$ 2 . 5 0 / final edition S u n d ay, F e b r u a r y 2 2 , 2 0 1 5 A f f i l i At e d w i t h enter tO Win a year’S rentxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Or mOrtgage! COnteSt Xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Page XX detailS, Page 2 morristown cAmden In VIolent cIty, a hInt of hope Police say Camden remains dangerous, but quieter nights come more frequently now. (ALEx REmniCk/nJ ADvAnCE mEDiA foR tHE StAR-LEDGER) For towns, nonprofits, tax case looms large By Tim Darragh and Ben Horowitz NJ Advance Media for The Star-Ledger Two hundred and thirty-eight years ago, George Washington put Morristown in the history books when he used it as a wintertime encampment during the colonies’ bid to break from British rule. Now the north-central New Jersey town is involved in another battle — this time with its biggest employer — which could have major implications for some of New Jersey’s biggest institutions. On one side of the battle is the county seat of Morristown, with a population of more than 18,000. On the other is Morristown Medical Center, the workplace for more than 5,500 employees and the biggest facility in the $1.6 billion-a-year hospital section of Atlantic Health System, recognized nationally for clinical excellence. The two sides have been in court since the town’s tax assessor in 2008 denied the hospital’s property tax exemption for 2006 to 2008. The question they’re fighting over — whether the hospital is operating as a legal charity or a for-profit business — is in the hands of Tax Court Judge Vito Bianco. How he rules could have an impact on health care and educational institutions and the tax base in their host communities. Hospitals and potentially other large nonprofit organizations such as colleges and universities could have their property tax SEE Morristown, PAGE A11 crime has dropped since spiking in 2012, and Gov. chris christie is likely to tout that in his expected presidential bid. But many caution that although major progress has been made through community policing and the city is safer, it’s too soon for anyone to declare victory. By Matt Arco NJ Advance Media for The Star-Ledger A t half-past 7 on a cold and blustery Friday night in South Camden, Officer Brandon Galloza scanned the pavement with his flashlight in the darkness as he searched for a bullet casing. He was responding to a dispatcher’s call about an unidentified man who said he was on his way to the store and “heard (a) gunshot and felt he was hit” in the leg. The department’s “shot spotter,” a system of microphones set up around the city used to alert police to gunfire, never went off. With the red and blue flashing lights of more than half a dozen emergency vehicles parked nearby to guide him, Galloza didn’t find anything. The man was taken to Cooper University Hospital. Such stops have been routine for years in Camden, which has consistently ranked as one of America’s most dangerous cities. What is different these days is what happened next as Galloza’s squad car rumbled through the city for the rest of his shift: Not much at all. Camden police say while their city remains a Today’s Weather A chance of rain and snow before 9 a.m., then becoming mostly sunny as the day goes on. High: 41°. Low: 17° / forecast, Page 2 by the numbers 2012 2014 murderS 67 33 raPeS 71 51 $5.5 million amount in state aid cuts Camden absorbed in 2010 $7.6 million amount Camden lost in 2011 163 police officers laid off in 2011 dangerous place, quieter nights like these come more frequently now. “It’s really not as bad as it used to be,” said Sgt. Raphael Thornton. “It’s actually a little boring to drive around now sometimes. It’s good to be boring.” Plagued by drugs and poverty, Camden saw crime hit a high in 2012 when the city recorded 67 murders. In less than a year, local and state officials took the unique action of disbanding the city police department and creating a new one that claims it is stemming the tide of violence that’s consumed the city of about 77,000. AcAdemy AwArds Who will take home an Oscar? ‘We acted boldly’ The Camden County Police Department Metro Division was established with the help of Gov. Chris Christie, who boasts about its success and is widely expected to discuss Camden across the country if he launches a presidential campaign. “In a city suffering from epidemic crime, we acted boldly,” Christie declared at his State of the State address last month. “We terminated the city police department and, partnering with the county, put a new SEE CaMden, PAGE A3 Index arts & escapes / E1 Books / D6 Business / A8 Classified / G1 County news / B1 new Jersey / A13 obituaries / A15 Perspective / D1 Puzzles / E5 & 6 Film crit critic Stephen Whitty offers his annual take on who will win a co coveted statue, stat factoring fa in earlier award ceremonies, buzz and bu some hunches. hu Plus, Whitty asks, Whit why do the Oscars still Osca matter? If it’s matt assessan asse ment of the state of Hollywood, Hollyw little has then lit changed./ change Page e1 Sports / C1 travel / E8 tV Grid / E7 =0+i+7+b+5 Graduate Open House Saturday, February 28 • 1- 3 p.m. Register at www.shu.edu/goh 400 South Orange Avenue • South Orange, New Jersey