Recent VIolence Does Not Define Us

We are defined by our love and diversity.

Many of you, like me, have been disturbed by the recent spike in homicides in our City. We have lost members of our Plainfield family in what seems to be a series of senseless killings, and we want answers. I do not want to offer rhetoric in response to these events. I would never seek to diminish the level of urgency we all feel. When one of us grieves, we all grieve, and I truly am hurt and sickened by these tragedies. 

I have visited with the families of the victims, as recently as yesterday and I have expressed my deep sorrow at the loss of their loved ones; I have pledged my full support and the support of our police division and other law enforcement agencies to track down and to hold the responsible parties accountable. I do this quietly because, for me, it is not political and never should be. I meet with the grieving families quietly because I care deeply.

Now, more than ever, it is important for us to come together and be united in our stand against the criminal elements among us who would seek to destroy the quality of our lives, and our daily peace of mind.

I want to assure you that our Plainfield police force, in cooperation with other enforcement agencies, is not just being reactive in this situation. They have been aggressively attacking this problem over the past few years and have stepped up their activities in recent months. 

The law enforcement entities dedicated to investigating and stopping these type of crimes have been conducting raids, seizing guns, and working tirelessly to prevent the flow of drugs into our community. There are many aspects of these investigations which cannot be divulged or commented on, but not for one moment should the perception be that nothing is being done to quell this tide of violence. Since 2014, the Plainfield Police Narcotics Division, the Detective Bureau, the Patrol Bureau, along with the Union County Prosecutors Office, the Union County Sheriff's Office and other enforcement units, have taken 120 guns off the streets of Plainfield, and they have executed search warrants within and outside of Plainfield as they have followed various trails of evidence.

 

A lot of police work depends on officers actually witnessing a crime or citizens getting involved.  In order to further aid in curtailing violent crime, we have installed 30 high-definition cameras at various locations throughout the City. With cameras in place as a force multiplier, police work has been much more proactive. These cameras give the operators the ability to have a 360 degree panoramic view up to several hundred feet within the area. 

I have met with the Union County Prosecutor and asked for assistance in stemming the flow of drugs and guns into Plainfield. We have been utilizing the resources they have made available to us as effectively as we can, and every lead has been followed up. Rest assured that we are leaving no stone unturned as we fight back against this scourge.

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp

City of Plainfield