Community Response Unit

  1. 1 Harlem Wizards (7)
  2. 2 ABA summer camp (4)
  3. 3 JPA Day 4 (8)
  4. 4 CPA gradualtion 2025 (7)
  5. 5 Gymnastics and cheelereading camp (6)
  6. 6 Johnson FIeld day (4)
  7. 7 For the kids
  8. 8 LEAD - rosa (12)
  9. 9 Storytime CCPO (4)
  10. 10 LEAD - rosa (13)
  11. 11 LEAD - Rosa (14)

Traditional Policing

Traditional policing includes responding to calls for service, investigating crimes, and making arrests. While these functions are essential, they do not, on their own, resolve many of the complex issues that impact public safety and quality of life.

The Community Response Unit supports a collaborative approach to public safety by building partnerships with residents, local government, and community organizations. Through outreach, education, and awareness initiatives, the CRU promotes informed problem-solving, strengthens community relationships, and contributes to a safer, more connected community.

Keeping the Community Involved

Public safety is a shared responsibility, and meaningful progress depends on a problem-solving partnership between the Police Department and the community. Assigned to the Community Response Unit, our officers work closely with Township residents and business owners to share timely information about crime trends, proactive enforcement efforts, and practical prevention strategies tailored to their neighborhoods.

A primary goal of this effort is strengthening two-way communication between the police and the community. Building rapport and maintaining open lines of communication encourages residents to report concerns, share information, and participate in crime prevention. That exchange is essential to preventing crime and addressing community issues that traditional policing methods alone may not resolve.

Improved communication also helps connect residents with the agency best equipped to handle certain non-police matters. By directing appropriate issues to the right resources, we reduce unnecessary calls for service and allow patrol officers more time to focus on proactive, crime-deterrence strategies across all neighborhoods.

The LEAD Program is a school-based prevention and education initiative designed to help students build the skills they need to make healthy decisions, stay safe, and develop positive relationships. Through classroom instruction and interactive discussions, officers and trained instructors provide age-appropriate lessons that reinforce personal responsibility, respect, and good decision-making.

LEAD focuses on practical, real-world topics that students face at school, online, and in the community. Lessons are designed to encourage critical thinking, improve communication, and strengthen confidence when handling peer pressure or conflict. The program also helps students see police officers as approachable resources. By creating consistent, positive contact in a classroom setting, LEAD supports a stronger connection between young people, schools, families, and the Police Department.

BookMates

BookMates is a community partnership that brings police officers into local schools to read with elementary students and support early literacy. The program is designed to make reading fun, build confidence, and reinforce the message that learning matters. It also gives students the chance to interact with officers in a positive, everyday setting.

Through regular visits, officers read with students, talk about books and school, and encourage good habits like attendance, effort, and respect for others. Over time, these consistent interactions help strengthen rapport and trust between young people and the Police Department while supporting the work schools already do to promote literacy and student success.

National Night Out is a nationwide community-building event that promotes police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie, and crime prevention. It is an opportunity for residents to connect with neighbors, meet local police officers and first responders, and learn about resources that help keep our community safe.

National Night Out helps strengthen the relationships that make neighborhoods safer. When residents, local organizations, and public safety agencies work together and communicate openly, communities are better prepared to prevent crime, address quality-of-life issues, and support one another.

Blue Envelope Program

The Cherry Hill Police Department will be initiating the Blue Envelope Program starting April 1st, 2025. A voluntary program designed to assist drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) during traffic stops or other motor vehicle related emergencies. Being stopped by a police officer can make anyone anxious. For someone with ASD, it can cause an even greater issue, between the heightened situation, the flashing lights, the sounds of radios and other noises.

The Blue Envelope Program provides police officers and other first responders the means to quickly identify an operator of a motor vehicle with ASD, ensuring clear and respectful communication during the interaction. Drivers with ASD can receive a marked blue envelope where they can keep their vehicle’s documents and the provided emergency contact card. If stopped, they would present the envelope to the officer. The outside of the blue envelope contains directives for the driver, such as notifying the officer of the blue envelope and keeping your hands on the steering wheel. The reverse side contains guidelines for the officer, such as speaking clearly or allowing the driver extra time to respond to requests. There is also a check off box on the front of the envelope indicating whether the driver is verbal or nonverbal.

If you or your loved one would benefit from the Blue Envelope Program, please stop by and pick one up at the Cherry Hill Police Department’s Headquarters’ window, open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you have questions, please contact us at copps@cherryhillpolice.com.Blue EnvelopeCard with Border

Camden County Special Needs Registry

This form can be accessed here on Camden County Prosecutor Office’s website: https://camdencountypros.org/community-page/41

The Cherry Hill Township Police Department and the Camden County Prosecutors Office has a registry for individuals with Special Needs and disabilities in efforts to give police quick access in an emergency to critical information about a person who is registered. The registry can provide police with emergency contact information, detailed physical descriptions, known routines, favorite attractions, or the needs of an individual with Special Needs and other disabilities such as: Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Down Syndrome or any other endangered individuals.

 This information can greatly assist police officers when time is essential in communicating and dealing with an emergency situation involving a person with Special Needs and disabilities. The online registration asks for valuable information that the police officer may need when helping individuals with Special Needs and disabilities. We ask that all questions be filled out completely and a current photograph be provided, which can be submitted online on Camden County Prosecutors Office Special Needs Registry here: https://camdencountypros.org/community-page/41

The information you provide is confidential and will only be used by our police officers. If any of the information on the registration changes you are encouraged to re-register as soon as possible.

If you have questions, please contact our Community Response Unit at copps@cherryhillpolice.com or call 856-488-7813.

Community Groups

Several neighborhood and civic groups throughout the Township regularly partner with the Community Response Unit. These groups are encouraged to stay engaged and share concerns, ideas, and feedback related to quality of life and public safety. Civic organizations may schedule a community meeting and request a CRU officer to attend. Officers can provide updates, discuss relevant topics, answer questions, and share crime prevention resources tailored to the needs of the group.

Personal Safety

CRU officers are available to speak with residents and community groups about practical ways to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime. Presentations can include crime prevention strategies and guidance on personal safety, senior safety, internet safety, and identity theft prevention.

School Safety

The Community Response Unit works with schools, families, and youth-serving organizations to support a safe learning environment and reinforce positive, age-appropriate safety habits. CRU officers are available to speak with students and parents on a variety of topics, including internet safety, bullying prevention, and bicycle safety. Presentations are designed to be practical and interactive. 

Bike Registration

Enter your bike information into our database via the Internet. This data will be stored and available to every Cherry Hill Police Officer. If your bike is stolen this information can be extremely helpful to the investigation.

Register Your Bike Online

Contact Information

For more information, contact the Community Response Unit at (856) 488-7813 or by email. 

Sergeant Anthony Amato - Community Response Unit Supervisor