In an Oct. 23 memo obtained by NJ Advance Media, Chief Anthony Campos informed officers that they should refer any victim complaining about crimes such as simple assault, criminal mischief and harassment to file complaints in municipal court, rather than creating a formal report themselves.
The strategy was instituted “in order to streamline operations and make better usage of police resources”, Campos said in the memo.
It also covers disorderly persons offenses such as improper behavior and offensive language, as well as complaints about bad checks and false information provided to police. The new procedure allows for exceptions for any crime that involves domestic violence or could constitute the level of an indictable offense.