By Anne Levin
During a report to Princeton Council at its meeting on September 23, newly appointed Princeton Police Chief Matthew Solovay addressed concerns about a decline in speeding citations.
Solovay was responding to a question about the issue raised at a previous Council meeting. The drop in the number of citations is a reflection of changes taking place in law enforcement across the country, he told Council.
“That trend is real,” he said. “But it isn’t sudden, and it isn’t unique to Princeton. The issuance is drastically down across the state and the nation.”
The reduction dates from 2020 and has been steady since then. Solovay identified several contributing factors including staffing constraints, revisions to state legislation, changes in officer mentality, and a broader shift in policing toward education and officer discretion.
“Quite frankly, policing has changed since 2019,” he said. “But what hasn’t changed is our commitment to safer streets. This is achieved through traffic engineering, education, and, yes, enforcement.”
Working closely with the municipality’s engineering department and expanding community education, including a seminar on vulnerable road users that was held this past summer, the goal of the police department is to implement traffic engineering solutions.
While there have been fewer speeding citations, there have been more motor vehicle stops. “The thing that is changing is the outcome of those stops,” Solovay said, adding that officers are focused on educating rather than citing drivers. Vacancies in the police department’s traffic safety bureau in recent years have been a challenge, but that is changing. Three new members of the police department — Nicole Carannante, Jordan Nitti, and Connor Luckie — were sworn in at the beginning of the meeting.
“My plan moving forward is clear,” he said. “As we reach full strength in coming months, we plan to assign additional officers to that unit. We want to maintain that balance between education and enforcement. Our goal isn’t to be known for summons production. Our goal is safe, welcoming roadways.”
Following Solovay’s report, Council passed a resolution officially approving Solovay’s promotion from police captain to police chief, effective Wednesday, October 1. Solovay replaces Chief Christopher Tash, who retired Tuesday, September 30 after 28 years of service to the department.
“This is a big one for me,” Solovay said after the unanimous vote. “I’m incredibly humbled by this opportunity and extremely excited to get to work.”
In other action at the meeting, Councilman Leighton Newlin reported that the town’s Historic Preservation Commission has requested that Council consider putting up two plaques, at the southern and northern ends of Princeton, honoring the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Details of the wording, which can have only 650 characters, are still being worked out.
Councilwoman Michelle Pirone Lambros told Council that the competition to design new kiosks on Nassau Street, which was open to professionals and students, is now closed. The winners will be announced shortly, she said.
The next meeting of Princeton Council is Wednesday, October 8 at 7 p.m. at Witherspoon Hall and via Zoom. Visit princetonnj.gov for information.