HAMMONTON, NJ — Atlantic County wants to show its residents that it is a safe, diverse place for all walks of life. And businesses are reflecting that — a Hammonton cafe is the first to join the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office’s new Safe Place initiative.
According to a press release, Safe Place is a law enforcement initiative that promotes safety, provides training and education, and most importantly, supports victims and targets of bias-related incidents and hate crimes in Atlantic County.
Casciano’s Coffee Shop & Sweetery on Bellevue Avenue in Hammonton, run by Hammonton business owner Linda Cashan, is the first business to officially join the Safe Place initiative, but several more are expected to follow, prosecutors said.
“Hammonton is an inclusive community with a diverse range of people of different nationalities, cultures and preferences,” said Hammon Police Chief Kevin Friel. “Our job is to keep everyone safe and keep our community as healthy as possible.”
According to the public prosecutor:
The goal of Safe Place is to promote public safety and combat bias incidents and/or crimes based on race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and/or gender identity), ancestry, disability, and/or marital status. Bias and hate crimes and incidents are statistically underreported, often due to victims’ fear that their complaint will be ignored. When Safe Place is used by ACPO, individuals seeking assistance are treated with care, dignity, and respect by participating organizations and, most importantly, by responding police departments. The sole responsibility of the individual in the public building or business is to allow them to wait there safely until police arrive.
“I am proud that Atlantic County has taken this step to bring this program here and that we have a program in place that makes it very clear that residents and visitors from all walks of life are supported and protected here in Atlantic County,” said Caryn Campanelli, Atlantic County LGBTQ+ Law Enforcement Liaison Detective.
ACPO will contact other communities in Atlantic County regarding Safe Place
including police departments in every municipality. Atlantic County residents are increasingly seeing these stickers in the windows of Atlantic County businesses and public buildings.
“The ‘Safe Place’ sticker signals to the public that there is no place for hate in our communities and that anyone who feels threatened because of who they are is welcome in this facility,” said District Attorney William Reynolds.
You can find out more about the Safe Place initiative and register your company using this link.
