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CAMDEN - Camden County Police Department leaders say the city has reached a 90% reduction in homicides compared to the same period in 2012, the last full year before the department’s overhaul.
The department also reports a 57% drop in violent crime and an 89% decrease in shootings across Camden’s 19 neighborhoods.
Camden crime rates hit historic lows
What we know:
According to the department, robberies are down 78% and assaults with a firearm have fallen more than 75% compared to early 2012. The city recorded just 12 homicides in 2025, the lowest since 1985.
"We continue to make important progress with all of our partner organizations in the city to reduce crime to historic levels not seen in over 50 years," Chief Gabriel Rodriguez said. "This is not a declaration of a victory over crime; we know that until every city block is secure, we have a critical job to do and one that is vitally important to the residents of Camden."
The city’s first homicide-free winter in five decades was recorded between Dec. 21 and March 20, with zero homicides during that period. As of March 20, Camden had seen a 100% decrease in homicides from the same time last year, and only three shootings by April 2—a 70% drop from last year.
"In Camden, safety isn’t just a statistic, it’s our top priority," Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen said. "It’s what allows families to thrive, businesses to invest, and children to play outside without fear."
Community engagement and new technology drive results
What they're saying:
The police department credits its success to unity policing, technology upgrades, and community programs like the Village Initiative, open gyms, diaper drives, and neighborhood cleanups. The department also launched a drone program to boost situational awareness for officers.
The CCPD works with partners including the Salvation Army, Cooper Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of Camden County, and others to offer youth programs and outreach beyond its main budget.
"Since that time, a drastic change has taken place and under the leadership of one of the best chiefs in the nation, Gabe Rodriguez, Camden is unrecognizable from 2012," George E. Norcross III, chairman of Cooper University Health Care and MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, said.
The department says these efforts have helped create a "third place" for youth to interact positively with officers, aiming to keep crime rates low and improve quality of life.