Uniformed Secaucus Police Now Patrolling The Harper

SECAUCUS, NJ — Uniformed Secaucus police officers are now patrolling The Harper, the apartment building announced in an email to residents last Friday, June 9.

This comes after there was a seven-hour police standoff inside The Harper June 3 — where a man was holed up in a bathroom and eventually killed his girlfriend's dog. After that incident, multiple residents came forward to both Patch and the Secaucus mayor about how much crime is happening inside the luxury apartment building.

Here is what Harper management wrote in the June 9 email to all residents:

"We wanted to bring to your attention the recent issues that our community has been facing. In order to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in Harper, we have taken the initiative to request additional police security. You may notice an increased presence of police officers in the community in the coming days. They will be monitoring the site and will be easily identifiable in their full uniforms."

The Harper is owned by Hartz Mountain, the biggest developer in Secaucus and the owner of Harmon Cove, Harmon Towers and the entire Harmon Meadow area of town.

"We kindly ask that you do not be alarmed by their presence, as their purpose is solely to enhance the security measures in our neighborhood," continued The Harper. "We encourage you to take this opportunity to introduce yourself and become acquainted with the police officers. Building a strong relationship with them will not only foster a sense of community but also provide a platform for open communication. Should you have any questions, concerns, or even wish to share information, the police officers will be happy to assist you ... Our primary goal is to ensure the well-being and tranquility of our community."

As we reported last week, Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli convened an emergency meeting with Hartz Mountain CEO Ezra "Eddie" Stern and Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller last Wednesday, to address the problem of rising crime at The Harper. Residents say there was a "brawl" at the pool on June 2; security guards smoke marijuana or sleep during their shifts; package thefts occur frequently, and drugs "flow in and out of the building."

Gonnelli even floated the idea of opening a Secaucus auxiliary outpost there, but the fate of that idea remains unknown.

A spokesman for Hartz Mountain released a long statement to Patch last Thursday, saying that the problems are attributable to a select few number of tenants, and that problematic tenants "are being removed from the property on an expedited (sped-up) basis."

Man Kills Dog After 7-Hour Standoff At The Harper In Secaucus: Police (June 5)

Town Of Secaucus Holds Meeting With Hartz Over Crime At The Harper (June 8)