Dan Keashen: Camden’s Very Own Superhero

A reporter turned crime fighter is saving Camden, New Jersey from what seemed like an endless downward spiral. Dan Keashen is the Superman of the City of Camden. Dan is passionate about crime, education, and economic development. He wanted to be directly involved in public policy. The 9 mile stretch of Camden is exactly where Dan wants to be.

After leaving his position as a reporter, the Mayor of Cherry Hill offered him a position as the Director of Communications in 2006. In 2011, the county created the regional police department. In 2012, Dan joined the Freeholder board and was directly involved in operating and creating the Camden County Police Department. It was one of the worst times in Camden history, with a city filled with opioid addicts and a person getting shot every 32 hours. The high school dropout rate was at 70%. Camden set a record number of homicides in 2012 on a grim Friday in November. With the previous record set at 58 in 1995, Camden set a new record at 59 seventeen years later.

By May 2013, Camden received over $3 billion in investment for rebuilding the city. The school district brought in new leadership in an effort to lower the dropout rate. Dan responds to the progress, “The children are saying they feel safer outside.” His biggest tear shed moment was watching the graduation of over 300 police officers to serve and protect the city. It was a sign that Camden will be changing dramatically for the better.

Looking into the future, Dan hopes for more access to employment for residents. Dan’s goal is to lessen the unemployment rate by encouraging the creation of better programs. The youth is taking part in the programs and is getting involved in education. Now, 8% of the population in Camden are college educated, and the number continues to grow.

The landscape of Camden is changing with the help of City Invincible and Waterfront Ventures. Startups and businesses small and large are moving into Camden including Subaru of America, American Water, Waterfront Media, Philadelphia 76ers, and Linked Noodle. Tax breaks of over $1 billion was distributed to attract Fortune 500 companies into Camden and stay for good. “Camden is an economic engine pushing forward.”, says Dan. “All elected officials are pulling in for the City of Camden.” By growing a business district in Camden, he is hopeful that residents and students graduating from Rutgers Camden will find a home in one of them.

Even with great progress, Dan and his team are still facing challenges, some of the big ones including poverty and domestic violence. He is working to help individuals facing poverty by recruiting them into the police force. Programs for interventions are being created to lower the number of domestic violence crimes. Drug use is an ongoing challenge, with not only the residents, but also for those just passing through Camden for this particular reason. There is an opioid epidemic and the demand is coming from outside of Camden. However, there is progress. Drug use is down 16% since 2016 and treatment resources are being provided. According to Dan, there will be a limit in the distribution of pain medication to cut down on illegal selling of drugs. Because of his efforts, drug distribution has since moved off the streets.

Dan Keashen will continue to fight for the growth of Camden. If you were to walk into Camden now, you can see a big difference from just five years ago. The city is growing more diverse, especially with the entrance of businesses. Not only do people work in Camden, many are looking to stay. Apartments in the area are filling up with new residents including CEO of Waterfront Ventures, Khai Tran and Freeholder Bill Moen. The rise of Camden is no longer just a dream. It is in full effect. The evolution of Camden is upon us.