called success by police
department organizer
Entertainment, activities
mark National Night Out
Freehold Borough event
called success by police
department organizer
By clare Marie celano
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — Borough residents were given the opportunity on Aug. 6 to see a different side of the men and women who serve and protect the community as the town celebrated its version of the 2002 National Night Out.
Patrolman Craig Dispenza, dressed in his yellow and black bike patrol garb, was at the top of the list dispensing information and a friendly hand to all who came to the event, held in the parking lot next to the Monmouth County Hall of Records Annex.
Dispenza, who chaired the event, explained that National Night Out is an effort to bring people together and to come out and meet their police department as well as their first aid squad, fire department and other local government agencies and community organizations.
"(Monmouth County Freeholder) Ted Narozanick was responsible for this," Dispenza said. "Union Beach has been participating in the National Night Out event for years. Mr. Narozanick wanted the borough to begin participating in it, especially since we’re the county seat."
This year marked the borough’s second National Night Out. Last year’s event, however, did not have the turnout or the success the police department had hoped for so this year, Dispenza said, the department made an effort to add entertainment and some other fun things to the itinerary.
Cops had a chance to let down their "official" guard and just be themselves for a bit and connect with the community they serve on a different level as they showed residents another side of their multi-faceted job description.
Police officer Chris Colaner scooped free popcorn (the popcorn machine was donated by Party Town) into cone-shaped paper cups, Officer Ronnie Steppat, Lt. Phil Ecks, Patrolman Sean Healey and Police Dispatcher Maritza Lopez all dished out whistles, coloring books and free balloons to youngsters.
And Sgt. Andy DeMuth was seen on his knees beside a green plastic wagon talking to a crying toddler. The officer managed to turn tears into smiles by lending the little boy his policeman’s cap for a while.
The Freehold Borough Police Department sponsored the event with help and support from the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department and the Freehold Center Partnership. The event, held from 6-9 p.m., aimed to get people out, to meet one another and to have a good time, according to Dispenza. The officer explained that the event is a community crime prevention program designed "to build safer and better neighborhoods through community involvement."
Activities were planned for all ages and guests had the opportunity to meet representatives of various government offices and community organizations.
The popular Half-Brothers — Heshy Moses and Stan Koba — provided the evening’s musical entertainment.
The cool evening gave everyone a break, including Max, the borough’s K-9 cop. Max brought along his trainer and boss, Patrolman Michael Sweetman. "Mike and Max," as they are known around town, provided a demonstration of Max’s abilities. Children and adults alike marveled at the German shepherd’s uncanny ability to find a package of marijuana, previously hidden by a young volunteer. Max barked up a storm when he found the "stuff" and was given a towel to play with for his efforts. Sweetman said the trained dogs work on a reward system. The towel is a favorite toy for Max.
K-9 cops from Hudson County and their human partners were also on hand to provide support and demonstrations. Officer Leon Davis and Buckeye as well as Officer Lou Galvaz and his partner Nikio traveled from Hudson County to support their fellow officers in the borough.
Also on hand to connect with visitors were members of the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad, the Freehold Fire Department and the Mobile Command Unit from the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department. Officer Janet Benitez came to lend her support in crime prevention by fingerprinting children. No one likes to deal with the thought that a child’s fingerprints would ever be needed to identify him or her, but Benitez emphasized the importance of parents having the fingerprints on record. Although Belinda Delgado came to distribute information, she took the time to see Benitez and to have her son, Alex, 10, fingerprinted.
Alex thought it was a "cool" thing to do.
Eric Gross brought his son, Daniel, 7, and Daniel’s friend, Kevin Smith, 7. Gross said he was meeting some neighbors at the event and was enjoying all the festivities that had been planned.
There were representatives from CentraState Medical Center offering blood pressure checks and providing brochures on health related subjects. The Freehold Community Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse was also on hand, represented by George Long, who said the alliance sponsors many school and community programs to inform and educate children and adults about the dangers of substance abuse.
"Kids who know better will make better choices," Long said. "With this information, they’ll understand that they do not have to listen to their ‘buddies’ who are trying to get them to try drugs."
Also represented was the Monmouth County Mobile Recreation Unit. Kathy Ragauckas, of the Urban Recreation Division, brought along the park system’s colorful van that carried the slogan, "Rolling Into Your Neighborhood." The van was full of goodies like paints, chalk, street hockey and soccer gear, allowing neighborhood kids to "hang out" and have some fun.
Other organizations represented were the YMCA of Western Monmouth County; the Monmouth County Historical Commission and Executive Director Randall Gabrielan, who showed off an 1855 map of Freehold Borough; the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce and its president, Arthur Kondrup; the Freehold Center Partnership and its executive director, Jayne Carr; and the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, which sponsors the 4-H Youth Development Program. The Monmouth Clogging Express, a group of dancers from the Monmouth County 4-H Club, came to entertain attendees with their dance routines.