Police task force stresses need for vigilance
By: Rebecca Tokarz
A blue van slowly drove onto a black-topped area behind Indian Fields Elementary School on Tuesday afternoon.
After hitting a snow embankment and coming to a stop, it stood there for five minutes. Not moving an inch.
Police Detective James Ryan, a visitor at the school that day, found the van’s presence unusual. He left the building, questioned the driver and searched the van’s interior.
Detective Ryan said the driver had experienced brake failure while traveling along Route 522, saw the open parking lot and thought it would be better to stop his vehicle in an empty parking lot as opposed to continuing on the congested roadway. Detective Ryan said the driver made his way around to the back of the building before hitting the embankment to stop.
"That could not have been a better example of how to be observant of your surroundings and know what does not belong there," said Detective Ryan upon his return to the building.
Detective Ryan is a member of the South Brunswick Police Department’s Terrorism Task Force, which works to keep residents informed on ways to keep themselves and others safe. It also informs the public about available resources and phone numbers that might be useful in the event of a terrorist attack or other crisis situation.
Detective Ryan, Deputy Chief Fred Thompson and Director of Special Student Services George Scott visited Indian Fields on Tuesday and presented that information to members of the school district’s Safe and Caring Schools.
Safe and Caring Schools consists of members of each district school and works in conjunction with district officials and staff to keep students safe, including preparing for possible terrorist attacks.
The presentation came on the heels of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announcement last week that the nation’s terror alert status had been raised from yellow (elevated risk) to orange (high risk).
Police said South Brunswick, although a good distance from New York City and Washington, D.C., is not exempt from the possibility of terrorist activity. The township experienced it firsthand two years ago when it was connected to anthrax letters mailed to U.S. Senator Tom Daschle.
The letter’s return address stated that it was from a fourth-grade class from Greendale School in Franklin Park with the ZIP code 08852. Though there is no such school in the state, the name is similar to the Greenbrook School in Kendall Park and the ZIP code is for Monmouth Junction.
To prepare or prevent a terrorist attack, the Police Department is working in conjunction with the township and the schools to provide the most up-to-date information through various media outlets, including tip lines, Web sites, township television stations and phone numbers, as well as public outreach programs.
"Our best bet is to make the public aware. We have 37,000 residents we’re hoping for the ripple effect to get the message out," Detective Ryan said.
Although the task force said residents should go about their daily activities, it is calling for people to embrace community policing, where the public helps the police protect the community. The police are asking residents to recognize, analyze and relate any suspicious activity.
Detective Ryan said it takes the average homeowner seven years before he or she really becomes aware of their neighborhood surroundings and knows what’s supposed to be there and what’s not.
He advised residents to become familiar with the things around them and ask questions.
"You have to know what’s typical," Detective Ryan said. "If you know what’s normal, you’re more apt to know what’s abnormal. Get to know your neighborhoods, workplaces, travel patterns, people and cars that you see on a regular basis," said Detective Ryan.
Being knowledgeable of what happens in a neighborhood or work location can help someone notice if something or someone is out of place.
Police said it is important that people call to report suspicious activity. However, they must use good judgement.
"Determine why it is suspicious. Don’t call us if you see something you’ve never seen before," Detective Ryan said.
Calls that are made to the police should be as detailed as possible, so officers can work on the tips they receive.
"Give us as much information as possible," Detective Ryan said.
Residents should go beyond casually observing a situation and work to remember details, including descriptions and estimations of times and speeds. They also should consider if the incident is taking place in a historical or symbolic area, a government office, near a gas or pipe line or in a controversial area.
With the heightened terror alert, Detective Ryan said he is surprised there has not been an influx in calls related to possible terrorism in the township.
"I’m not sure if people are just calm or if they are secure with what we’re doing," he said.
In addition, the Police Department is working with the township and the school district to provide television access on channels 3 and 28 to disseminate information, should an attack occur.
The South Brunswick Police Department Web site, www.sbpdnj.org also will be providing updated information, including the federal government’s latest terror alert level.
Other informational information can be obtained through www.whitehouse.gov, www.fbi.gov and the Red Cross Web site, www.redcross.org.
Should a terrorist attack occur or to report suspicious behavior, residents should call the Police Department’s tip line at (732) 329-4000 ext. 750 or (732) 329-4000 ext. 847 for up to date information. For all non-emergencies, contact the Police Department at (732) 329-4646.
"When a problem happens, that is not the best time to find out how things work," Detective Ryan said.
The Terrorism Task Force is willing to visit any group, corporation or organization and give the presentation. For more information or to arrange for a presentation, contact Detective Ryan at (732) 329-4000, ext. 448.

