For the second year in a row, Camden has had good news regarding crime.

In police Chief William O’Keefe’s annual report to the Camden City Council, he said, “For the second year, we continue to show a downward trend, an indicator that the Neighborhood Watch groups and police have combined their efforts in combating and reducing property crimes.”

Crimes against persons - homicide, robbery, rape and assaults - are also down.

That’s obviously good news, but it also should come with a note of caution.

The decrease in crime didn’t come without effort....