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Policing

Obituaries
NJ Transit Detective Alexis Melendez Dies NJ Transit Detective Alexis Melendez Dies
NJ Transit Detective Alexis Melendez Dies Members of the NJ Transit Police Department were mourning the loss of one of their own. Detective Alexis Melendez, of New Egypt, died on Thursday, Jan. 26. He was 51 years old. A cause of death was not announced. Melendez started in patrol in Newark, but his "outstanding police work shined," and he was reassigned to a plain clothes position, his department said. "As a plain clothes officer, Melendez helped to protect your travels as he blended amongst the traveling public," the NJTPD wrote. "The countless actions he took, always served to ensure your safety.⁣⁣" ⁣Melendez was assigned…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Manhunt Ends In Arrest Of Predator Who Tried Luring Boy Into Woods For Nude Pix: Wallington PD Manhunt Ends In Arrest Of Predator Who Tried Luring Boy Into Woods For Nude Pix: Wallington PD
Manhunt Ends In Arrest Of Predator Who Tried Luring Boy Into Woods For Nude Pix: Wallington PD A young boy was rescued by his friends after a stranger tried to lure him from a Wallington pizzeria to a wooded area to take naked photos of him, authorities said. A manhunt ended with the arrest of Milton Benefield, 52, of Orange, on Saturday, Aug. 28, Police Chief Carmello Imbruglia said. Benefield befriended the boy the night before by talking about basketball and sneakers, then offering to buy him pizza, the chief said. Benefield said he was going to show the youngster photos of sneakers on his phone but instead flashed shots of him and other people naked, he said. He then "told the …

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Call Involving Man Covered In His Own Feces Earns Wood-Ridge Officers Statewide Recognition Call Involving Man Covered In His Own Feces Earns Wood-Ridge Officers Statewide Recognition
Call Involving Man Covered In His Own Feces Earns Wood-Ridge Officers Statewide Recognition The Wood-Ridge officers who responded to a call involving unwanted party the night of Nov. 19, 2020 had every right to use force. The 41-year-old subject had just smeared his own feces on his ex-girlfriend's home, then began yelling that he was COVID positive, police said. He was uncooperative. Irrational. To put it simply, he was out of his mind, officers said. But the five officers and one dispatcher handled the situation calmly, with patience and compassion. And within 45 minutes, had convinced the man to climb into the ambulance on his own for medical evaluation.  The Wood-Ridge resp…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Officers' Small Gestures Leave Lasting Impression On Recent Morris County Widow Officers' Small Gestures Leave Lasting Impression On Recent Morris County Widow
Officers' Small Gestures Leave Lasting Impression On Recent Morris County Widow Small gestures by Morris County Sheriff officers left a lasting impression on a recent widow during a visit to county offices. It all happened on July 28, during Kenneth E. Overby's trip to the Morris County Surrogate's Office to begin probating his late wife Delores' estate. Officers Jonathan Feinberg and Tyler Bartol made sure that Overby's visit was a comfortable and easy one, despite having recently lost his wife of 42 years. Feinberg and Bartol were overall particularly cordial, held doors and brought over a comfortable chair for Overby -- an author and poet who now uses a walker. Wh…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Police: Veteran Prostitutes Pinched In Paterson Undercover Op Police: Veteran Prostitutes Pinched In Paterson Undercover Op
Police: Veteran Prostitutes Pinched In Paterson Undercover Op An undercover police officer posing as a john netted four veteran Paterson prostitutes who waved down and propositioned him, authorities said. The detective cruised the area of Van Houten Avenue and Auburn Street between the city public library and the Kilpatrick School on Friday, city Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale said. Arrested were Betty Morales, 47, and Nicole C. Paletta-Wright, 39, of Paterson, and Kristen D. Surlak, 34, of Fair Lawn, he said. Also arrested, at Broadway and East 18th Street, was Dawn M. Stapowick, 47, of Paterson, the director said. All were issued summonses …

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by Jerry DeMarco