Jersey City police made 81 narcotics arrests and seized four firearms during a six-week special operation in Greenville triggered by community concerns, officials said today.

?The success of this operation lies in the new relationship our district commanders are developing with our community groups,? said Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop. ?By working closely together, not only are we are learning about their concerns, but we are also gaining valuable information that can help us as we deploy officers and attack public safety and quality of life issues.?

Over the six-week period from Feb. 1 to March 14 the police department deployed a dozen officers from its Special Investigations Unit, as well as officers from the citywide Narcotics Squad and the South District Narcotics Squad into the south Greenville area. The contingent of some 20 officers hit the streets daily during the operation, Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said.

The operation focused on Lembeck Avenue, Winfield Avenue, Rutgers Avenue, Myrtle Avenue, Gates Avenue, Van Nostrand Avenue and Bayside Park, Morrill said.

Several of the arrests made were the result of surveillance of a residence on Winfield Avenue near Ocean Avenue, where a large quantity of narcotics and drug paraphernalia was recovered. Arrests were also made at a residence on Lembeck Avenue near Ocean Avenue, where narcotics were also recovered, Morrill said.

The police department has been working closely with community groups including the Van Nostrand Avenue Block Association, the Bayside Park Neighborhood Association and the South Greenville Block Association.

Nj.com