Middle Prioritizes Public Safety and Quality of Life in Rio Grande

Middle Prioritizes Public Safety and Quality of Life in Rio Grande

opens in a new window                            opens in a new window
Homeless encampments in Rio Grande create unsanitary and unsafe conditions.

Faced with a chronic homeless problem, rising petty crime, and open drug use in the Rio Grande area, Middle Township officials vowed to protect the rights of residents and business owners while continuing to offer available housing and social services to those in need.

“While Middle Township remains a community committed to helping those in need, our number one priority will always be public safety,” Middle Township Mayor Tim Donohue said. “While we debate the complicated root causes of these problems and work every day to build partnerships to alleviate the associated suffering, Middle Township will stand firm on upholding law and order to ensure our residents feel safe in their homes and our businesses can operate successfully.”

Donohue cited the local impact of decisions made in Trenton by the Governor and State Legislature. State actions on bail reform, decriminalization of petty crime and drug abuse, and a general anti-police bias have removed the tools that police officers have traditionally utilized to protect the community, he said.

“We recognize the social problems we face and the rights of the homeless to be treated with dignity. But, while addressing these issues, we must balance our approach to protect the rights of our families to be safe in their own homes and on their own properties,” Donohue said. “We will not allow our quality of life to deteriorate due to misguided policies, based on a radically progressive philosophy, that have forced law-abiding citizens and business owners to abandon once-thriving cities and communities across our country.

Evidence of homeless encampments on private property in Middle Township reveal dangerous conditions associated with illegal drug use, lack of basic sanitation, large campfires, violent crime, and disrespect for property owners’ rights. As public health is aligned with public safety, the Township is using all legal measures within its means to protect the health and welfare of its residents.

“We strive every day, working with our social service partners, to facilitate a pathway to available housing and services for any member of our community who genuinely wants help,” Donohue said. “At the same time, when our Township employees and local partners visit these encampments, we regularly encounter bad actors who refuse to accept available housing and readily accessible services. Refusing a realistic offer of housing and social services is not a rational decision and does not translate into a right to remain in an illegal encampment.”

Under the leadership of Chief Jennifer Pooler, the Middle Township Police Department strives to balance its core mission to protect and serve the community with a commitment to offer caring and compassionate services in times of crisis. The MTPD consistently works in partnership with several social services agencies, homeless advocates and mental health professionals to bring services to those in need.

“My department regularly encounters individuals who either refuse to accept available services or have been barred from assistance due to their refusal to meet the proscribed guidelines to qualify,” Pooler said. “Certain individuals have been charged with crimes multiple times, have little respect for the law or Middle Township’s police officers, and feel immune to any real consequences to their actions. We will not permit homelessness to be an excuse for criminality and disrespect of our laws, our residents and our business owners.”

The Township, once again, called on the Cape May County Board of Commissioners and lawmakers in the First Legislative District to move beyond talk and meetings to a concerted and coordinated partnership, backed by serious funding, to address the root causes of homelessness and commit to real-world solutions.

“This is not a ’Middle Township‘ problem; homelessness is a national epidemic, driven by a complex combination of factors,” Mayor Donohue emphasized. “While we didn’t create this problem, Middle Township’s residents, partners, and employees have continuously strived to be a part of a solution. We will maintain our steadfast commitment to protecting public safety and our quality of life. Middle carries all the weight and associated costs for the entire county on this issue. Policies driven from Trenton only exacerbate the problems. Our elected representatives at every level of government have an obligation to stop ignoring this crisis and join with Middle Township immediately to address these critical issues.”