by visitors.

In April 2025, the city announced that the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority had approved a $3 million grant for additional police patrols in the Tourism District.

The funding covered a period beginning April 1, 2025, and ending March 31, 2026.

According to the city, the initiative was intended to increase police presence along the Boardwalk, Pacific Avenue and Atlantic Avenue.

The program also included five utility terrain vehicles to help officers navigate the beach and Boardwalk.

The additional patrols were designed to complement existing bicycle and foot patrols.

The city described the initiative as part of a broader effort to improve public safety while expanding its surveillance camera network.

Whether that particular grant-funded patrol program has been extended beyond March 2026, and how many additional patrol hours it generated, could not be confirmed from the available information.

Those details are particularly relevant to Levinson's concerns about visible policing.

State Oversight Remains a Point of Contention

Levinson also directed attention toward New Jersey's continuing oversight of Atlantic City's municipal government.

The state assumed substantial financial oversight responsibilities in 2016, and the county executive has repeatedly argued that state officials should be held accountable for helping improve conditions in the resort.

During Thursday's interview, Levinson said the state should play a more active role in addressing public safety concerns.

"Now, since the state runs the city, there's no excuse that the state has for not making it safer," he said.

His comments reflect his view of the state's responsibility. Atlantic City continues to have an elected mayor, City Council and municipal police department, even as state financial oversight remains an important part of its governance.

Levinson has previously clarified that his criticism of police visibility is not intended as a personal attack on Small or the Atlantic City Police Department.

In an October 26 appearance on The Don Williams Show, he said his concerns were directed principally at the state's role in Atlantic City.

The county executive's latest remarks continue that discussion while acknowledging the improvements that have occurred.

A Debate Over Statistics and Perception

The question of whether Atlantic City needs more police officers has become part of a broader discussion about the resort's future.

Small and police officials have emphasized falling crime rates, improved investigations and investments in technology.

Levinson does not dispute that progress.

Instead, he argues that the city must address how residents and visitors experience public safety, particularly when walking outside casino properties.

Research on public safety has long distinguished between recorded crime and fear of crime. Visible policing can influence perceptions of safety, although its effectiveness depends on how officers are deployed and how they interact with the community.

In Atlantic City, the issue carries economic consequences.

City leaders are pursuing new development, improved infrastructure and expanded convention business, all intended to encourage visitors to spend more time and money throughout the resort.

Levinson believes that effort will be more successful if visitors see officers regularly while walking city streets.

He recalled visiting New York City after the September 11 terrorist attacks and being struck by the visible police presence.

"I never felt so secure in my life. There were police all over the place," he said.

"And it really, really felt good. We felt secure. And, you know, we walked around and spent money."

For Levinson, that experience illustrates what he wants Atlantic City to achieve.

The city's latest available annual crime figures show meaningful improvement. The department has also welcomed new officers and invested in patrols and technology.

The remaining question is whether those efforts are translating into the visible police presence that Levinson believes residents, businesses and visitors need.