Sheriff’s office continues River Line patrols

Criminals looking for easy targets during the holidays be warned: Special details from the Burlington County Sheriff’s Office will continue to patrol in towns along the River Line light rail this month and into 2025.

Sheriff James Kostoplis announced the continuation this month and provided a four-month update on the early results, saying officers are providing a consistent presence at and near the River Line stations to deter crime and assist local police.

“It’s been just over four months since the launch of our special details in River Line communities and we are pleased with the results to date,” he said. “Residents, commuters and business owners are seeing our officers in these communities, and so are would-be law breakers. Their presence is creating a strong deterrence against property crimes like shoplifting, burglaries and package theft that often increase around the holidays.”

Kostoplis said sheriff’s officers were deployed for special details in River Line communities 44 times between mid-August and late November, resulting in the following actions:

• Three-hundred-and-ninety-five property checks
• Three arrests and 34 assists
• Seven prison transports to Burlington County Detention Center

“The early numbers are consistent with our objective to provide a visible police presence and cooperate with local police departments to assist them whenever possible,” Kostoplis explained.

The special details are being funded with a $150,000 legislative grant. Kostoplis said there is sufficient funding remaining in the grant to continue the details well into the new year. State Sen. Troy Singleton, who helped secure the funds in the 2025 state budget, said early results from the sheriff’s initiative were encouraging.

“This unique partnership is addressing concerns we heard about safety and the need for a more visible presence along the River Line,” Singleton said.