One Democratic candidate in Perth Amboy’s first primary election for mayor, which is going to exclude thousands of independent and Republican voters from the selection process, has urged the incumbent, Helmin Caba, to step down from his role as Police Director amid escalating crime in the city.
Joseph B. Vas reiterated his call for Caba’s resignation from the Police Director position in light of the worsening crime and disorder in Perth Amboy, represented by the dangerous road antics that stopped traffic at a major Route 35 intersection.
This demand follows a previous warning issued last week by Vas, highlighting concerns over Caba’s management of the Police Department, which were starkly validated by this weekend’s blatant lawlessness on the streets.
“Caba’s ongoing denial of the crime surge and his baseless assurances of safety cannot mask the reality our community faces daily. This weekend’s chaos is a direct outcome of his ineptitude and politicized handling of our Police Department,” expressed a deeply concerned Joseph B. Vas.
This call to action serves as a follow-up to last week’s plea, underscoring the urgent need for leadership that acknowledges and addresses the safety concerns of Perth Amboy’s residents.
Many social media videos went viral, some with more than 100,000 views, showing cars stopping traffic to a halt at the entrance of Perth Amboy recklessly performing donuts.
Officials caught one driver and seized his car, of which Caba is now trying to take possession using civil forfeiture laws.
For years, Vas has called out Caba’s lack of qualifications, knowledge, or training in police and law enforcement.
“Caba thinks the police department is like the Perth Amboy Democratic Organization (PADO), a place for politics rather than safety. He has put every resident’s safety at risk. His failure to establish policy standards to maintain, improve, and enforce basic quality of life violations has now given rise to the feeling that anything goes in Perth Amboy,” said Vas.
Recent FBI statistics show that Perth Amboy crime has nearly doubled in the past 3 years while Caba has served as Mayor and Police Director, and that the crime clearance rate is a pathetic 10 percent — which means 90 percent of offenses reported to police remain unsolved.
Vas said Caba failed to keep a campaign promise he made in 2020 that he would hire a qualified police director to manage the police department.
A third contender in the mayoral race, Kenneth Gonzalez, was silent on the illegal road rally and Caba’s law enforcement leadership.
“While Perth Amboy residents locked their doors in fear of what they witnessed, police department resources, police cars, motorcycles, and even the Police Chief, were marching in South Amboy’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Enough is enough, Perth Amboy deserves better. Politics is not the answer; only with qualified, decisive, and dedicated leadership will Perth Amboy restore safety,” said Vas.