"We need you to be our eyes and ears,” Egg Harbor Township Police Chief Michael Steinman told residents of Zion Park who packed a meeting Thursday night.
The community gathering was to help calm fears after a homicide and an attempted armed robbery hit the small neighborhood in a short time.
"We can take away their opportunity," said Officer Eddie Bertino, who does community policing.
Arty Barrera, 24, was killed inside his Vermont Avenue home Jan. 2.
On Jan. 21, an attempted armed robbery was captured on a doorbell camera video.
The incidents do not appear to be related, Steinman said, adding that his officers are close to filing charges in the robbery.
It is not considered to be a random attack.
While police didn’t get into details about that, Capt. Fred Spano had a resident repeat his own observations of the video.
“If you turn it up and listen to the beginning, (the armed man) calls (the victim) by name,” the man said.
The police also let a resident answer the question when asked about rumors that a gun was found on nearby Dover Avenue, after the incident.
“They found it on my lawn,” he said before police could respond.
No one from the department commented, but also did not correct him.
“I didn’t touch it and just called police,” the man told BreakingAC.
Another resident said detectives took the camera from her home in hopes of helping track the suspect or suspects who killed Barrera.
Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner — also a township resident — said he could not release any new information on the killing, but urged people to speak up whenever there is something going on.
“We need your help,” he said. “We can’t do it without you.”
Tips can be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers, where Barrera’s family has raised the reward to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment.
The method is fully anonymous and can’t even be traced by the FBI, said Cyndi Balles, who heads the organization.
“Fear is the number one reason people do not say what they know,” she said.
In the meantime, residents had lots of questions, said Committeeman Andrew Parker III, who lives in the neighborhood.
He went door-to-door in the aftermath.
“Mostly they’re asking, what are we to do as homeowners,” Parker said.
Working with police and notifying them of anything suspicious is a big help.
“Observation goes a long way,” said Mayor Paul Hodson, who is retired from law enforcement. “Little pieces can fill in the puzzle.”
Residents were also urged to reach out to Bertino, the department’s community police officer.
“He was my fullback in high school,” said former tailback Parker. “He had my back then, and he still does.”
Bertino said residents can email him with any concerns, and he also can do security survey of homes to help make the area safer.
It could be something as simple as removing a bush that someone could use as cover to lighting.
Residents filled the meeting room inside the library. Committeeman Frank Balles, a retired police captain and former county sheriff, praised the large turnout.
“This gives me hope that this crime is going to be solved,” he said.
Anyone with information about crime in Egg Harbor Township can call police at 609-926-4050. Information on the homicide can be called in to the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 609-909-7666 or Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234. Residents looking for help from Bertino can email him at ebertino@ehtpd.com.
