NAACP asks police, churches to address gang violence Long Branch reacts to fourth murder in four months BY CHRISTINE VARNO Staff Writer Concerned Citizens Coalition Chairwoman Julia Wheeler and Councilman Brian Unger speak out about violence in the city at a press conference Tuesday. In the wake of the fourth homicide in Long Branch in the past four months, community leaders are calling on local law enforcement and faith-based organizations for answers and help. The Greater Long Branch NAACP President Lorenzo “Bill” Dangler said at a press conference Tuesday that he is requesting a meeting with Long Branch Public Safety Director William Richards. “We are not here to say the police department is not doing the job they are being paid to do,” said Dangler at the conference. “We are here to say, ‘We need more to be done.’ “[Richard’s] door is always open,” Dangler said before adding, “We need more communication. What are we doing to curtail the murders?” Dangler said after he meets with Richards, the next step is to reach out to all church leaders throughout Long Branch. “We need to get all our community leaders together on the same page,” Dangler said. “I want to reach out to the ministers throughout Long Branch for a sit-down.” The press conference was held at the NAACP headquarters on Memorial Parkway and was called to address the recent murders in the city. In addition to Dangler, Concerned Citizens Coalition Chairwoman Julia Wheeler and newly elected Councilman Brian Unger spoke at the conference. “Our entire community is shocked,” Unger said about the murders at the conference. “In Long Branch we have a thoroughly and efficiently trained police department,” Unger said. “What is the public safety plan going forward? “I am asking the mayor and my fellow council to put their best foot forward and communicate with our city residents and with community groups, so that we can work together to put an end to this disheartening and dangerous crime wave,” he said. The most recent homicide occurred on Dec. 20, when Patricia DaSilva, 21, was shot and killed in her father’s travel agency, TransBrazil Travel, on Westwood Avenue, according to Dangler. The crime occurred within a week of the Dec. 14 murder of former Long Branch High School student and star athlete Keith T. Mason, 28, who was shot in his Second Avenue home. The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office is still investigating the murder of Michael Montegomery, 27, who was shot and killed on Nov. 21 at the intersection of Johns Street and Hendrickson Avenue. And according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin, an arrest has been made in the murder of Herbert Hoover Lambert Bell, 30, who was shot and killed on Aug. 19 on Division Street. Wheeler said at the conference that residents want their questions answered and their concerns over the increase in violence addressed “You know what is going on,” Wheeler said. “What do we do, how do we do it, and when. We cannot continue to lose. “Once a life is lost, you cannot bring it back. We don’t know the answers. We have got to find a solution and we have to find it now,” she said. In September, Dangler, along with Richards and several other police officials and community leaders, met with Valentin to address crime, violence and gangs in the city. At that meeting, Dangler said he presented Valentine with a list of recommendations, comprised by the NAACP and the CCC at the meeting, to make the streets safer. “We were told the recommendations would be reviewed,” Dangler said. “We have not gotten a response. The prosecutor’s office has not contacted us.” The NAACP is suggesting that the city ask for outside help, Dangler said. “We need seasoned gang experts here to help solve our problems,” Dangler said, “Not overnight experts, not people who have been to a few trainings and then they are sent out to our towns to get their hands-on experience.” Dangler, Wheeler and Unger all agreed that there is gang problem in Long Branch. “We need to stop saying we don’t have a problem,” Dangler said. “We need programs, we need jobs for young people, we need churches to be involved,” he said. Unger added that communication between residents, council and local law enforcement officials needs to be improved. “We need to have a dialogue .… that is open and honest,” he said. “Beyond that we need networking with all the churches and community groups. In city hall, I am going to convince them to participate in this.” Unger added that he hopes to hold a forum at city hall to address concerns and to find solutions. “Perhaps we need a community-wide task force,” Unger said. “Long Branch represents what America is all about,” he said. “We all live together, not separately. If Long Branch fails, America fails.” But Dangler said at the conference that the violence doesn’t end with the murders. “Mid-July a high school senior was shot in the leg in the Ellis Avenue area,” Dangler said, adding, “In August [there were ] reports of gunfire in the Ludlow Street area.” “Maybe we need to stop saying we do not have problems and the numbers don’t suggest that this city is headed in the wrong direction and reach out for help,” Dangler said. Dangler said he questions why neighboring Asbury Park is able to make arrests in crimes similar to those in Long Branch, when homicides remain unsolved in the city. “Asbury Park has had murders and has made arrests in connection with the murders,” Dangler said. “What is Long Branch not doing that we can’t get to that level? “Is it possible that the street connections with police and the people have a better rapport [in Asbury Park]?” he asked.