Weather Bulletin Monday, Oct. 7, 2013: Tornado Watch

Monday, October 7, 2013

Weather Information Bulletin: Released by Bergen County Office of Emergency Management

The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for Northern New Jersey until 5 pm today Oct. 7, 2013. The Tornado Watch area extends from Washington DC to the lower Eastern region of New York State.

A cold front producing a line of thunderstorms will be moving from the east throughout the day.

Current NWS predictions:

A slight chance of showers before noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 3 pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. High near 78. Breezy with a south wind 13-20 MPH with gusts as high as 33 MPH. Chance of precipitation is 90 %. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch is possible.

Please monitor local weather conditions.

Additional bulletins will be issued as necessary.

PSE&G warning customers about phone scams

PSE&G is once again urging its customers to be vigilant to a telephone scam where callers threaten to shut off electric or gas service if payment is not made that day.

Residential and small business customers have reported receiving these deceptive phone calls from individuals pretending to be PSE&G employees. The callers demand that customers make a payment within hours using a Green Dot Money Pak, a type of pre-paid card available at pharmacies and convenience stores. PSE&G does not accept these cards. The utility offers a variety of payment options, and would never require a customer to use one specific type of payment.

Any customer who has doubts about the legitimacy of a call from PSE&G — especially one in which payment is requested — should call the utility directly at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734).

Thank You to Crossing Guard Dos Doheny

Capt. Madalone, Dos Doheny, Chief Carr and Lt. Stapleton.

Records clerk Sue Frei, Dos Doheny and records clerk Vickie Vradenburg.

On Tuesday, October 1, BPD officers, civilian personnel, and all of Bergenfield's dedicated School Crossing Guards came to headquarters to thank one of their own who retired from her crossing guard position as of the first of the month. Dos Doheny, who served in the position since September 2000, was surprised in the BPD Squad Room by her colleagues, police supervisors, and her biggest supporter and son, Detective Kevin Doheny. 

Dos was assigned to the Jefferson School post at Hickory and Third. She was very instrumental in maintaining the safety of many Jefferson School children over the years. Her desire to create the safest school zone on a busy traveled road such as Hickory Avenue gave her the nickname "The Cone Lady." Dos utilized more cones than the NJ Division of Transportation uses in NJ Turnpike construction zones. She created a more visible area for the crossing zone in front of Jefferson School. 

The result was a safe school zone every single day, 180 school days of the year. She also assisted the Traffic Supervisor in managing the time sheets and school post coverage for all the guards. She will surely be missed by her colleagues, the officers, and especially the students at Jefferson School.

Detective Kevin Doheny with Dos "Mom" Doheny at the retirement celebration.

                                         
BPD sends a big THANK YOU to Dos Doheny for a job well done.

Local law enforcement supports End DWI

Supporters of End DWI at the ceremony and remembrance walk held last weekend in Paramus.

This past Sunday, September 29, local law enforcement members, volunteers, supporters and victims of driving while intoxicated accidents gathered in Van Saun Park for the first annual End DWI Walk of Remembrance.

The mission of End DWI is "to provide support to victims and families effected by impaired driving through a myriad of services and to create public awareness about devastating effects and the need to end driving while intoxicated."

Approximately 150 people attended the first annual event held at the End DWI Memorial Tree Grove. More than 20 police chiefs and law enforcement members from Bergen County were in attendance at the event to support the efforts of this organization. Our own Police Chief Michael Carr, a member of the Police Pipes and Drums of Bergen County, played the bagpipes during the ceremony,

The ceremony in the Memorial Tree Grove was followed by a 1 1/2 mile walk through Van Saun Park.

End DWI is looking for both volunteers as well as funding. If you are interested in donating to the organization or becoming a volunteer, email info@enddwi.org or mail to END DWI, P.O. Box 156, Bogota, NJ 07603.

It is important that we all support organizations such as End DWI, which seek to honor the memory of those lost to DWI accidents, help the families left behind and work to bring an end to this senseless, preventable crime.

For more information, visit the End DWI website.

To read an article about the event, click here.

Department partners with Rotary Club for community service

On Tuesday, September 24, 2013, Bergenfield Police Chief Michael Carr, Capt. Cathy Madalone, and Lt. Jerry Stapleton, were invited to a meet and greet hosted by the Bergenfield-Dumont Rotary Club at the TD Bank, 126 North Washington Avenue, Bergenfield. To encourage and foster the ideal of service, the Rotary Club invited the BPD to speak on programs and community service events to help better the community. The Rotary Club organization was formed in 1905 by Paul P. Harris. This Chicago attorney started the service organization with the purpose to provide "a place where professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships," according to the group's website. The group got its name, the Rotary Club, from the practice of rotating meetings among the various member's offices. Going forward, the Bergenfield-Dumont Rotary Club and BPD will partner and put together programs such as Child Safety Seat Inspections, Bicycle Registrations and Bike Helmet Awareness, to name just a few. More information to come on these events. Thank you to members of the Rotary Club for inviting BPD and we look forward to the partnership and service we will provide to the community

Stay connected during emergencies with Nixle

Recent messages sent to Bergenfield residents using Nixle.

As we posted earlier this month, September is National Preparedness Month. The severe weather that has hit our area in the last several years has given new meaning to being prepared. We all know too well that being prepared to survive for several days without power and being unable to get gas and supplies in local stores is a reality. 

One of the best ways to be prepared for a storm is to take advantage of ways to stay connected to local emergency services. One of the greatest tools we have to reach residents with alerts and advisories - particularly during times of an emergency - is Nixle.

Register by filling out the box like this on the right side of our blog.

Nixle is a communication system that connects residents with the agencies that serve and protect them.

Residents can use Nixle to receive information ranging from critical alerts to community news. Additionally, residents can choose how they receive the information - by SMS (text message) email, over the web or by mobile applications.

Before, during and after the severe storms that have hit our area in recent years, the Borough of Bergenfield Administration, Office of Emergency Management and we at the police department, sent out multiple alerts and advisory messages regarding road/traffic conditions, storm updates and other information to keep residents up-to-date. Even when power is lost, those with cellular phones can still receive text messages. Additionally, in situations unlike a hurricane or similar event, Nixle is utilized to alert residents of other events, situations or important information.

For more information, visit Nixle.com. Also, you can register here, right now, with the convenient sign-up box located on the right-hand side of our blog.

In addition to Nixle, make sure to take advantage of the other forms of communication we use to reach out to residents during emergencies. Follow us on Twitter, Like Us on Facebook and check this blog for updates, alerts, advisories and other police-related information.

9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

Chief Michael Carr plays the bagpipes while leading the Bergenfield Police Honor Guard.

Elected officials and members of the police and fire departments were in attendance.

A small service in observance of the12th anniversary of September 11th was held last night at Cooper's Pond. Members of the borough police and fire departments, the Bergenfield High School Band and the VFW Honor Guard were in attendance.The Bergenfield Mayor and Council were also in attendance at the Remembrance Ceremony. Reflections and a benediction were offered during the service.

Our Police Honor Guard presented our nation's colors and were led into the ceremony by Chief Michael Carr playing the bagpipes. Chief Carr performed "Amazing Grace" for those in attendance at the 9/11 memorial site in Cooper's Pond before the ceremony came to a close.

Those lost during the attacks of September 11, 2001 will never be forgotten. We will continue to honor the memory of the 2,997 victims of that day and remember all of the first responders who valiantly ran into the burning buildings as others ran out.