East Orange Police Director Jose Cordero achieved his goals better than anyone imagined. He has transformed the system of policing and reduced crime by 76% in East Orange. It is a greater achievement than anyone can imagine.
"I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to Mayor Robert L. Bowser, who has placed his confidence in me to serve the citizens of this great city...I say that because I have the utmost respect and admiration for the residents of East Orange; they have throughout the years expressed both support and gratitude for what we have achieved and optimism for an even safer city...A simple metaphor for what we have done and need to do going forward is: we traded shotgun-type policing methods for a scalpel-like approach; we must enhance those methods with laser-like speed and precision."
He further added, "There are 24,000 fewer victims in East Orange...How we are going to continue progress is the key."
Cordero said that today crime is more regional. Locally combating the crime will not solve the problem. It must be a collaborative effort with our neighboring cities.
When asked how the citizens can help the police, he answered that the citizens can contact tip lines to report crime they witness.
Mayor Bowser said, "I am pleased to announce that I have re-appointed Jose M. Cordero to serve, for a second tour of duty, as Director of the East Orange Police Department...During this economic downturn, the dynamics of types of crime has changed. What we may have done 3 or 4 years ago needs to be upgraded with new initiatives, and the use of the latest technology."
During Cordero's tenure as State Law Enforcement Director, homicide declined three years in a row. His leadership helped to make for a 29% homicide reduction in Irvington, a neighboring city. His achievement in the city of East Orange is a remarkable 76% reduction in crime from 2003 to 2009. He has been offered jobs in other cities, but he came back to East Orange to continue the job of reducing crime he started in 2003.
He will make a strategy to reduce violent crime, especially robbery, so citizens and the business community can feel safe and more people can shop in the neighborhood.
"We feel safer today than seven years ago," Ray Scott, president of the East Orange Chamber of Commerce said. "There is a great deal of improvement on Central Avenue."
We couldn't have said it better.
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