The best AP photos of President Obama’s Camden visit

Camden has been on a roll lately. In the past two years, headline after headline has heralded a city that is going in the right direction. Much of the city’s good economic news stems from state tax incentives being used to lure companies to locate in Camden.  

Camden officials: City getting new supermarket

Subaru moves its headquarters to Camden

Sixers moving ahead with practice facility construction on Camden waterfront

A Salvation Army Kroc Center could be a game changer for Camden

Nilsa Cruz Perez: Camden, NJ can be the thriving urban center it once was

But President Obama came to Camden instead to celebrate the city’s dropping crime rate under its restructured police force. Obama told the crowd at the new Salvation Army Kroc Center, “This city is on to something. You’ve made real progress in just two years.” To hear more about what the President said about Camden community policing read Aaron Moselle’s report Obama lauds Camden community policing, pushes to end sale of assault gear to cops.

But any time a president visits your area, it’s a big deal and sometimes photos provide you with a better narrative than just reading a news story. With that in mind, We collected some of the best photos taken yesterday by the Associated Press and put them in the above photo gallery. 

Event timeline

Obama was greeted at the Philadelphia Airport by a number of local officials including: Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Derrick Sawyer, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Chuck Ramsey and U.S. Senator. Bob Casey, D-Pa. 

From there the President boarded Marine One and flew over the Delaware River into Camden. He got a look at the Camden’s high-tech crime fighting war-room, the Real-Time Tactical Operational Intelligence Center at the Camden County Police Administration Building. Obama watched live video displays of city neighborhoods being monitored by officers. 

The big event was his public address at the Salvation Army’s Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, which just opened last fall. We hope you enjoy the photos.