The Cranford Police Department is proud to announce we will be hosting the Seventh Annual Cranford Police Youth Academy. The Academy will begin Monday, July 8th and conclude Friday, July 12th. Classes are run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This law enforcement educational experience is for students graduating grades 6-8 this year.
The primary goal of the Cranford Police Youth Academy is to encourage open communication between the youth of Cranford and members of the Cranford Police Department. The program gives Cranford youth the opportunity to see some of the aspects of the Cranford Police Department. Applications for the Cranford Police Department Youth Academy can be found at the front desk of Police Headquarters or on the department website. The deadline for applications is Wednesday, June 12th at 3:00 p.m. There is a $40 registration fee. Please contact Detective Robert Montague or Patrolman Steven D’Ambola with any questions (908) 272-2222.
Seat Belt Enforcement and Education Campaign to be Conducted Locally as Part of Nationwide Click It or Ticket Mobilization May 20 – June 2, 2013
Law enforcement officers from the Cranford Police Department will be cracking down on unbuckled motorists and passengers as part of the national “Click it or Ticket” campaign. Beginning May 20 and running through June 2, the annual initiative includes high visibility law enforcement seat belt checkpoints and saturation patrols, as well as local and national publicity designed to ensure that drivers and passengers recognize the life-saving value of seat belts.
“Using a seat belt is the simplest way for a driver and his or her passengers to protect themselves when traveling,” said Gary Poedubicky, Acting Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "In 2010 alone, seat belts saved an estimated 12,546 lives nationwide.” Last year, the front seat belt usage rate in New Jersey declined for the first time in 15 years, to 88.29%. Poedubicky noted that the goal for this year’s campaign is to once again move the usage rate above 90%. “To meet our goal, we must continue both enforcement and public outreach efforts that educate all motor vehicle occupants about the importance of buckling up, every ride,” he said. Poedubicky added that the campaign will focus on rear seat passengers, as well. Despite laws requiring adult back seat passengers to buckle up, adult back seat belt use stands at only 36 percent.
During the 2012 “Click it or Ticket” campaign, 425 police agencies participated in the two-week initiative. As a result of the effort, law enforcement officers issued 29,307 seat belt citations, 4,951 speeding summonses and made 861 drunk driving arrests.
CRANFORD POLICE TO PARTICIPATE IN 6TH NATIONWIDE PRESCRIPTION DRUG DISPOSAL PROGRAM
The Cranford Police Department will be hosting a local medication collection site as part of the National Take Back Initiative medicine disposal day. The event will take place at the Cranford Community Center, 220 Walnut Avenue, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2013. This initiative, open to all residents, was organized to encourage local community residents to properly dispose of their unused, unwanted and expired medicine. Police will be on hand to accept medication for disposal. No identification will be required and disposal is completely voluntary and anonymous. Needles, syringes and other sharp instruments will NOT be collected.
This national effort, with the majority of New Jersey police departments participating (and 4,268 agencies nationwide), is being spearheaded by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Statewide partners include the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police, the NY/NJ HIDTA, and the New Jersey National Guard. Cranford residents looking for additional information on the program and local collection sites should visit http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Last September, Americans turned in 244 tons of prescription drugs at over 5,200 sites operated by the DEA and its thousands of state and local law enforcement partners. In its five previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in over 2 million pounds—over a thousand tons—of pills.
Cranford Police Chief Eric G. Mason is a staunch supporter of the program. He stated, “The abuse of prescription and over the counter drugs is often overlooked as a public safety issue. Through our participation in the Take Back Initiative we are encouraging residents to properly dispose of their unwanted or expired medicines, and in doing so we are protecting vulnerable members of our community from the host of issues that accompany the abuse of these medicines.”
CRANFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT JOB OPENING: COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
The Cranford Police Department is seeking candidates for the position of Communications Officer. The position offers a competitive salary and full benefits.
Applications must be picked up in person at the Cranford Police Department Headquarters located at 8 Springfield Ave, Cranford NJ 07016.
The deadline for all completed applications is Friday, April 19, 2013 at 4:00 p.m.
All prior candidates must submit a new application
Please return applications to:
Cranford Police Department Att: Chief Eric Mason 8 Springfield Ave Cranford, NJ 07016
Law enforcement officers from the Cranford Police Department will be cracking down on unbuckled motorists and passengers as part of the national “Click it or Ticket” campaign. Beginning May 20 and running through June 2, the annual initiative includes high visibility law enforcement seat belt checkpoints and saturation patrols, as well as local and national publicity designed to ensure that drivers and passengers recognize the life-saving value of seat belts.