As another year passes, it is that time that my colleagues and I at the Board of Commissioners reflect on and highlight all of the wonderful progress we have made in the county throughout 2024 in terms of public safety, infrastructure, health care, social services, business development and other key areas. It was a year of bold ideas and execution from consolidating a new police department into the county system to reducing overdose deaths.
Looking back on 2024, the county has had another historic year for public safety and reducing victims of crime while building a stronger network of first responders. The Camden County Police Department had its best year ever as a law enforcement agency dropping violent crime by almost 20% and overall crime by 8% over last year. In addition, shootings and homicides were down more than 35% over last year creating some of the lowest numbers in the modern era of Camden City. Furthermore, the Woodlynne Borough Police Department was consolidated into the county and an enhanced level of police services has been provided to the residents of the municipality. In the same way the CCPD had a positive impact in Camden City, our neighbors in Woodlynne are now getting the same experience with a community policing strategy that is a model for the nation.
In the realm of healthcare, there were several notable moments. The first being the launch of a back-to-school vaccine program, a first of its kind initiative here in Camden County. Throughout the summer, the Department of Health and Human Services held free vaccine clinics for uninsured or partially insured children in an effort to prepare them for the school year. This program was led by public health professionals that provided access and opportunity for families to ensure an identified barrier is removed for children to attend school. At the clinics, children received DTap, polio, MMR, meningococcal and Tdap vaccines and families were also able to speak with representatives from the Osbourne Family Health Center to assist in insurance applications.
Another great accomplishment we saw this year in healthcare was the dramatic decrease in overdose deaths. From Jan. 1 to Dec. 14, there have been a total of 188 suspected overdose deaths reported in 2024, down from 326 at the end of 2023.This was an incredible 43% decrease in deaths from a year ago and directly related to the work of the county health department and the Camden County Addiction Awareness Task Force. In addition to the fall in fatal overdoses, there was a decline in Naloxone administrations this year. According to the NJ Department of Health, between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1 of 2023, there were 1,576 naloxone administrations given in Camden County as compared to the same period of this year, when there were 1,184 administrations. Similarly, the rate of fatal overdoses in Camden County has fallen year after year since 2022. There were 326 total drug related deaths in 2023, a significant decrease from 353 deaths back in 2022.
In terms of infrastructure, the Camden County Public Works Department was hard at work all year long, breaking ground on transformative projects to keep our county’s roads and bridges in top quality condition. One of the most significant projects that began this year was the Kings Highway improvement project that broke ground in September. The $10.7 million investment encompasses the municipalities of Haddon Heights, Audubon and coming to end in Mt. Ephraim. The highly anticipated project will completely transform Kings Highway from Market Street to Hopkins Road, making it safer and more easily navigable for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. The highlights of the work include: milling and/or removal of existing concrete pavement and installation of hot-mix asphalt pavement; resurfacing from Market Street (CR-634) to Hillside Avenue (CR-661); full-depth reconstruction from Hillside Avenue (CR-661) to West Atlantic Avenue (CR-727); resurfacing from West Atlantic Avenue (CR-727) to Hopkins Road; improvements and rehabilitation to existing storm sewer system; cleaning and lining of existing sanitary sewer system and lateral replacement; concrete vertical curb, sidewalk, and ADA-accessible curb ramps; and traffic striping, signage, and raised pavement markers. Another major project that got underway in 2024 was the $1.2 million intersection improvement project in Voorhees Township. In the spring, Camden County and Voorhees Township broke ground on the widening of Route 561 at White Horse Road in the westbound direction. This allowed for an additional through lane for westbound traffic and a dedicated lane for traffic turning left onto White Horse Road northbound from the eastbound direction.
The county also made major strides when it comes to social services. In April, the Camden County Office of Homeless Services released a six-point plan that utilizes programs and partnerships to combat and eliminate homelessness in Camden County. The plan will be executed with the help of several community partners including Volunteers of America, the Community Planning and Advocacy Council and several other social service providers. The plan focuses on six key components – policy, people, partnerships, prevention, programs and places. Each municipality within Camden County will be involved in the efforts and the goal is to end homelessness and reach functional zero by 2030. Functional zero is reached when the number of homeless people, sheltered or unsheltered, is no greater than the monthly housing placement rate.
This year, the county also expanded its successful Project SAVE program, an initiative that seeks to address the opioid crisis in our communities, and reduce substance use-related recidivism, by shifting the focus of police efforts and practices beyond the initial arrest. The program added mental health navigators to its ranks, and it surpassed 10,000 referrals for treatment. Camden County also remains and will continue to be a place to work and do business. Just ask companies that are currently expanding there footprint here, like the 60,000 square foot addition at Holtec International’s Headquarters in Camden City or Cooper University Health Care’s $3 billion expansion. On top of that we are seeing Virtua Health continues to invest in their Lady of Lourdes campus putting in more than $250 million and Jefferson just finished significant enhancements to its Cherry Hill campus. Residential construction continues to boom throughout the county with new homes and units being built in Camden City, Lawnside, Cherry Hill,
Gibbsboro and Gloucester Township. In total, the county has added more than $5 billion to its tax ratable base over last year and the forecast continues to be strong for more growth in 2025. Our county greenspaces and parks also underwent major transformations throughout this year thanks to the ongoing Parks Alive 2025 initiative, a $100 million plan to revitalize the county’s 24 parks, conservation areas and waterways. At New Brooklyn Park in Winslow Township, the county built the second all-inclusive Jake’s Place playground in Camden County. The mission of Build Jake’s Place is to construct playgrounds and play experiences so children of all physical abilities can have fun. In Cooper River Park, several major amenities were installed this year including a reoriented softball field, a skatepark and a brand-new dog park.
Camden County is continually moving in an upward trajectory, improving the quality of life for all of our residents in every municipality. This year was an amazing display of how collaboration, dedication and hard work has created real, tangible, positive change in our communities. As we look back on 2024, we feel an immense sense of pride for all that we have been able to accomplish, and we expect even greater things as we move into 2025.
Best wishes for the New Year,
Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli, Jr.