Here's the OBAMA-era consent decree:
https://www.justice.gov/crt/file/836991/download
It includes many facets, but one is "de-escalation" training and also MOVING money from the police budget to "violence prevention" and "community wellness" programs.
Its a mixed bag and a complicated situation, as usual, but crime is down and in 2020 not a single shot was fired by a police officer ALL YEAR, a year that even include Floyd "riots" that include the protestors overrunning a police station.
HERE's the story:
"Newark police and city officials say a de-escalation training program is working, especially in a year faced with challenges.
Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose says 2020 was the roughest year in his 34-year career in law enforcement.
Six of their 1,100 officers lost their lives to COVID-19 with dozens more officers sick after being exposed on the job.
They also faced major challenges during the summer's anti-police brutality protests.
Through it all, Ambrose says not one officer in the city fired his or her weapon while on duty in 2020."
AND THIS FROM EALRIER THIS YEAR:
"NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Amid New York City’s rise in shootings and heated calls to defund the NYPD, a neighboring city is touting one of its safest years in six decades, and it credits a positive police and community relationship.
“I love my city, and I see it changing for the better,” said William Latimore, with the Newark Community Street Team.
It’s a pride that can bring even the toughest guys to tears. After spending 14 years in prison, Latimore has become the change he wanted to see for Newark.
“I’m working on maybe seven different conflicts that’s in the city,” he said.
He’s a leading member of the Newark Community Street Team, which was formed six years ago under Mayor Ras Baraka.
Aqeela Sherrills is the man in charge.
“Many of our staff are credible messengers. They’re former gang members, ex-convicts, drug dealers, folks who changed and transformed their lives,” he said.
Now they work to transform the streets.
Most are lifelong Newark residents with a so-called “hood history,” these men and women have a connection with the high-risk community many cops don’t have.
“Someone who experienced what they experienced is the best people to be able to teach them and guide them and lead them in the right direction,” team member Tequila Thompson said.
“The Newark Street Team has a trust from people that will never trust us. They’ll never trust the police. Or not right now,” Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose told CBS2’s Jessica Layton.
Ambrose says the team is one piece of why crime is down in Newark.
The city says its homicide rate in 2019 was the lowest it’s been since 1961, and since last year, violent crime and arrests are also down, putting 2020 on track to be even better.
“Deescalation training. You know, it’s just not a word that you’re gonna use, you have to make sure that your officers are trained,” Ambrose said."
