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Wednesday, mar 19
Tag:
Community Policing
Police & Fire
Hackensack Police Director Ray Guidetti Stepping Down, City Says
Hackensack Police Director Ray Gudietti is stepping down. The City of Hackensack made the announcement on Thursday, March 6. Guidetti said he will step down at the end of March. Guidetti's departure comes after "taking on a culture of corruption that had infected the Hackensack Police Department when he was appointed in 2022, and instituting major reforms with the goal of bringing the Department back to its rightful position as a premier law enforcement agency in Bergen County," the release says. Guidetti was appointed "after a storied law enforcement career to clean up a police department…
News
Edison Police Lieutenant Dies
The Edison Police Department is mourning the loss of one of its lieutenants. The department announced the death of Lt. Donald Ship on Wednesday, July 10. A cause of death was not provided. Ship launched his career in law enforcement as an officer at Kean University before transferring to EPD in January 2011. He was assigned to the patrol bureau "where he was an officer his squad mates could rely on, and he was a field training officer to new hires," his department said. Ship was promoted to sergeant in 2020, and was tasked with relaunching the Community Policing Unit. "He …
Police & Fire
GOT 'IM! Civilian Points Teaneck PD To Elusive Bike-Riding Career Burglar, 40
𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A 40-year-old career burglar wanted for an ongoing series of break-ins and attempts was captured by Teaneck police with help from a concerned citizen, authorities announced. Aley Beretay ordinarily was on a bicycle when he gave law enforcers the slip a number of times the past week or so. Then, around 9 p.m. Monday, June 10, a township resident walked into headquarters and said she'd just seen a man fitting his description riding a bike along Teaneck Road near Elizabeth Avenue, Police Chief Andrew McGurr said. Detectives who already were working undercover in the area were alerted,…
Events
L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival Returns To Paramus
You've likely seen the colorful ferris wheel looming over the crossroads of Route 4 and Route 17, right outside of the one of the highest performing malls in the United States. Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence (L.E.A.D.) founder Nick DeMauro knew what he was doing when he put the carnival there. "It's the best location in the nation for a small-town carnival," he said. And it's back. The annual L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival is running every Wednesday to Sunday through June 9, at the Westfield Garden State Plaza. Admission is $5, while tickets for rides and games, and food purchas…
Police & Fire
Gotcha
! Bicycle-Riding Burglar From Passaic, 30, Captured By Hasbrouck Heights Officers: PD
A 30-year-old repeat offender from Passaic known for getting around on a bicycle tried to run but was caught by Hasbrouck Heights police who authorities said chased him down before dawn Saturday. A concerned citizen's call about a car burglar brought officers to the area of Hamilton Avenue and the Boulevard around 2 a.m., May 25, Lt. John Behr said. Hector J. Torres-Duran tried to flee Officers Joseph Armeli and Kevin Condal but crashed the bike and took off on foot in the parking lots behind Boulevard businesses, the lieutenant said. "He was eventually cornered and found hiding behind a D…
Police & Fire
Summer Shootings In Paterson Plummet Amid NJ Police Takeover
Facts don't lie. Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin promised a reduction in crime in Paterson following the second-ever state takeover of a local police department in New Jersey's history. So far, he's delivering. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day -- a time when America's cities ordinarily suffer the most violence -- shootings in the Silk City plummeted by 41.2% compared with the same period last year, state officials reported. In that time, Paterson has also had the fewest summer shooting victims in five years, they said. Reported robberies decreased by nearly 38%. Aggravated assault…
News
Fund Launched For Children Of Deceased Retired Washington Township Detective
As the time for final goodbyes nears, many of those who knew and loved retired Washington Township Police Officer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Heather Castronova are trying to do what they can for her two children. Toward that end, Laura Padilla has launched a GoFundMe campaign. Castronova, 44, died unexpectedly at her home in Allendale on Feb. 8, apparently as the result of a medical condition, those who knew her said. The Hackensack-born-and-bred Heather Cumming served in the Marines in Okinawa, Japan, as well as at Twenty Nine Palms, CA and Quantico, VA. She began a public service car…
Obituaries
Shock, Sadness Spread Following Death Of Retired Wash. Twp. Detective Heather Castronova
UPDATE: Arrangements Finalized For Heather Castronova The Washington Township (Bergen County) police department is mourning the loss of retired detective and former US Marine Heather Castronova. A mom of two, Castronova died sometime overnight due to unknown medical circumstances, the department said on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Castronova was hired as a dispatcher for the Bergen County Police Department before becoming an officer in Washington Township. While serving in the patrol and detective bureaus, Castronova was passionate about community policing, specifically working with children.…
News
Women Looking For Any Excuse To Be Pulled Over By River Edge Officer
Women across North Jersey are apparently willing to get themselves into trouble if it means scoring a date with one of River Edge's newest officers. A photo of Domenic Pizzanelli holding a lost dog on the River Edge PBA Local 201's Facebook page has caught the attention of thousands of women, many threatening to run red lights and rob banks just to chat with the officer. The good news? The dog, MoMo, was returned home within hours. The bad news, at least for Bergen County hopefuls, Pizzanelli is off the market. In fact, Pizzanelli's girlfriend of two years, Riana McShea, has been nothing …
News
Passaic Teen’s Accused Murderer ID’d
UPDATE: Civilians helped Passaic police capture a 21-year-old city man accused of gunning down a local teen beneath a Route 21 overpass, authorities said. The city Police Intelligence Unit and Detective Bureau, in tandem with the Patrol Division and Special Investigations Division united, "fielded leads directly from the community" that led directly to Philip Sparrow, Passaic Mayor Hector Carlos Lora said. City police arrested Sparrow – and recovered the suspected murder weapon – during an 8 p.m. traffic stop Tuesday on Paulison Avenue, authorities said. They stopped the vehicle on Pauliso…
News
Name Of Man Who Died In 9/11 Attacks Lives On Through New Secaucus Police K9
The name of a Secaucus resident who died in the 9/11 attacks will lives on through a newly-acquired Secaucus Police K-9 officer. The ten-month old German Shepherd, “Strobe," is named after Steven Strobert, a 33-year-old Cantor Fitzgerald broker who died in September 11, 2001 attack on the Twin Towers. Strobe was purchased from Connecticut Canine Services. He and his handler, Secaucus Officer Vince DeFazio, have undergone 29 weeks of rigorous training at the Bergen County Sheriff’s Canine Academy, which culminated on May 10. “I truly hope Strobe may bring the Strobert family some …
Police & Fire
Watch
: Hero Paramus Officer Breaks Doll Stroller Rescuing Girl -- Then Buys Her Brand New One
All that a pair of Paramus police officers had to do on one particular call Tuesday afternoon was free a toddler who had somehow gotten her doll's stroller stuck around her waist. But that wasn't enough for one of the officers, who not only talked 4-year-old Yasmeen "Nina" Saleh through the whole rescue, but returned less than an hour later with a brand new stroller since he broke the other one during the rescue. "I felt like it was the right thing to do," Officer Robert Sobocinski said "This is a human job. When you're dealing with people, everything is different." "Our emergency service…
Police & Fire
13 Local Law Enforcement Agencies In NJ Get $15.8M In
Cops
Grants To Hire More Officers
A total of 13 police departments and other local law enforcement agencies in New Jersey will get $15.8 million in federal funding to hire 114 additional officers, U.S. Attorney General William Barr announced Tuesday. The Federal Community Oriented Policing (COPS) grants had been suspended since 2018 because of a nationwide injunction that was lifted earlier this year. On Tuesday, Barr announced that the Justice Department was awarding nearly $400 million to 596 law enforcement agencies nationwide to hire 2,732 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. They were chosen from nearly…
Police & Fire
'Right Thing': Grewal Launches Police Crisis Intervention Training In Paterson, Trenton, AC
New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said Tuesday that he’s committed to establishing statewide crisis intervention training for law enforcement officers at all levels, among several enhancements aimed at “strengthening trust between police officers and the communities they serve.” “Experts agree that one of the most effective ways to reduce police use-of-force and death-in-custody incidents is by expanding the use of Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs), which help officers respond to situations involving individuals with mental health issues,” Grewal said. However, CIT training “is e…
News
Lawsuit
: Morris County Parks Detective Sues Department Over Age Discrimination
A 35-year-old Morris County Park Police detective has filed a lawsuit accusing the department's chief of age discrimination, reports say. John Eckert, a 12-year veteran of the force, is accusing Chief Gabriele DiPietro of assigning duties based on age and family status and withholding proper consideration for promotions, Daily Record reports. The department that's part of the part of the Morris County Park Commission reportedly declined comment on the suit to the Daily Record. The complaint, filed in Morris County Superior Court on Tuesday, describes a dual-leveled structure in the departm…
Police & Fire
Rapping Sheriff’s Officer Brings Show To Bergen National Nights Out
A video-rapping Hudson County sheriff’s officer who uses music to build relationships with community youngsters is booked at two Bergen County National Night Out events on Tuesday, in Fairview and Garfield. Officer Daniel Rivera – better known as “Bookem” – has been mentoring inner-city youth for five years. He’s produced several videos in the past year aimed at bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community -- among them, “Good Cop.” WATCH BELOW: “Good Cop” (Bookem) "Good CopTEAM BOOKEM Earlier this year, Rivera collaborated on a video with a student from Lincoln High Sc…
Police & Fire
Video
: Retired Police Chief Proud That Force Has Made New Milford One Of NJ's Safest Towns
FINAL WALKOUT: It's not easy to produce one of the safest municipalities in all of New Jersey -- especially when you're on the outskirts of cities with high crime rates -- which helps account for the pride that retired New Milford Police Chief Frank Ramaci had during his final walkout on Tuesday. "I'm proudest of the officers who've worked tirelessly during my tenure to protect the residents and business owners of New Milford," said Ramaci, a 25-year department veteran who became chief in early 2015. Last year, an alarm company rated New Milford the second-safest municipality in New Jersey …
Police & Fire
Meet Palisades Park’s Newest Police Officers
Attrition and an expanding community have been met in Palisades Park with the addition of six new police officers with diverse skills and backgrounds. They are: Kevin Choi, 24, formerly a special police officer in neighboring Ridgefield; William Duarte, a 27-year-old former special police officer in the borough; Martin Kim, a 31-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan; Brian Kunz, 24, a former special police officer in the borough; Michael McDermott, 27, the borough Fire Department battalion chief; Robert Then, 23, a borough police dispatcher. With th…
Police & Fire
Video
: Former Hackensack Police Officer Goes Viral In Mall Dance Prank
A video of a former Hackensack police officer is gaining national attention on social media. Officer Chris Gatti, who transferred to the Aventura Police Department in May, and colleague Manny Gonzalez pretended to break up a dance performance at a Miami mall -- before jumping in. The officers worked with a local dance company in Florida to learn the choreographed dance. "How we do community policing in the city of excellence," Gatti captioned the video on his Instagram page. "At the end of the day, this is what it is all about... serving the awesome community we get to work in every singl…
Police & Fire
Watch
: Bergenfield's 'Coolest Cop' Jumps In For Splash Pad Fun
"Do it! Do it! Do it!" a group of children chanted at Bergenfield's Applegate Park splash pad. Standing at the center of the action Wednesday was borough police Officer Ahmed Alagha. The officer handed his radio and sunglasses to his partner and, to the kids' delight, ran under the water mushroom for an entire two seconds. The kids shrieked with joy (see video above). "I needed that on a hot day," said the officer, hailed a hero by the youngsters. "And," he said, "it's community policing." ****** WANT STORIES LIKE THIS BEFORE THEY'RE PUBLISHED? …
Police & Fire
Photos
: Bergen Sheriff's 'Chief For Day' Thrills Ailing Kids, Veteran Cops
Some require oxygen and 'round-the-clock care. Others are in constant pain, though you'd never know it. Yet for a few moments Friday morning, 30 ailing teens and young adults from across Bergen County -- not to mention dozens of veteran law enforcement officers -- had reason to smile. Proudly displaying their shiny new badges, the youngsters participated in Sheriff Michael Saudino's eighth annual "Chief for a Day" event. "It doesn't get old for me -- and I don't think it does for any chiefs here," Saudino said as he surveyed a squad of dozens of area top cops and their…
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