Not a single shot was fired by officers in Newark, New Jersey in 2020, and city officials credit the department’s ongoing de-escalation training for the statistic in a year filled with challenges.
“This is proof-positive that our de-escalation training is highly effective. Our officers have embraced de-escalation training and are actively employing this resource when engaging with the community,” said Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose in a statement.
Newark’s police department shifted to a more community-focused approach to policing in 2016 as part of a sweeping settlement after a Justice Department investigation found that officers routinely used excessive force and made street stops that disproportionately affected minorities.
Fake News, and Lies!
Guess the spin of deception continues
At the end of 2020, Chicago police reported more than 750 murders, a jump of more than 50% compared with 2019. By mid-December, Los Angeles saw a 30% increase over the previous year with 322 homicides. There were 437 homicides in New York City by Dec. 20, nearly 40% more than the previous year.