The report offers the public a detailed overview of the department’s operations for the past year.
The Evesham Township Police Department has released its annual report for 2017.
The report offers the public a detailed overview of the department’s operations, including highlights for the year, a breakdown of the department’s command structure, a budget summary and administrative review and analysis.
Chief of Police Christopher Chew describes the report as reflecting “the positive efforts” of the department’s sworn and civilian staff as they continue work to improve the services the department provides to the community.
“As chief of police, I take great pride in the dedication and hard work by each of my coworkers who make up the Evesham Police Department,” Chew said. “It is our intention to continue with our unwavering commitment in making Evesham Township the safest place to visit, shop and call home.”
According to the report, the Evesham Township Police Department served an estimated population of more than 55,000 residents in 2017, with more than 31,000 calls for service, more than 23,000 motor vehicle stops, more than 1,700 motor vehicle crash investigations and more than 24,000 business checks.
For 2017, the department made nearly 1,800 arrests, of which 170 were DWI arrests.
During that time, the department was comprised of 80 sworn officers, four Class II Special Law Enforcement Officers and 11 civilian employees.
Salary and overtime costs reached $8.3 million in 2017, with additional operating costs of about $397,000.
According to the report, members of the department used force during 76 police-related activities in 2017, including zero instances of firearms used, 17 instances of firearms pointed, zero instances of controlled energy devices, such as stun guns, being used, five instances of CEDs being pointed, zero instances of OC Spray, zero instance of baton use, two instances of K-9 force and 52 weaponless uses of force.
Last year, members of the department were also involved in 16 motor vehicle pursuits, with 12 resulting in arrest.
Citizens lodged 51 internal affairs complaints against members of the department in 2017, and an additional 42 investigations were conducted that stemmed from internal complaints filed within the organization, for a total of 93 complaints for the year.
Of the 42 investigations stemming from internal complaints, the report notes that such complaints “usually originate from a front line supervisor detecting deficiencies in an officer’s performance or a policy violation or an investigation of a motor vehicle crash involving an officer while on duty operating a department vehicle or deficiencies identified through the routine inspections conducted by the Internal Affairs Unit.”
For the total 93 complaints:
• Thirty-nine complaints were sustained resulting in internal disciplinary action — nine external complaints and 30 internal complaints
• Thirty-six complaints were exonerated — 33 external complaints and three internal complaints
• Four complaints were not sustained — one external complaint and three internal complaints
• Eight complaints were administratively closed — one civil tort, five external complaints / three internal complaints
• Two complaints were unfounded — one external complaint and one internal complaint
• Four complaints remain open cases — including one civil tort
Other highlights for 2017 include the promotion of two new lieutenants to serve in the agency’s patrol bureau, the addition of another police K-9, completion of the department’s third annual physical fitness program and the purchase of new camera systems for the department’s ongoing Body Worn Camera program.
Throughout the year, all officers were also outfitted with controlled energy devices so officers would have what the report describes as an “effective, less-than lethal weapon to utilize when confronted with incidents involving the potential of deadly force.”
Last year also saw the department earn its second reaccreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, a voluntary process through which law enforcement agencies comply with strict standards outlined by the commission.
“Our agency is extremely proud of this National Accreditation Certification as we are only one of nine police departments in the state of New Jersey to receive this prestigious award,” Chew said. “Our agency has been recognized as one of the top 1 percent of law enforcement agencies in the country for the past seven years.”
In 2017, the department also entered the fourth year of its Awards and Recognition
Program, which the annual report describes as a program to recognize agency employees, for performing “exceptional acts and achievements.”
Last year, officers were recognized through the “Officer of the Month” award, and officers, civilian employees and members of the public were recognized at the department’s annual awards banquet.
To view the full 47-page report, visit the department’s website at www.eveshampd.org.
