All Atlantic County businesses are invited to sign on.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office gave the community some insight into it Safe Place law enforcement initiative that began this year.
The office joined more than 350 agencies internationally in receiving certification as a partner in the program, which had its first business join in August, when the logo went up at Casciano’s Coffee Shop & Sweetery in Hammonton.
Last week, the program was presented to a group at the university's Kesselman Hall in Atlantic City. The audience included those in law enforcement, education, faith leadership, government and community representatives.
Stockton is now the first public institution to register.
Safe Place promotes safety, provides training and education, and supports victims and targets of biased incidents and hate crimes that take place in Atlantic County.
Hate crimes are those committed where race, color, religion, sex (including orientation or gender identity), ancestry, disability and/or marital status is a factor.
When Safe Place is utilized, individuals looking for assistance will be treated with care, dignity, and respect from participating organizations and from responding police departments.
Since the meeting, several institutions have registered, including Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City and the Atlantic City Police Department, according to the Prosecutor's Office.
Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds welcomed all attendees and spoke on why he was proud to have the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office as the official hosting agency of the Atlantic County Safe Place initiative.
A detailed overview was presented by LGBTQ+ Law Enforcement Liaison Detective Caryn Campanelli, who told about the program's origin, purpose and logistical functions.
A goal is to encourage victims of potential bias crimes and incidents to report to local law enforcement by seeking
refuge and assistance in a Safe Place, she explained. More importantly, the program is, it lets the individual know they will be safe and accepted in numerous environments.
“Atlantic County Safe Place is a symbol of the community here in Atlantic County," Campanelli said. "It lets visitors, residents, and community partners alike know that we welcome diversity and seek to protect all present. Law enforcement, local business owners, and community organization members all coming together to support this initiative has opened the door to important conversations about the need to actively show our level of commitment and support to protecting all members of the community, regardless of who they are."
Stockton Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff Dr. Terricita Sass spoke on the significance of inclusion, especially in university settings. She emphasized that inclusion does not equate to agreement.
She stressed that public safety should not be political.
Pastor Hunter Dudkiewicz of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Egg Harbor City delivered the keynote address.
He was the first faith leader to register their place of worship as an official Safe Place.
The Prosecutor's Office called his speech "impactful speech regarding faith (that) encourages and directs every human to 'love thy neighbor' and treat each person with respect and dignity regardless of their identity."
The implementation of the Safe Place initiative exemplified this concept well, Dudkiewicz said, encouraging other faith leaders to register their own places of worship.
“It’s the goal of our community outreach to ensure that the citizens of Atlantic County understand that our Prosecutor’s Office and all the County’s municipal police departments prioritize public safety above all,” said Shavonne Davis, the Prosecutor's Office director of Community Outreach.
“What better way to promote that commitment than to launch an initiative that symbolizes that all community members, regardless of personal characteristics or identity, deserve to feel safe?" she said. "I am overjoyed to see the number of businesses, schools, faith leaders, and law enforcement officers who have shown up to support this initiative and designate their buildings and institutions as Safe Places.”
