Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over on New Year's Eve

Another year has come and gone, and many of us are finalizing plans for New Year’s Eve tomorrow night as we bid farewell to 2013 and welcome 2014. But before heading out for fun and festivities to ring in the new year, make sure you have a designated driver to bring you to and from your destination safely. 

In the United States, 10,000 people die on the road each year from drunk driving. In an effort to put an end to these senseless tragedies, law enforcement agencies across the nation are participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. The campaign continues through New Year’s Day and aims to deter impaired driving through highly visible enforcement. The goal of the campaign is prevention.

So whether you are hosting a party or attending one hosted by a friend, make sure you and those you love have a designated driver so everyone makes it home safely to start the new year. 

For more information about the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website at nhtsa.gov/drivesober/.

To read an article about police in New Jersey stepping up patrols as part of the “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign, see northjersey.com/news/bergen/NJ_police_stepping_up_patrols_to_crack_down_on_drunken_driving.html.

Weather Update Bulletin from Bergenfield OEM via Bergen County OEM

Bergen County Office of Emergency Management

 http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/index.aspx?NID=778

Weather Information Bulletin

 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES A WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 0600 HOURS SUNDAY MORNING

SNOW CONTINUES TO FALL AN AVERAGE OF 2 INCHES HAS ALREADY ACCUMULATED AROUND THE COUNTY. SNOW WILL BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES THIS EVENING, WITH SNOWFALL RATES UP TO 1 INCH PER HOUR. SNOW WILL EVENTUALLY CHANGE TO RAIN, AROUND MIDNIGHT, BEFORE TAPERING OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS.

TOTAL ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED TO BE 6 - 8 INCHES WITH A COATING OF ICE ON TOP. 

WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THIS SITUATION AND ISSUE UPDATES AS NECESSARY.

Winter Weather Information: from Bergen County OEM site. Click the link

http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/index.aspx?NID=806 

Bergenfield Boro Office of Emergency Management

http://www.bergenfieldboro.com/departments-offices/emergency-services-in-bergenfield/oem-office-of-emergency-management.html

OEM: Links to Weather information

National Weather Service is on Twitter and Facebook

Bergenfield NJ Weather
http://www.weather.com/weather/today/07621:4:US

For hourly weather information…click below
http://forecast.weather.gov/gridpoint.php?site=okx&TypeDefault=graphical

 For probabilistic snow and freezing rain information…click below :
http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/pwpf/wwd_accum_probs.php?ftype=probabilities&fpd=24&ptype=snow

For information on possible winter weather impacts…click below:
http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/impactgraphics/

Thank you to all participants in the BPD tweet-along

Capt. Cathy Madalone, Officer Kyle Witty and Chief Michael Carr during the tweet-along.

Thanks to all our Twitter followers and Facebook fans who followed along with last night's tweet-along. It was a huge success. Despite the weather, Officer Witty was shadowed during his shift from the roll call line up, to the car check, patrol duties, responses to calls for service, motor vehicle/traffic enforcement, and even a coffee stop at Dunkin' Donuts. 

The event was part of Bergenfield Police Department's continued efforts in building community relationships. In this case, by doing a "virtual ride-along" with an officer using our social media tools, we brought real-time information to our residents and others as to what was occurring on a rainy Friday night. The goals of last night's tweet-along were to make our residents aware of how the BPD uses social media to reach out and keep them aware of crime trends, emergency alerts, and public safety issues as well as provide a creative way of showing a typical shift in the life of a BPD officer. 

All too often police and public interaction involves a tragic, unfortunate, or a crime incident that can suddenly shift the public view of a police officer from ally to adversary. The virtual ride-along provides a forum for the public to see (in photos) and read about (in micro-blogged tweets or posts) what an officer has to face, be aware of, investigate, and make decisions on, sometimes in a split second, all in real-time. It is simply the sharing of insight into how an officer does his or her job provided to those who are interested in learning about that aspect of their community. Even making the coffee shop stop provided a fun moment to humanize the officers because the myth of "cops 'n donuts" was finally busted as it was all tweeted last night.

Thanks again to all those who participated especially Officer Kyle Witty and the officers of Platoon 1, Squad 2 (Sgt. John Maggi, PO John Brown, PO Marc Rispoli, PO Jorge Candia, PO Eric Lind, 911 Telecommunicators Rich Brendlen and Carmela Russo). In addition, special thanks goes to Sergeant DaCosta, daughter Ally, and PO Eric Ost, who stopped by the DD to be a part of the meet 'n greet.

We thank those local business owners for allowing us to come in for a few minutes, especially those at Nick's Pizza & Pasta and of course, our police substation south, Dunkin' Donuts. We also would like to thank some local residents with whom we stopped by their homes for a quick chat and photo, in particular, Jack Hoffmann, and the Rose Family, including Fred the dog who provided a friendly greeting to those of us who entered the foyer.

Again, the BPD especially thanks those who followed the tweets, retweeted, direct messaged, or liked our Facebook page posts. We truly appreciate the support. Because of that support we will plan to do another tweet-along event in 2014.

Finally, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of an event like this when it comes to police-community relations. It may sound like something that is for just for fun, but we take it seriously and aim to use it for the potential reach it has on community members that use social media as well. Police officers have an impact on lives of citizens on a daily basis. In some instances it may not be the best time of someone's life, but we want the public to remember that officers also have a human side too. By using the technological tools of communication that are available to us, we can hopefully show that side of a police officer and strengthen the relationship with the public.

Chief Michael T. Carr

Meet the officers of tonight's tweet-along

During tonight's virtual ride along, you will meet some of Bergenfield's finest as Chief Michael Carr and Captain Cathy Madalone shadow Police Officer Kyle Witty on his patrol.

PO Kyle Witty has been on the police force in Bergenfield for three years. Prior to that, he was employed as a Sheriff's Officer for the Morris County Sheriff's Department. He is a DARE Officer and the lead drill instructor for the Bergenfield Youth Police Academy. He is currently running the Bergenfield Toys for Tots program and is a motorcycle officer. PO Witty is very excited to have been selected for the department's first tweet-a-long. Sorry ladies, PO Witty is not available; he is married.

Captain Cathy Madalone has been employed by the Bergenfield Police Department for the last 19 years. She is currently the Administrative Captain overseeing the Traffic Bureau and the Records Bureau. She is the Department's Public Information Officer and Accreditation Manager.

Chief Michael T. Carr has been employed by the Bergenfield Police Department for the last 25 years. He was promoted to Chief on August 7, 2012. He is a member of the Police Pipes and Drums of Bergen County and plays the bagpipes. He is very technologically savvy and is bringing several significant changes to the department. Chief Carr has brought social media to the department in an effort to bolster community relations.

Tweet-a-long with the Bergenfield Police Department

On Friday, December 6, 2013 from 7pm to 11pm the Bergenfield Police Department will be conducting their first tweet-a-long.  Chief Michael T. Carr and Captain Cathy Madalone will shadow an officer on patrol.  From the comfort of your home you can experience a virtual ride-a- along with a police officer.  During the tweet-a-long we will be posting photos and tweets of events and incidents which occur during the officer's shift.  We will also tweet a time and location for a meet and greet during the event. 

Halloween safety tips for trick-or-treaters

After suffering postponements and cancellations due to the nor'easter of 2011 and Superstorm Sandy in 2012, kids throughout Bergen County will finally be able to enjoy trick-or-treating on Halloween this year.

While many parents want to make sure their children have fun this holiday, it is also important to make sure we are keeping our kids safe this October 31. While we may not be facing downed live wires, power outages or fallen trees, there still exist conditions that could put our kids' safety at risk.

The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers some great tips for trick-or-treaters, which you can find below and on the department's website.

S - Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be short, soft and flexible.
A - Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
F - Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
E - Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them.
H - Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you and others see. Always walk - don't run.
A - Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime.
L - Look both ways before crossing the street. Use crosswalks wherever possible.
L - Lower your risk for eye injury by not wearing decorative contact lenses.
O - Only walk on sidewalks when possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic.
W - Wear well-fitting masks, costumes and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips and falls.
E -  Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Don't eat homemade treats from strangers.
E - Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit homes.
N - Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

More safety tips can also be found at Safe Kids Worldwide. 

Det. Doheny attends Composite Sketch Artist training



Det. Kevin Doheny with some of his sketches.

From October 7 through October 11, Bergenfield Police Detective Kevin Doheny attended training in Composite Artist Facial ID Recognition, hosted by the Fort Lee Police Department.The training was conducted by Stuart Parks Forensic Associates from Cataldo, Idaho.

Detective Doheny has been a forensic artist for the BPD since 2009. Since that time he has completed ten composite sketches for various criminal cases and has had four cases solved as a result of the sketches. One sketch solved a string of residential burglaries that was occurring in the borough. Through detective investigation and witness interviews, a sketch was developed of a possible female suspect. One early afternoon, while getting ready for his evening detective shift, Detective Doheny, who had taken his sketch home with him to work on, received a crime tip on a suspect in connection with the burglaries. That tip came from his wife who had looked at her husband's sketch work. She had just noticed a female walking along the street outside their home who resembled the sketch. Detective Doheny went to investigate further and followed the female who was then caught in the act of burglarizing a home just a few blocks away.

Other cases solved were a robbery case involving two suspects. The sketch drawn resulted in the identification of a suspect after a person saw the composite on a poster. One suspect was brought in for an interview. A friend came with him to the station. The "friend" also happened to match the second suspect drawing. After investigating both men, witnesses to the crime identified both suspects and they were each charged with robbery.

The success thus far of having a certified forensic artist has been worth the investment to continually train our detective in the art of forensic drawing. Most of the training was paid for with the use of available BPD Asset Forefeiture monies obtained and managed through the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. 

Detective Doheny also attended a workshop on creating sketches of persons of various races, weights and facial features. In his third training session in October 2012, he was officially certified as a forensic artist. The training this month was specific towards learning to sketch based on using Facial ID Recognition. This is used in cases such as from surveillance videos or when a partial view of a face was the only thing obtained from a witness or crime victim. 

Special thanks to Chief Keith Bendul and Lt. Ken Porrino of the Fort Lee PD for hosting the training.

"This is my fourth class with Stuart Parks Forensic Associates," said Detective Doheny. "I didn't have any ability to draw until I went to these classes. Each class I have developed more and more to have the skill and the confidence to apply to my detective work and my sketches. I hope this helps in solving more crimes."

BPD Receives AAA North Jersey Award




Chief Carr, Mayor Carlos Aguasvivas, Capt. Madalone.

On October 23, 2013, AAA North Jersey presented to the Bergenfield Police Department, a AAA Special Recognition award, at a luncheon held at the Brownstone in Paterson NJ. The award gives recognition to communities with outstanding traffic safety program activities. The BPD received the recognition based on its very effective traffic safety education programs including Safety Town, AAA North Jersey's "Otto the Auto" pedestrian safety program, glow sticks for halloween trick or treators, and child seat safety inspections and installations.The goal of the safety programs is to educate the public in traffic safety to prevent injuries or fatalities. It is also a great way for the police to build on their community policing philosophy and improve police-community relationships.


The BPD Traffic Bureau is supervised by Lt. Jerry Stapleton and commanded by Capt. Cathy Madalone. The Traffic Bureau along with all the officers of the BPD, maintain vigorous traffic enforcement and education to the public. Their efforts to promote safety are aided by community partnerships in order to reach their goals that earned them this special recognition.

Thank you to AAA North Jersey for their partnership and support in these efforts.

Officers participate in Special Olympics Plane Pull

Michele Waiser, PO Rob Mader, Detective William Duran and PO Kyle Witty, from left.

Police officers must be quick on their feet in order to catch a fleeing criminal. They also receive physical training to give them the strength to subdue those lawbreakers. Most citizens probably think of police as only needing those skills to fulfill their duties, but there is much more to being a law enforcement officer than just speed and strength. Police officers are also recognized for their honor, respect, dedication and the commitment they make to serve others. It is these things and more that the members of Bergenfield PBA Local 309 officers stand for.
 
On October 5, 2013, Detective William Duran, Officer Kyle Witty, and Officer Robert Mader took on the challenge of doing something that put those abilities of strength and quickness, coupled with honor, dedication and commitment to serving others, to the test. These three members of Bergenfield PBA Local 309 participated in the challenge of pulling a 93,000-pound plane across an airport tarmac.


Duran, Witty, and Mader joined team captain, Michele Waiser, whose daughter is autistic, in the NJ Special Olympics plane pull at Newark International Airport. The funds raised from the event benefits the Special Olympic athletes who train and compete year-round throughout the state. The event was sponsored by the Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ) and was hosted by United Airlines and The Port Authority of NY & NJ.

Thank you Michele for your inspiration in leading the Local 309 team members. We are there to support you and the SONJ.

For more information about this event, visit the Special Olympics New Jersey Plane Pull page.

Miller attends Gettysburg Leadership Experience

Sergeant Tom Miller, eighth from left, in the striped blue and white shirt, completes
the NJSACOP training program at Gettysburg.

Bergenfield Police Sergeant Tom Miller recently participated in a leadership training weekend hosted by the NJ State Association Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) at Gettysburg National Park. The training, titled the Gettysburg Leadership Experience: A Staff Ride for Law Enforcement Leaders, took place on September 27-29, 2013.

"The Leadership Staff Ride transforms the battlefield at Gettysburg into an outdoor classroom to educate modern law enforcement leaders. The issues of command and control, logistics, communication, strategic planning, tactics and leading in times of stress transcend time and place as issues important to leaders of law enforcement organizations." 

 
Sergeant Miller is currently assigned to the Patrol Division as a first-line supervisor. His attendance at this training demonstrates the desired goal of the BPD to provide the best educated and trained leaders for their role in serving the Bergenfield community in public safety and law enforcement. Thanks also goes to the outstanding commitment by the NJSACOP towards providing training like this so we are able to accomplish our goal.

Additional day: Street paving resulting in road closures

Due to a mechanical issue with equipment on Friday, Oct. 11, the paving company will be completing the road work for Chestnut Street (NE Sector) and Quincy Lane (SW sector) on Monday, Oct. 14 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Both roads will be closed during that time.

Chestnut Street  Closed Monday, Oct. 14   8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Quincy Lane    Closed  Monday, Oct. 14 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Street paving resulting in road closures

The borough is paving Chestnut Street and Quincy Lane this week. 

Today, Thursday, October 10, there will be milling on Chestnut Street only. There will be a partial road closure with one lane open between Phelps Avenue and the Dumont line. Traffic will be allowed to flow north and south in one lane through 3 p.m. 

Tomorrow, Friday, October 11, Chestnut Street will be completely close between Phelps and Dumont line for paving. The closure will be in effect from late morning through 3 p.m. Paving on Quincy Lane will begin around 8 a.m. No traffic will be allowed. Detour signs will be posted by the contractor. Quincy Lane will be closed between Rector Court and Frederick Place.

Today, October 10, is Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day

Today, October 10, we observe the annual Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day. According to a report released by the National Highway and Traffic Administration, there were approximately 33,000 traffic deaths in 2012 alone. When broken down, that 33,000 translates into 90 fatalities every single day - one death every 16 minutes.

The goal of this day is to raise awareness of the risks involved in unsafe driving behavior. It is also meant to encourage all drivers to strive for a full day without any traffic deaths.

All motorists can do things to help eliminate the unsafe driving behavior. First, it is vital that all distractions - such as talking on cell phones or texting - are eliminated. Motorists must drive defensively and always be attentive. One should never drive while drowsy or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Here are some safety tips from the US DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration campaign, "Share the Road Safely."

 

Car Drivers

• Cutting in front can cut your life short! Avoid cutting in front of other vehicles as you may create an emergency braking situation for others around you, especially in heavy traffic.
• Buckle your seat belt! ALWAYS!
• Watch your blind spots and the "No Zones" around trucks and buses.
• Inattentive drivers. While driving, please focus only on the road. If you need to attend to another matter while driving (cell phones, kids, application of cosmetics, etc.) safely pull over in a parking lot or rest stop.
• Avoid aggressive drivers and driving aggressively. Speeding, running red lights and stop signs, making frequent lane changes and tailgating can create dangerous and potentially fatal situations on the road.
• Avoid squeeze play. Be careful of trucks and buses making wide right turns. If you try to get in between the truck and the curb, you could be caught in a squeeze and suffer a serious accident.
• Keep up with the maintenance on your vehicle! 
• Never drink and drive!

Motorcycle Drivers

• Watch the "No-Zones". Never hang out in a truck's blind spot or "No-Zone".
• Always wear a helmet!
• Drive to survive! Motorcycles are the smallest vehicles on the road and offer no protection in a crash. Be cautious, pay attention to the signals and brakes of other vehicles, especially trucks!
• Check yourself and your bike. Conduct a safety inspection of your motorcycle before each ride and be sure to wear the proper protective gear.
• Watch your speed!

Truck and Bus Drivers

• Take care of yourself! The most important part of a moving truck or bus is the driver. Get plenty of rest before getting behind the wheel, eat well and stay fit!
• Always maintain your vehicle
• Be aware of your "No-Zone"! The "No-Zone" represents the danger areas, or blind spots, around trucks and buses where crashes are more likely to occur. Be vigilant in watching out for vehicles in the "No-Zone".
• Slow down in work zones!
• Always keep your distance - leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you.
• Fasten your seat belt. Buckle up for safety and control.
• Always drive defensively and AVOID aggressive drivers!
• Work to help yourselves. Help stranded motorists, notify traffic safety agencies of crashes, unsafe road conditions and other situations that can lead to crashes.

Pedestrians

• Watch your walkways. Walk on sidewalks and in crosswalks whenever possible. Pay attention to walk signals and keep a safe distance when standing on corners.
• Know your "No Zones". Be aware of blind spots around trucks, buses and cars when walking near and around them.
• Stopping Distances. Use caution when crossing intersections and streets. You may think vehicles will stop for you, but they may not see you or even be able to stop. Never take a chance with a truck, even if the driver sees you, they may not be able to stop. Truck brakes and gears are notorious for sticking.
• Make Yourself Visible. Wear bright or reflective clothing.
• Watch our for wide loads. Trucks with wide loads may have very limited visibility as well as difficulty maneuvering.

Bicyclists

• Wear your helmet!
• Bikers Beware. Always be aware of the traffic around you. Never assume that all drivers see you. Ride defensively.
• Check your brakes and be prepared to stop.
• Ride with traffic. Ride on the right side, with the flow of traffic.

Beware of the "No-Zone." Never sneak in between a truck or bus and the curb, or you could get crushed. Be aware that large trucks have blind spots in the front, back and on the sides, which make it difficult for the driver to see around them.

For more information about traffic safety tips and information, visit the website for Put the Brakes on Fatalities Day.