So far, busy signal not a problem for gang hot line BY JOHN SUTTON Correspondent ABERDEEN - Police have established a Drug and Gang Information Hotline for the residents to report any narcotics and gang-related information. The hot line was set up in January of this year, according to a police press release. The move to establish this hot line was provoked by the increased attention to gang activity in Monmouth and Ocean counties, Chief John Powers said. The gang hot line was a supplement to the drug hot line, which had already been established for several years. Police decided to combine the drug and gang activity into one hot line because of the tendency of the two to be intertwined, Powers said. The primary goal when establishing this hot line was to allow residents to give police a heads up to activity that might have gone overlooked by police without the assistance of residents. It also gave new attention to the drug hot line. The hot line was not established to combat a gang problem in Aberdeen, according to Powers, but concern had been raised because of some gang activity in the Jersey Shore region. "With things being the way they are, with people being able to move about the area so easily, we felt that if there was any gang activity that wasn't readily apparent to us, maybe some residents might have some information," Powers said. According to police, there have not been many calls to the hot line. However, it is a way for police to potentially gain information from their community members, which they will maintain. Residents can call the hot line at (732) 566-1318 with any information regarding narcotics or gang-related information. Any emergencies or criminal activity should be reported to police through 911 or the Aberdeen Police Department at (732) 566-2054.