Crime Rate Holds Steady

The crime rate barely budged in Wyckoff from 2007 to 2008, which police Chief Benjamin Fox attributes as much to the character of the township's residents as his department's enforcement efforts. 

According to data released recently by the New Jersey State Police, the crime rate per 1,000 people went from 7.3 to 7.7 within that time period, with four more incidents recorded by police in 2008 compared to 2007. The slight increase mirrored a county-wide trend, although Wyckoff was among Bergen County's safest municipalities, as the county crime rate per 1,000 people went from 14.6 to 15.6.

The data can be found in the state police's Uniform Crime Reports, which represent a numerical look at both violent and non-violent incidents in every New Jersey municipality. The data, culled from local departments' own reports, shows the number of crimes across various categories—murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson, domestic violence and bias crimes. 

Wyckoff recorded 11 violent crimes in 2008, down from 13 in 2007, but experienced 119 non-violent incidents last year, up from 113 in 2007. There were 10 aggravated assaults and one robbery last year, in addition to 23 burglaries, two motor vehicle thefts and 52 domestic violence calls. However, each category may not represent a unique incident, as police may charge a suspect with multiple offenses stemming from a single incident.

The township also tracked the experience of the state at-large, as New Jersey saw violent crime decrease by 1 percent in 2008 although non-violent crimes increased by 3 percent. "While this is progress, there is still work to be done. We will continue to do whatever it takes to protect the public and help maintain safe neighborhoods where New Jerseyans can raise their families," Gov. Jon S. Corzine said in a statement.

Chief Fox describes the Wyckoff department as active and busy, despite relatively low crime.

"Bad things do happen in a town like Wyckoff."

However, he said the department tries to get out as much information as possible to the residents, via the media, Township Committee and other venues. For example, the chief recalled the police recognizing an increase in the number of minors being arrested for drug offenses a few years back. The police not only stepped up their patrols in the township's wooded areas where minors were congregating, they let the public know they were doing it. Similarly, he said the department has tried to get the word out whenever there has been a jump in burglaries or thefts from cars.

Besides, Fox said, criminals talk—and they know which towns to avoid. Wyckoff officers may not be responding to violent encounters on a daily basis, but the chief said they are actively patrolling, keeping an eye out for suspicious cars and pedestrians.

Fox said that the "department unquestionably... is in fact responsible for the character of the town," meaning that the officers work to do their part to help maintain the quality of life that draws people to a township such as Wyckoff in the first place. He said that the "work volume is still high" for his "service-oriented" department, as they are busy with all of the "things that go on in any community in addition to criminal activity."

Officers also experience a wide variety of work, as the department's 25 officers "can't afford to be specialists.

"You do the best you can," Fox said.