BY CHRISTINE VARNO
Staff Writer
LONG BRANCH — City police are looking for two men posing as police officers in order to receive cash donations.
According to police reports, within the past two weeks, two Portuguese-speaking men have visited local Brazilian-owned businesses and introduced themselves as members of the Long Branch Police, according to Detective Lt. Bruce Johantgen.
The men promised the owners they would receive police decals and bumper stickers that would help them avoid getting traffic tickets if they made donations to the department, according to police.
The men also said the police would be keeping a record of what businesses did and did not donate, according to reports.
Another report was received — which police say could possibly be the same suspects — that two men posed as members of the Long Branch Fire Department and the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, claiming to be collecting donations for a firetruck, according to reports.
The Long Branch Police Department said that the men are not associated with the city’s police or fire department. Any solicitation on behalf of the police department is conducted by the Long Branch Policemen’s Benevolent Association No. 10, and is done through the mail, Johantgen said.
“Records are kept on donations for tax-reporting purposes only and are never used to determine if a traffic citation will be issued or not,” Johantgen said.
Anyone who is solicited for donations by people claiming to be members of the Long Branch police or fire departments is asked to call the police department at (732) 222-1000.

