Cooperation with law enforcement key in handling situation
By Jenine Clancy, Special Writer
MONROE — When an escaped prisoner fled from the Jamesburg Police Department on May 15 schools Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton made sure he was going to keep his students safe.
"When we got notice from police, it was within 10 minutes we got the information," said Superintendent Hamilton.
A "shelter in place" designation was ordered at four schools as a precautionary measure.
"We started with just the high school and middle school and about two minutes after that I thought it would be best to extend it to the entire district because I didn’t know anything about the suspect at the time," said Superintendent Hamilton.
Schools on alert in district were the high school and the middle school in Monroe Township and the Grace M. Breckwedel Middle School and John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Jamesburg.
Mr. Hamilton explained that a "shelter in place" is similar to a lockdown, but the only difference being the shelter in place allows functions within the school to continue, with the exception of entering and exiting the building.
"We have the instructional programs that continue to go about their normal routines , whereas in a lockdown the students are pretty much isolated to the classroom or facility that they are currently in at the time," said Mr. Hamilton.
Naser A. Zucker, 19, of Jamesbourg was apprehended at Thompson Park in Monroe Township by members of the Monroe Township Police Department at 1:50 p.m. after he fled from the Jamesburg Police Department at 12:10 p.m., according to a joint press release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and both the Jamesburg and Monroe police departments.
Mr. Zucker was one of three people who were arrested earlier in the day at an apartment on George Street in Jamesburg during an investigation by the Jamesburg Police Department and members of the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Gangs, Guns, and Drugs Task Force, according to the release.
At some point around 12:10 p.m., Mr. Zucker was able to escape custody and make a run into Thompson Park, according to the release.
Mr. Zucker was apprehended after a park visitor saw the suspect and told police as they arrived during an extensive search.
He was then charged with escape and was being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in North Brunswick on $150,000 bail.
The circumstances surrounding the escape remain under investigation. No one was injured during the escape.
Mr. Hamilton said the principals at the school’s were actually at a workshop at the time the schools were notified, but in just five minutes returned to their respective buildings.
"We were in a good place, it was a good experience for us actually," he said.
Mr. Hamilton said by having two way communication devices they are able to communicate one message throughout the district, to principals, supervisors and the transportation department.
He also said the students were doing fine during, and after the arrest.
"They were very responsive," he said. "The students are accustomed to the safety drills that they do every month, they were able to respond appropriately."
He also credited the relationship the district shares with local law enforcement.
"Our collaborative relationship with the police department continues to work well and they have always been responsive," he said. "They always made sure we got information in a timely fashion and last week was no exception."