Public Safety & Community Stability

Safer Neighborhoods, Stronger Trust, Real Accountability

Every resident deserves to feel safe at home, on their block, Downtown, and in every park in Trenton. Businesses should be able to operate safely, children should be able to walk to school without fear, and residents should have confidence that help will come when they need it.

As mayor, I will bring policing, violence prevention, mental-health response, and neighborhood partnerships together under a coordinated strategy with clear responsibilities and measurable results.

Bring Police Closer to Our Neighborhoods

I will work to decentralize police operations and reactivate neighborhood precincts so that more officers and services are accessible within the communities they serve.

My plan includes:

• Establishing a West Ward hub that houses the Office of Violence Prevention and Public Safety alongside TPD’s Community Affairs Department.

• Reactivating the East Ward police station as a neighborhood patrol and community response precinct, serving as a base for officers assigned to surrounding neighborhoods, providing accessible police services during posted staffed hours, and strengthening responses to traffic concerns and recurring neighborhood problems.

• Expanding foot and bicycle patrols in neighborhoods, Downtown, business corridors, and parks.

• Reviewing staffing, assignments, and shift schedules to increase officers available for patrol during periods of greatest need.

• Working to restore a dedicated traffic enforcement function to address speeding, reckless driving, and pedestrian safety.

• Strengthening neighborhood relationships through regular meetings, consistent officer engagement, and coordination with neighborhood associations.

Recruit, Retain, and Support Qualified Officers

A department cannot provide dependable coverage without adequate staffing, effective supervision, and support for its officers.

I will review vacancies, compensation, overtime, and administrative assignments to identify how existing resources can better support recruitment and neighborhood policing. Working with Council and through collective bargaining where required, I will pursue more competitive starting pay and a more effective salary progression.

I will also prioritize ongoing training, confidential mental-health support, and officer wellness. Supporting officers and holding them to high standards are both essential to a strong department.

Strengthen Accountability and Rebuild Public Trust

Residents deserve professional, respectful policing and a complaint process they can trust.

I will prioritize reform of Internal Affairs, clear professional standards, and consistent follow-through when misconduct is reported. My administration will address identified deficiencies through corrective actions, assigned responsibilities, and public reporting on progress.

I will work with Council to establish a formal Public Safety Advisory Board, with meaningful civilian participation and oversight responsibilities within its lawful authority. Residents should have a clear way to raise concerns, understand the complaint process, and help shape public-safety priorities.

Create an Office of Violence Prevention and Public Safety

Police are essential, but they cannot carry the entire responsibility for preventing violence.

I will establish an office to coordinate street outreach teams, violence intervention organizations, mental-health providers, schools, neighborhood associations, and faith-based partners. Its work will include:

• Coordinating outreach and intervention for people at greatest risk of being involved in violence.

• Connecting victims, survivors, and families with counseling and practical support.

• Expanding youth intervention, mentorship, and pathways into education and employment.

• Strengthening mental-health crisis response and coordination with programs such as Arrive Together.

• Developing coordinated coverage during evenings, weekends, and other periods when support is most needed.

The office will build on existing community work, with clear expectations, referral procedures, and measures of effectiveness.

Give Young People More Paths to Opportunity

Our public-safety strategy must include meaningful opportunities for young people.

I will build a school-to-city-government pipeline through internships, career exposure, and employment opportunities across municipal departments. Working with our Youth Council, schools, Mercer County Community College, workforce partners, and community organizations, we will connect young people to mentorship, training, trades, certifications, and careers.

I will also strengthen referrals for residents returning home from incarceration who need employment, housing assistance, or other support to rebuild their lives.

Coordinate Enforcement and Prevention

I will deepen county, state, and federal partnerships to address gun violence and repeat violent offending, while ensuring enforcement remains focused, lawful, and accountable.

That coordination must also address conditions that undermine neighborhood safety, including abandoned properties, inadequate lighting, illegal dumping, and unsafe public spaces. Police, inspections, public works, recreation, and health services must work together with clear responsibility for resolving problems.

Put the Plan Into Action—and Report the Results

During my first 100 days, I will review police staffing, deployment, vacancies, overtime, training, complaint procedures, and existing violence prevention partnerships. That review will guide a phased implementation plan with staffing needs, funding sources, timelines, and responsible departments.

I will work with Council to align the budget with those priorities, pursue available grants, and develop county and community partnerships to support implementation.

My administration will publish regular public-safety updates tracking violent crime, response times, patrol staffing, traffic safety, complaint resolution, and violence prevention outcomes. Residents deserve to know what is improving and where more work is needed.

GOAL: Significantly reduce violent crime, improve neighborhood safety, and rebuild trust—with a public baseline, annual targets, and progress reported throughout the year.

Prevention, accountability, and follow-through make a real public safety plan. A curfew alone doesn’t.