Trenton council confronts police staffing and entertainment‑district safety as ordinance debated

Trenton City Council members and residents pressed city officials Wednesday over police staffing levels, patrol deployment and enforcement in the city’s entertainment district, raising questions about how officers are assigned and whether the police department is using public funds efficiently.

The meeting opened with an account of department staffing that drew the sharpest scrutiny: "We have 238 officers, 71 on patrol," a police representative told the council, saying roughly 165 officers were assigned to internal or specialized roles rather than regular patrol shifts. Council members and public speakers said they want more officers visible in entertainment and high‑crime areas.

The concern about patrol deployment came as the council considered an ordinance that would adjust permitted hours of operation for certain nonresidential businesses in the entertainment district. Council President Gonzales moved to table Ordinance 25‑069 on first reading; the motion carried on a roll call vote with unanimous support from members present.

"What the councilman is referring to as a reduction is one of the adjustments that the city does at the end of the year," Maria Richardson, the business administrator, told the council when asked about budget numbers. She said year‑end adjustments reflect vacancies at the time the budget was adopted and that some appropriations are reallocated when positions go unfilled.

Mayor (present) defended the department’s record on major crimes and minority representation, saying crime is "down statistically" and that the department has solved every homicide reported so far this year. Still, several council members and residents said street visibility and response capacity remain inadequate.

Councilwoman Feliciano said the proposed ordinance applies only to the entertainment district and stressed that the council’s goal is public safety: "We will be looking to amend the opening time, from 6 to an earlier time," she said during discussion of the ordinance’s language and exemptions. Several business owners who spoke at public comment urged the council not to penalize the majority of establishments that operate responsibly, saying earlier closing times would harm legitimate businesses.

Councilman Harrison pointed to the city’s budget history while pressing for clarity on police spending: he said an amendment in last year’s budget reflected a $7,900,000 reduction in policing and asked why a surplus was being reported. Richardson responded that the apparent surplus reflected unspent appropriations tied to vacancies and that those funds were being reallocated as intended.

The council also approved Resolution 25‑255 to change the municipal budget public hearing date (the new date was recorded in the meeting roll call). Council members said administrative deadlines for budget hearings needed adjustment to align with internal processes.

The meeting included extended public comment on policing and nightlife. Residents and business owners described recurring fights, loitering and a sense of lawlessness in parts of the downtown area and asked the council and administration to provide clearer enforcement and better coordination with the police department. Several speakers also objected to unlicensed cannabis sellers and urged the city to enforce licensing laws.

The council said it will continue reviewing ordinance language and enforcement options and that further discussion and amendments could return to a future meeting; for now, the ordinance was tabled and the council moved on to other agenda items.

Ending — The council did not adopt substantive new patrol policies at the meeting. Instead it paused action on the entertainment‑district ordinance and asked administration and police staff for additional information about staffing, budget adjustments and enforcement plans. Additional hearings and follow‑up briefings were promised as the council continues to weigh changes aimed at balancing nightlife, business activity and public safety.