The detectives from the vice unit will be assigned to the prosecutor's Special Investigations Unit.
TRENTON — The police department’s Vice unit is merging with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, officials said today.
The unit focused on drugs, prostitution, gambling, and bar controls will now be under the county’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU), the prosecutor’s office said. The details will be released at a press conference tomorrow held by Prosecutor Joseph Bocchini and Police Director Ralph Rivera Jr.
It was not immediately clear if the city detectives would no longer report to the Trenton police chain of command, and if they will continue to conduct investigations solely in Trenton or also work in other towns.
Policemen’s Benevolent Association local president George Dzurkoc said he was declining to comment until after the news conference tomorrow.
In 2011, Trenton Mayor Tony Mack attempted to disband the department's tactical and vice units in favor of more manpower for foot patrols. Trenton police appealed to Bocchini, who brokered a meeting where an agreement was reached. Mack got his foot patrols, but enough officers were kept in vice and the tactical unit that police believed they could remain effective.
Rivera disbanded the tactical unit last December, and has instead used suppression patrols by marked units and uniformed officers.
In addition to drug raids and long-term narcotics investigations, the vice unit has seized weapons and cash for forfeiture monies. The the number of detectives in the unit has not been revealed by authorities.
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