Touching gift: Afflicted kids get to play police ‘Chief for a Day’

YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: On Friday, nearly 20 Bergen County youngsters with chronic illnesses will get to be “Chief for a Day” for their respective communities, complete with uniforms, their own motorcade and a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement operations — the first event of its kind.

Jerry DeMarco

05/26/2011 8:56 p.m.

The Bergen County Police Chiefs Association and Bergen County Sheriff’s Office are teaming up with 17 local law enforcement agencies and their towns to make it a day to remember for youngsters 5 through 13.

After getting their uniforms, each youngster will be sworn in at his or her local headquarters and given a tour. Patrol cars will whisk them to the Bergen County Justice Center, where they will participate in a group ceremony, Sheriff Michael Saudino said.

A motorcade will then take the group to Lodi Memorial Park for lunch and a variety of demonstrations by K-9 units, the mounted squad and other specialty teams.

Before they’re done, the youngsters will each receive a plaque and certificate.

The sponsoring agencies:

Bergen County Sheriff’s Office
East Rutherford Police Department
Edgewater Police Department
Elmwood Park Police Department

Englewood Cliffs Police Department
Garfield Police Department
Hasbrouck Heights Police Department
Hackensack Police Department

Lodi Police Department
Maywood Police Department
Park Ridge Police Department
Ramsey Police Department

Saddle Brook Police Department
Teaneck Police Department
Wallington Police Department
Washington Township Police Department
Woodcliff Lake Police Department
Westwood Police Department

INFORMATION: Bergen County Sheriff’s Community Outreach Unit: (201) 336-3540.

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