FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 13, 2024
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Derek Sands
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BERGEN COUNTY NAMED 9TH SAFEST COUNTY IN THE NATION
U.S. News Healthiest Communities Analysis Praises Bergen’s Public Safety Score and Proximity to Emergency Facilities
(HACKENSACK, N.J.) – The County of Bergen was named the 9th safest county in America by U.S. News & World Report, according to a U.S. News Healthiest Communities analysis.
The County of Bergen boasts one of the highest public safety records nationwide, with a score of 88.52. Additionally, the County excels in ensuring access to emergency services, with an average of 84.9% of Populations Living Close the Emergency Facilities, compared to the national average of 37.4%.
“I am incredibly proud of Bergen County for being recognized as one of the safest counties in America,” said Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco, III. “This distinction is thanks to the hard work and dedication of our Sheriff’s Office, Prosecutor’s Office, Bergen County EMS, local first responders, community partners, and social service providers. Here, we are committed to offering our residents the highest quality of life possible. By investing in our communities and our emergency response infrastructure, the County of Bergen will continue to be the greatest place in the nation to live, work, and raise a family,” continued Tedesco.
“This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our first responders and the collective commitment of our entire Bergen County community. Being named one of the safest counties in the nation is a tremendous honor that highlights our relentless focus on public safety and our efforts to ensure every resident benefits from rapid emergency response,” said Commissioner Steven Tanelli. “By investing in state-of-the-art training facilities and strengthening our shared service agreements, we are not only safeguarding our community today but also preparing ourselves to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
“Being named the ninth safest community in America by U.S. News & World Report is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and partnership of everyone involved in keeping Bergen County safe—from our law enforcement officers to our partners in government, our first responders and community members,” said Sheriff Anthony Cureton. “This recognition underscores our commitment to public safety and reinforces the trust that our residents place in us every day. The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that Bergen County remains a place that attract families; and those families feel the comfort of residing in one of the safest counties in America.”
Prosecutor Mark Musella noted, “Receiving this recognition from U.S. News & World Report is more than just a ranking; it affirms the deep trust our community places in law enforcement and the cooperative spirit that unites the police agencies working tirelessly across Bergen County’s 70 municipalities. From the steadfast dedication of uniformed first responders answering calls for help around the clock, to the county's detectives and assistant prosecutors who tirelessly solve the most challenging cases and seek justice in our courtrooms, this achievement reflects the hard work of so many.”
Prosecutor Musella continued, “In Bergen County, thanks to the committed leadership of all involved, we can be proud of this achievement while we stand resolute in the shared responsibility of maintaining a thriving, beautiful place where safety is a given, not a question.”
Healthiest Communities rankings show how nearly 3,000 U.S. counties perform across 92 metrics in 10 health-related categories and explore the relationships between the many factors that contribute to the overall health and safety of a community.
Main categories in the Healthiest Communities framework include Population Health, Equity, Education, Economy, Housing, Environment, Community Vitality, Infrastructure, and Public Safety. In the Public Safety category, communities are scored on a 100-point scale across seven metrics in three key areas: crime, injuries, and public safety capacity.
With ever-changing public safety conditions, the County of Bergen has prioritized the enhancement of its emergency response capabilities under the Tedesco administration through various innovations and partnerships. Last year, County celebrated the completion of the Law and Public Safety Institute (LPSI) Modernization Project, which equipped the County’s training center with environments that mimic cross-disciplinary real-world scenarios for firefighters, police officers, and EMS workers. Also in 2023, the County launched Bergen County’s Emergency Medical Ambulance Services, a 24/7 county wide emergency medical transportation service which has helped fill the steady decline in volunteer ambulance corps across Northern New Jersey. Then in June earlier this summer, the County’s Public Safety Operations Center (PSOC)— home to the Bergen County 9-1-1 Dispatch and Operations announced will make its 9-1-1 answering service available at no cost to all Bergen County municipalities. By strengthening its shared service capabilities, the County of Bergen furthers its mission to establish itself as the 9-1-1 regional call center for all of Northern New Jersey.
To learn more about how Healthiest Community rankings from U.S. News & World Report are calculated, click here.
For an overview of Bergen County’s Healthiest Community statistics, click here.
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