Overview
- City leaders announced Wednesday that the Camden police and public-works departments have expanded an overt camera network to about 1,000 views citywide and added five relocatable cameras dedicated to catching illegal dumping.
- Officials also activated a police-operated drone unit with two full-time pilots and rooftop-stationed drones that can reach sites in minutes to document dumps and help catch suspects on the spot.
- Police say improved detection and tips have produced more enforcement this year with more than 68 dumping cases and 31 people charged so far in 2026, a total that matches the full 2025 caseload.
- The city is asking residents to report incidents through the StopIt app, the county tip line or police and has authorized rewards up to $1,000 for information that leads to arrest and conviction, while offering bulk-waste collection events as legal disposal options.
- Officials stress the program is both enforcement and prevention because dumping costs Camden about $4.5 million a year, cleanup drains funds for parks and youth programs, and better detection could reduce future blight and city cleanup expenses.