That may seem high, but with only about 5,000 residents, Geschke said one must consider the number of elements packed within Neptune City's borders. The little slip of a municipality tucked between Neptune and the tourist towns of Bradley Beach, Avon and Asbury Park also is crisscrossed by routes 33 and 35, Sylvania Avenue and Memorial Drive. Because of the high traffic volume on those roads, the department takes an aggressive approach to motor-vehicle stops, last year issuing 2,897 summonses and making 31 arrests for driving while intoxicated, according to department statistics. Nonviolent crimes, such as burglary and thefts from and of motor vehicles, have fluctuated in recent years, from a high of 408 in 1991 to 270 in 1996. Geschke said his 17-member department started bicycle patrols last year, and cars are now equipped with laptop computers, both strategies he hopes will give police more flexibility and reduce paperwork to keep officers on patrol.
Violent crimes are murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
The city's last murder, the 1996 stabbing of Smita Amin Patel, remains unsolved. Police believe the crime happened in a flash, with the assailant entering the usually-busy store before 10 a.m. and attacking Patel before fleeing with money from the cash register and lottery machine. No arrest has been made. Site design by IN Jersey .