And that has something to do with Jackson's steady decrease in crime over that period, he said. Community involvement, like residents calling in any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods and giving feedback to our officers, has been a driving force that is reflected in our decreasing crime rates. Jackson's major crime rate, which dropped by half between 1982 and 1996, ranks in the middle of Ocean County's 32 towns with police departments. More specifically, in 1982 the major crime rate per 1,000 residents was 85.77. Fifteen years later it dropped to 43.36.
Major crimes are murder, rape, robbery, burglary, aggravated assault and theft.
About six years ago, police started stepping up an existing community policing initiative under the direction of Sgt. As a result, officers continue to meet monthly with neighborhood watch groups to discuss crime trends. After meetings officers report to their superior to analyze the various crimes. Crimes do happen in Jackson. Over the years we've had murders, vehicle thefts and drug arrests.