River Vale NJ, Several towns in the Pascack Valley area are again experiencing an increased number of stolen cars. In the vast majority of incidents, the owners left keys and/or key fobs in the vehicle – making the car an easy target for thieves.
Residents are encouraged to always remove key fobs and keys from their vehicles – even when the cars are parked inside a garage. In addition, residents should be sure to remove valuables from their vehicles and remember to lock car doors and activate the alarms where applicable.
As always, residents are asked to remain alert and contact your local police promptly regarding suspicious persons or incidents.
River Vale Police Department
334 Rivervale Rd
River Vale, NJ 07675
Paramus NJ, Paramus Police are also reminding residents ,during these last few days before The holidays please be mindful of suspicious activities in your neighborhood. Make arrangements with a neighbor or a friend to bring in packages that you are expecting to be dropped off at your house. As always, if you see a suspicious or unfamiliar person in your neighborhood please call the Paramus Police Department.
Glen Rock NJ, ALERT: The Glen Rock Police arrested two individuals for stealing packages from the front of houses on the Boulevard and on Fairview. We are investigating to see if they are responsible for additional thefts in the area over the past two days. The Glen Rock Police are asking any residents with home video systems or Ring style doorbells to please contact us if you have any footage of suspicious people in the area or on your property. Any residents with stolen packages is also asked to contact the Glen Rock Police. Thank you. 201-652-3800 201-670-3948. Press release to follow, investigation is ongoing.
Ridgewood NJ, The League, along with a coalition of local government groups have made clear to the Legislature the need to extend the cap on arbitration awards , The league called on local mayors , saying “We know that hundreds of municipalities have publicly called for the extension of the cap, but it is clear we must redouble our efforts to maintain this important protection for property taxpayers”. The law is set to expire in two weeks.
In an analysis of the cap released this fall found it saved taxpayers $530 million on police and firefighter salaries and more broadly found the duo of caps saved taxpayers $2.9 billion.
The expiration date coincides with the expiration of at least 100 public safety municipal contracts, according to the League of Municipalities, and proponents said they would expect unions to quickly file for interest arbitration.
“The conclusions the data supports are undeniable. The arbitration award cap and property tax cap are unseverable and essential policies if we are serious about keeping property tax increases at the historically low rates of the last few years. The data and the report confirm what the laws of mathematics dictated from the start, you can’t have an effective cap on property taxes without an identical cap on arbitration awards. We can’t tell local officials their revenues can only increase by two percent, but that the largest line item in their budgets must increase by three percent or eight percent or any amount higher than the tax cap. And it isn’t just police and firefighter salary costs that are effected, there is a ripple effect throughout all salary expenses.” , Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon.
The League of Municipalities says that Trenton needs to hear directly from you on the critical need for the common sense extension of the 2% cap on interest arbitration awards. In 32 calendar days the cap will expire along with over a 100 police and fire contracts. With this deadline looming, local officials’ voices must be heard in Trenton. If the cap is not extended it will be local leaders, not the special interest groups or State elected leaders, facing the dilemma of funding an unelected third party arbitrator’s award under the state mandated 2% levy cap.
In addition, to personally contacting your State representatives on the urgent need for the 2% cap on interest arbitration awards, please contact the following:
Senate President Sweeney at 856-251-9801 or [email protected]
Senate Republic Leader Kean at 908-232-3673 or [email protected]
Assembly Speaker Prieto at 201-770-1303 or [email protected]
Assembly Republican Leader Bramnick at 908-232-2073 or [email protected]
Assembly Speaker Elect Coughlin at 732-855-7441 or [email protected]
Governor Christie at 609-292-6000
Governor-Elect Murphy (Transition office) 609- 292-4075
Hackensack NJ, Hackensack Police ticketed 500 drivers for parking illegally in a handicapped parking spaces, and they recently confiscated hundreds of fake and expired handicapped parking tags , in Hackensack and at Riverside Square Mall .
NEW JERSEY HANDICAPPED PARKING LAWS
Prohibit parking motor vehicles in handicapped spaces without a special vehicle identification card; mandate initial and subsequent fines of $250 each and up to 90 days of community services (C.39:4-197.(3)c).
Authorize municipalities to establish handicapped spaces in front of residences, schools, hospitals, public buildings, and in shopping and business districts (C.39:4-197.5).
Authorize municipalities to establish handicapped parking zones in front of residences occupied by people with disabilities, unless such parking interferes with the flow of traffic (C.39:4-197.6).
Enable enforcement officers to enforce handicapped parking laws on both public and private property (C.39:4-138.o).
Authorize municipalities to set up parking enforcement units that concentrate on shopping centers and malls (C.39.4-197.9).
Authorize eligible people with disabilities to request law enforcement officers to arrange for the removal and storage of motor vehicles unlawfully parked in handicapped parking spaces or zones (C.39:4-207.7).
Class I Recall 129-2017
Health Risk: High Dec 16, 2017
Washington DC, Piller’s Fine Foods, a Waterloo, Canada establishment, is recalling approximately 1,076 pounds of ready-to-eat salami and speck products that may be adulterated with Salmonella, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today.
The ready-to-eat speck prosciutto and salami items were produced on Sept. 22 and Oct. 12, 2017, respectively. The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels (PDF only)]
Vacuum-sealed random weight plastic packages containing “Black Kassel Piller’s Dry Aged D’Amour Salami” with Best Before date of May 12, 2018
Vacuum-sealed random weight plastic packages containing “Black Kassel Piller’s Dry Aged Speck Smoked Prosciutto” with Best Before date of May 12, 2018.
These items were produced in Canada and were shipped to distribution centers in California, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey and New York.
The problem was discovered when an FSIS sample of the ready-to-eat salami product was confirmed positive for Salmonella. There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.
Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated product. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. Most people recover without treatment. In some persons, however, the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. Older adults, infants, and persons with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop a severe illness. Individuals concerned about an illness should contact their health care provider.
FSIS and the company are concerned that some product may be frozen and in consumers’ freezers.
Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.
FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.
FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen. The only way to confirm that meat and poultry products are cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures internal temperature, https://1.usa.gov/1cDxcDQ.
Media and consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Trent Hilpert, President, Piller’s Fine Foods, at (519) 743-1412 ext. 240.
Hackensack NJ, Congratulations to the graduates of the Bergen County Police Academy Class 119 and Ridgewood’s newest Officers Ptl.Hector Perez and Ptl.Miguel Torres.
Graduation night for the police recruits of the most recent basic training class at the Bergen County Law & Public Safety Institute (AKA the Bergen County Police Academy). This marks the celebration of hard work, studying, testing, and proving themselves to their drill instructors and classroom instructors.
Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal was on hand along with Sheriff Saudino of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco.
Prosecutor Grewal provided remarks to the graduating class as they now embark on a long career in law enforcement.
Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco praised the class , “The Bergen County Police Academy graduate men and women of the finest caliber, and yesterday Police Class 119 join those ranks. I wish Class 119 the best of luck and success as these newly sworn officers embark on their new careers. Thank you for choosing to answer the call to protect and serve. Be safe! ”
Congratulations to all! Stay safe. Go forth and serve by representing the profession and your badges with dignity and respect each and every day.
photo courtesy of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office
December 17,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Paramus NJ, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office wants to remind you that in this Holiday season , “If you see something, say something.”
The RDT is on patrol again this weekend, adding a specialized uniformed presence at the busy shopping malls in the Paramus area, as well as Van Saun County Park’s Winter Wonderland.
The RDT serves Bergen County and its 70 municipalities (the largest county in NJ with almost 1 million residents) to mobilize special resources as needed, or in proactive ways. RDT is a Shared Services project by the BCPO, select municipal police departments, and the State of New Jersey to multiply resources. BCPO detectives assigned to RDT are specially trained in community policing, patrol, and counter-terrorism, as well as other backgrounds that make them highly useful and very effective.
Hawthorne NJ, Hawthorne Police & Fire Department units responded to a Friday evening, 12/15, rollover crash on the lawn of 56 Forest Avenue, Hawthorne. The male driver of a 1994 Jeep Cherokee was uninjured in the crash. A hydraulic lift tow truck righted the vehicle before its removal from the scene.
Glen Rock NJ, No injuries were reported following a crash in which the driver of a older model, 4-door Geo/Chevrolet Prizm drove up the front steps of a Bank of America branch located at 208 Harristown Road, Glen Rock on Friday morning, 12/15. The wrecked vehicle was removed by a flatbed tow truck. No structural damage to the building was evident. However, damage was observed to some concrete steps and ornamental hand railings. Glen Rock Police responded to investigate and file the required State of NJ accident report.
Washington Twp NJ, For the second time in less than one (1) week, an inexperienced tractor trailer driver was unable to safely negotiate a steep hill on Washington Avenue in Washington Township, requiring Washington Township Police to close a portion of the busy roadway on Thursday morning, 12/14, until the rig could be removed. Following consultation with an officer from the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Bureau of Police Services, Traffic Division, Washington Township PD issued two (2) summonses to the rig’s driver. After issuing the summonses, patrol officers directed the truck’s driver to turn around in a nearby cul-de-sac in order to safely re-enter Washington Avenue. However, the driver was unable to successfully complete the turn around maneuver and the rig became stuck in a pile of snow covered leaves. A heavy duty wrecker was then summoned to free the truck from its predicament.
Mahwah NJ, Multiple injuries were reported in late Thursday afternoon, 12/14, three (3) vehicle crash on Route 17 northbound in Mahwah. The accident occurred at a highway work site being guarded by NJSP Troopers. Mahwah Fire Department resources were required to free an individual who was trapped in the rear of a utility vehicle working at the guarded job site. A loaded passenger van and a 4-door sedan were also involved in the crash Several ambulances were called to the scene. Occupants of the passenger van sought shelter in the lobby of a nearby office building A flatbed tow truck was standing by at the site to begin removing the wreckage. Mahwah Police and Mahwah EMS also responded, along with mutual aid ambulances from commercial providers.
Fair Lawn NJ, A Fair Lawn Police uniformed patrol officer was injured in a motor vehicle crash while responding to an emergency call early Wednesday afternoon, 12/14. The crash, involving the officer’s marked police cruiser and a black, 4-door passenger vehicle, occurred at the intersection of Saddle River Road and Van Duren Avenue, Fair Lawn. The officer’s injuries were reported to be non life threatening. The other driver was apparently uninjured. Both vehicles were removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck. Two (2) persons were said to be in custody in connection with the road rage incident/physical assault that the injured officer was responding to.
Wayne NJ, the Goal Is To Promote Economic Growth & Candidates Who Will Improve Economy. Citing the need for immediate improvement of state and regional economies, more pro-business policies and effective tax policies, New Jersey businessman Joseph Caruso has launched a new Political Action Committee- – The Organization for Economic Growth (OEG ) https://www.NJOEG.com).
The NJOEG will serve as an advocate for economic policies that create jobs and spur investment, as well as a supporter of candidates for elected office who back pro-growth policies, says Caruso, who will serve as chairman of the organization.
Caruso, who will serve as chairman of the organization said, “The birth of the PAC comes from the large number of people I meet in and out of business who are completely frustrated by the state’s failed taxation and economic policies. There is a need for an organization that can turn that frustration into action that will change the economic climate of New Jersey.”
Caruso said that many elected officials from both parties seem oblivious to the economic peril that New Jersey is in and they fail to comprehend the burden that both homeowners and business owners live under and what will happen unless drastic changes are made.
“It is shocking to me and many other business people that there are legislators and other elected officials who continue to advocate for higher taxes and more regulations while ignoring the state’s lousy business reputation, its existing tax burden and its monstrous debt problems,” said Caruso, a partner in a corporate consulting firm.
“Our goals is to work with well intentioned officials on both sides of the aisle to help create a path to economic prosperity that both Democrats and Republicans can support,” added Caruso
ATTRACTING MILLENIALS
The OEG has attracted bright, young and energetic talent like: John DePinto of Bloomfield, who will serve as Vice Chairman, Ray Cottiers of New Milford will be the Director of Strategic Services and Alex Cucciniello of Mahwah will run the day to day operations as the Executive Director.
“If New Jersey doesn’t alter course soon, the jobs of the future economy – the jobs that will employ our Millennials — will be gone, followed by catastrophic economic consequences for the state,” added DePinto. “I’m a young professional and I would like to raise a family New Jersey, but currently that does not seem practical– or possible.”
Cucciniello said the OEG will serve as a information center to help educate the public and elected officials on economic and tax issues and to be a voice against the state’s bad economic policies.
“Much of the readily available economic information that is published or broadcast about our state and region is politically charged and often misleading. Our goal is to distill information from people actually working in business and interact with the media in a constructive way that will lead economic change,” said Cucciniello, who formerly worked in Washington D.C. as an intern in the White House Office of Political Affairs.
“I also believe people need to fully understand the consequences of New Jersey’s continued bad economic policies,” added Cucciniello.
Cottiers stated, “many public officials who want to improve the economy lack the information or the forum to persuade their constituents or colleagues about the best course to follow. Part of our mission will be to provide data to officials who are seriously committed to breaking down the barriers to economic growth. And part of our mission will be to be a the voice — across various media platforms — that argues against policies that harm businesses.”
The new Organization will host its initial fundraising event in January; details will be available shortly. For more information visit NJOEG.com and follow and like us on Facebook at Organization for Economic Growth (@StrengthThroughIndustry).
Dumont NJ, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal announced the arrest of HECTOR O. TEJADA (DOB: 01/05/1967; married; a US Postal Service employee) of 518 New York Avenue, Union City, New Jersey on Theft by Deception and Forgery charges. The arrest is result of an investigation conducted by members of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office (“BCPO”) Financial Crimes Unit under the direction of Chief Robert Anzilotti, the Allendale Police Department under the direction of Chief George Scherb and the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”).
In September 2017, a resident of Allendale responded to the Allendale Police Department to complain that a New Jersey State issued check that was to be delivered to the resident’s home had been stolen. During the course of a cooperative investigation conducted by members of the BCPO Financial Crimes Unit and the Allendale Police Department with the assistance of agents of the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General, it was determined that Hector O. TEJADA, a United States Postal Service mail carrier stationed out of the U.S. Post Office in Dumont, New Jersey, had stolen the check and had negotiated it through his personal bank account. An investigation of Mr. TEJADA’s activities revealed that between March 2017 and October 2017, he had stolen, from his mail route, approximately nine checks worth in excess of $8,000.00. After stealing the checks, Mr. TEJADA forged the names of the victims (check receivers) on the back of each check and deposited them into his personal checking account through the use of automated teller machines and cellular telephone, electronic deposits.
On December 11, 2017, Mr. TEJADA was arrested in Dumont, New Jersey by members of the BCPO Financial Crimes Unit, the Allendale and Dumont Police Departments, and U.S. Postal OIG agents.
Hector O. TEJADA was charged with one count of violating N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4A, Theft by Deception, a 3rd degree crime and one count of violating N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1A(2), Forgery, a 3rd degree crime. Mr. TEJADA was issued a summons and released pending his first appearance in Bergen County Central Judicial Processing Court at 9:00 a.m. on December 27, 2017.
This is an ongoing investigation and members of the public, particularly in the Dumont area, who suspect they may have been the victim of mail theft are encouraged to contact the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office at 1-201-226-5532 or the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General at 1-888-877-7644.
Prosecutor Grewal states that these charges are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and would like to thank the Allendale and Dumont Police Departments and the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General for their assistance in this investigation.
