PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. - There's a new chief in town in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.
"Our number-one concern for our town is building relationships with our community, closely following that is safety," said Phillipsburg Police Chief Anthony Goodell.
Chief Goodell — formerly Capt. Goodell — met with kids at the Firth Youth Center.
"It's our responsibility to keep these kids safe," he told 69 News.
69 News put a mic on the new chief and captured his interactions with the community.
"I just want to meet and greet with our kids and let them know how much we care about them," he could be heard telling a parent.
Goodell is a long-time police officer; he's also a proud dad and an Army veteran.
In total, he's served 24 years.
"I've gathered so many different leadership types. I know what works and what doesn't work," Goodell said.
Community policing, he says, works. He calls it a way for officers to meet neighbors where they are, and it shows police in a new light.
"We can't do that in a patrol car. You got to get out of the car," the chief emphasized.
He's only been the department's leader for a few weeks now, but he says he already started a program designed to do that. The program is also expected to help students get to and from school without problems.
It's called the Safe Path Home Initiative.
Officers are stationed along routes and at bus stops during the peak hours of the day, but the chief says it's not to enforce the law. It's to interact with the students.
It's all a part of his efforts to beef up the department's community policing.
Phillipsburg announces appointment of new police chief
He recalled one thing a little girl said to him about officers being stationed near walking routes.
"She said, 'I felt so safe.' It's something that makes everything we're doing so worth it," he said.
There have been some new hires, too.
"Immediately, we revamped our community policing unit. We brought in six officers who have compassion and love," he said.
Building relationships, he says, is his number-one priority. It's also what the mayor and city council have tasked him with — that, and reducing violent crime.
The goal, the chief says, is to have one community event per month with Phillipsburg and Alpha.
When it comes to his department, Goodell says his officers are like kids to him, and he doesn't want anything to happen to them.
"I have the shot," said the chief. "I am blessed. I am honored to be the chief of police."
His efforts at the youth center did not go unnoticed.
"Honestly, he's amazing. He seems like a true Phillipsburg person," said Nazir Berry of Phillipsburg. "I like that he put the cops at the bus stops. I get my little sister off the bus every day, so when I see the cop there, it's nice. It helps me feel sage that nothing will go wrong."
Goodell's appointment comes after Capt. James McDonald served as the interim chief during the beginning of the year.
That was pending the result of New Jersey's Civil Service Chief of Police exam.
Goodell earned the highest overall score on the exam.
