Washington Township officers part of annual program to introduce police to youngsters.
By: Mark Moffa
WASHINGTON The Police Department last week launched its trading card contest, an event designed to encourage children to become aquatinted with officers.
The contest requires children up to 14 years old to approach police officers, who will carry trading cards of themselves. The kids can ask the officer for his/her card. The goal is to collect all 26 trading cards.
Detective Vince Estelle said officers and children will need to follow rules this year that were not in place the last time the contest was held two years ago.
Detective Estelle said kids would wait in the parking lot of the Police Department and collect cards from officers at the change of shifts. That will not be allowed this year, he said.
Only seven cards will be distributed at headquarters. Cards of acting Chief Robert Woodruff, Capt. Martin Masseroni, Detectives Vincent Estelle and Chris Nitti, the communications division (dispatchers), late Patrol Officer Craig Robinson, and the checklist will be given out there.
First-, second-, and third-place prizes will be awarded in three categories. First place will garner a gift certificate of $100, second-place finishers will receive a certificate for $50, and third place will get a $25 certificate.
There is a category for those 7 years old or younger, another for 8- to 10-year-olds, and one for children 11 to 14 years old.
Detective Estelle said gift certificates for the older groups likely will be for Best Buy, and the younger age group likely will receive gift certificates for Toys-R-Us.
Detective Estelle noted that children will have to be patient, and that it may take months to collect all 26 cards.
Most importantly, he said children are not to approach an officer on a motor vehicle stop or while on an emergency call. Kids may approach an officer when the officer is free and clear of harms way, he said.
The rest of the rules are as follows:
Eligibility:
A. Contest is open to residents of Washington Township up to and including the age of 14.
B. Children and relatives of any employee of Washington Township are not eligible for any prize.
C. Children or relatives of any sponsor are eligible as long as there is sufficient proof the cards presented are not part of any set provided to the sponsor by the Police Department.
Claiming of prizes:
A. Upon completion of a collection of all twenty six (26) police trading cards, prospective winners are to report to the Washington Township Police Headquarters with his/her cards. The officer in charge is to be notified. At this time, this officer will review the cards presented and verify that all the 26 cards have been collected. At this time, this officer will take all information including date and time the cards were verified and retain the 26 collected cards until prizes are awarded. This information will be reported to the PBA contest committee. The committee will review the information and award the prizes at time set by the PBA.
Card Distribution:
A. Cards will be distributed to the children upon their request to an officer.
B. Only one card is to be distributed at a time by an officer to a child or adult for purposes of contest eligibility.
C. It will be considered a reason for disqualification if it can be found that cards collected by another for a person claiming to be a prizewinner.
D. Checklists will be made available at police headquarters, agreeing sponsors, and all officers. Officers will also have Patrol Officer Robinson’s card available upon request.
PBA Rights:
A. PBA Local 344 reserves the right to disqualify any and all winners for any reason.
B. PBA Local 344 reserves the right to terminate the contest at any time for any reason.
C. PBA Local 344 reserves the right to limit card supplies and distribution for any reason.

