Police, bar owners team up for HERO campaign

Program honors Navy officer killed by drunk driver in 2000

BY DEANNAMcLAFFERTY
Staff Writer

 HERO campaign representatives David Iommarini and Keith Bevacqui meet with Buddies Tavern owners Kathy and Karen Bailey, Sayreville Police Chief John Zebrowski and Capt. Jack Fitzsimmons. HERO campaign representatives David Iommarini and Keith Bevacqui meet with Buddies Tavern owners Kathy and Karen Bailey, Sayreville Police Chief John Zebrowski and Capt. Jack Fitzsimmons. Police and local tavern owners are partnering to elevate the status of designated drivers to the level of heroes in attempts to promote safe and sober driving within Sayreville.

Police Chief John Zebrowski met with more than 20 local bar and restaurant owners on Dec. 13 to request that the owners join the HERO campaign. The program suggests that alcohol-selling businesses offer benefits to designated drivers to support responsible drinking.

Adherents of the campaign supply designated drivers with free soft drinks or water, wristbands and vehicle decals. Zebrowski said he became familiar with the details of the program at the last New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police meeting. “It’s an enhancement to enforcement already in place by our tavern association that focuses on drinking responsibly,” he said. “It is not just good for Sayreville, but good for the county and the state.”

The program was established in memory of Navy Ensign John R. Elliot, of Egg Harbor, who was killed by a drunk driver on July 22, 2000. He was visiting his mother for her birthday when he died in a head-on collision with a vehicle driven by a man who had been arrested for driving while intoxicated and released earlier the same evening while still intoxicated.

HERO campaign representatives David Iommarini and Keither Bevacqui joined the police officers and business owners at Buddies Tavern on Johnson Lane for the Dec. 13 meeting. The various bar owners in attendance reacted very positively to the chief’s recommendations.

“The cost is very minimal for association members, but the education is super, so it’s a great opportunity to bring to light what we’ve been practicing already,” Zebrowski said .

Elliot became the namesake of “John’s Law,” passed on April 19, 2001, which requires police to impound the cars of those charged with drunken driving for up to 12 hours and issue responsibility warnings to those taking custody of DUI offenders, according to the campaign’s website. Zebrowski said that while the number of drunk driving incidents has lowered over the years, the statistics are still troubling.

“There were 15,000 alcohol-related accidents nationwide last year and 305,000 injuries as a result of those accidents,” he said. “Education is key, and putting designator drivers out as heroes is one way to bring the issue to light.”

Buddies Tavern co-owner Karen Bailey expressed considerable enthusiasm for the campaign.

“We’re in business 60 years, and we definitely remain in this business to keep customers safe,” Bailey said. “If I have a belligerent customer, I say, ‘I want to see you again but not in your coffin.’ A life is worth a $10 cab ride.”

Bailey was also on board with reactivating the taverns association, which has not met regularly for a few years. Zebrowski made the suggestion to encourage communication between the police department and local bar owners. Bailey said they would begin quarterly meetings in April.

Zebrowski and the department will now try to expand the program to restaurants, convenience stores and gas stations. The chief aims to kick off the campaign with a public announcement at a Borough Council meeting in January.

Contact Deanna McLafferty at [email protected].