I remember as a child there was a cartoon that was introduced and it was called the Jetson’s. This television program was a glimpse into our future and we did not know it. There was a telephone on the program when in use you would be able to see the person with whom you were speaking. Wow, we can use this feature now. At this point you may be wondering why I brought this cartoon into this paper, but sitting in front of the computer writing this paper it came to my remembrance.

“East Orange is Leading the Way in Crime-Fighting Technology,” this title that was published in the Star Ledger which is a local newspaper. I am proud to say that I was born and raised in the City of East Orange that is located in the fine Garden State, New Jersey. I actually watched East Orange go from Suburbia to Urban and become a crime ridden 3.9 square miles. For such a small city it was infested with crime. The 1980’s was not good years and the 1990’s were no better. At this time crack cocaine entered into our very quiet community and reek havoc. It was as if we went to sleep and woke up in a nightmare that continued for many, many years.

The city’s streets were out of control. There was prostitution, robberies, murders and folks that were addicted walking around the streets like zombies. It was almost as if we were living in the movie New Jack City. The citizens of this city were afraid to come out of their homes once night fell. It seemed that the Mayor and the City Council at the time threw up their hands and became hostages along with the other citizens of this City.

The criminals were prospering and very bold about it. This was their time and they knew it. They also had some officer’s on their payroll that meant they were protected. Documents and arrest records would disappear and without it there was not much that law enforcement could do. There was