Drug trafficking in Camden's Whitman Park may hit a speed bump, thanks to a partnership among Camden officials, residents and the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. Louis Street, in the heart of crime-ridden Whitman Park, will be converted into a one-way, southbound thoroughfare, to allow police to monitor drug dealers' activities more effectively and reduce traffic accidents. A date for converting the street has not been determined. City Council adopted an ordinance to make the change on Dec. 11, but the measure grew from a year-long effort by police, Whitman Park residents and the prosecutor's office to address crime and safety concerns in the neighborhood. [continues 362 words]
A survey showing Rutgers University in New Brunswick had the second-highest number of drug arrests among the nation's largest colleges reflects successful law-enforcement efforts more than increased substance abuse, campus officials said. The survey, published by the Chronicle of Higher Education, noted a distinct rise in alcohol and drug-related arrests on campuses nationwide between 1997 and 1998, the most recent year for which data was studied. There were 138 drug-related arrests reported at Rutgers' New Brunswick campuses, second only to the University of California at Berkeley, where 280 drug arrests occurred within a slightly smaller student body. [continues 555 words]
