Squad goes back to B&W
By sandi carpello
Staff Writer
JAMESBURG — The borough’s police department will join a growing number of area municipalities who are going back to the days of using black and white patrol cars.
The department has recently purchased a black and white 2003 Crown Victoria, and plans to purchase more black and white units over time as the squad’s cars need to replaced.
The black and white vehicles make it easier for the public to differentiate a police vehicle from a fire or first aid vehicle or other type of emergency service unit, according to Jamesburg Police Chief David Lester.
Lester said the department currently has five marked patrol Ford Crown sedans. The black and white Victoria will replace the oldest of the five.
Lester noted that other local towns such as Helmetta, New Brunswick and Plainsboro have also gone back to operating black and white police cars. East Brunswick reverted to using the black and white units in 2001. Monroe police have always used black and white vehicles, Lester said.
The chief also announced recently that Jamesburg patrolmen Kevin Wilson and Pat Smith have completed their Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) training and will be piloting the borough’s 2002-03 program.
The program, which works primarily with sixth-grade students at the Grace M. Breckwedel School, was previously run by Jamesburg police sergeants Marty Horvath and James Craparotta.
"It’s a good program. I’ll miss it," said Horvath, who has been working with the program for 11 years. He said it was time to let the younger patrolmen take over. Craparotta has worked with the DARE program for five years.
Now in its 20th year, DARE is a nationwide program that educates children about how to resist alcohol and drugs.
Lester said Horvath and Craparotta may be able to assist with DARE projects in the future.

