Hoboken, NJ - Monday, March 5th, 2018
“After receiving a final report from Police Chief Ferrante and based on my observations during the day, I am pleased that there was a clear improvement in quality of life and safety throughout the city,” said Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla. “I thank the bar owners and hospitality industry for working to make this a dramatically safer event and look forward to a collaborative relationship moving forward. Thanks to the cooperation of the Public Safety Task Force, law enforcement, and the hospitality industry, we have delivered on the promise I made to improve public safety and quality of life during these ‘con’ events. Thank you to the Hoboken Police Department, Fire Department, Office of Emergency Management, Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Parking Utility, and Environmental Services, and the police departments from North Bergen, Union City, Secaucus, Stevens, NJ Transit, Port Authority, and Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office for working together to ensure a safe event.”
Compared to 2017, arrests during LepreCon decreased by 64 percent (from 11 to 4), ambulance calls decreased by 18 percent (from 28 to 23), and calls for service decreased by 21 percent (from 488 to 386). City ordinance summons increased from 31 to 37.
“In my 25 years of policing in Hoboken, this was the calmest I have ever seen the first Saturday of March,” said Police Chief Ken Ferrante. “I am glad that no officers were injured during the event, and I thank Mayor Bhalla for supporting our officers and taking steps to ensure everyone’s safety. I further want to thank all of our Hoboken PD officer who admirably handled the long day and long hours, and I want them to know how proud I am of how they have handled the challenges of the past few months and this past weekend.”
There were 3 tavern reports on Saturday, compared to 24 during SantaCon in December, 2017. New Jersey and Hoboken ABC Inspectors reported no violations in any of the bars that were inspected, and the Hoboken Fire Department reported 100% compliance with code inspections.
Statistics
2017
Arrests: 11
Ambulance calls: 28
City ordinance violations: 31
Calls for service: 488
2018
Arrests: 4
Ambulance calls: 23
City ordinance violations: 37
Calls for service: 386
