Criminals looking for easy targets during the holidays be warned: Special details of Burlington County Sheriff officers will continue to patrol in towns along the River Line light-rail in December and into 2025.
Burlington County Sheriff James Kostoplis announced the continuation of the patrols this week and provided a four-month update on the early results, saying sheriff officers are providing a consistent presence at and near the River Line stations specifically to deter crime and to assist local police.
“It’s been just over four months since the launch of our special details in River Line communities and we are pleased with the results to date,” Kostoplis said. “Residents, commuters and business owners are seeing our officers in these communities and so are would-be lawbreakers. Their presence is creating a strong deterrence against property crimes like shoplifting, burglaries and package theft that often increase around the holidays.”
Specifically, Kostoplis said sheriff officers were deployed for special details in River Line communities 44 times between mid-August and late November, resulting in the following engagements and interactions:
- 395 property checks
- 3 arrests and 34 assists
- 7 prison transports to Burlington County Detention Center.
“The early numbers are consistent with our objective to provide a visible police presence and cooperate with local police departments to assist them whenever possible,” Kostoplis said.
The special details are being funded with a $150,000 legislative grant. Kostoplis said there is sufficient funding remaining in the state grant to continue the details well into 2025.
State Sen. Troy Singleton, who helped secure the special legislative grant in the fiscal year 2025 state budget, said the early results from the sheriff’s initiative were encouraging.
“This unique partnership is addressing concerns we heard about safety and the need for a more visible presence along the River Line,” Singleton said. “The early results from the sheriff’s details are promising and we will continue to collaborate with local law enforcement, Sheriff Kostoplis and NJ Transit to further improve safety in these communities.”
Burlington County Commissioner Director Felicia Hopson said the cooperation between sheriff’s officers and local police departments was setting an example for other counties to emulate.Â
“The Sheriff’s Office is proving once more how it can be a difference-maker for our residents and communities,” Hopson said. “In just four months, these officers have had a positive impact on our River Line communities and brought greater peace of mind to commuters and residents. We look forward to hearing more results from this initiative in 2025.”
On Oct. 22, some 150-plus residents filed into the Palmyra Community Center for a public meeting to question NJ Transit officials about safety and other issues on the River Line. The communities of Palmyra and Riverton are still reeling from the August death of Matthew Dickinson, a 15-year-old who was struck and killed by a River Line train while heading to soccer practice.
Another River Line fatality occurred on Oct. 14, when train operator Jessica Healey, a 41-year-old from Levittown, Pennsylvania, was killed and 23 others injured as her train struck a fallen tree on the tracks in Mansfield Township.
In response, NJ Transit has been performing a comprehensive assessment of all River Line stations and platforms.
There are 11 River Line stations in the county that run along Bordentown City, Bordentown Township, Florence, Burlington City, Burlington Township, Beverly, Delanco, Edgewater Park, Delran, Riverside, Riverton, Cinnaminson and Palmyra.
