photo courtesy of Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Glen Rock NJ, in an emotional Glen Rock Borough Council meeting last Wednesday, residents voiced their frustration over the delayed notification of a park shooting that occurred the previous night. The incident, which took place at Wilde Memorial Park, left the community shaken and uncertain.
The Incident
On Tuesday evening, Glen Rock Police responded to a disturbance on the park’s basketball court around 7:34 p.m. According to a press release from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, a 23-year-old man from Paterson sustained a gunshot wound and was treated at a nearby hospital before being released. No arrests have been made yet.
The Aftermath and Community Response
Approximately two dozen residents spoke during the public comment session, which lasted over an hour. Many expressed their discontent with how local officials handled communication following the incident. Residents close to the park reported hearing gunshots and seeing strangers running through their properties, learning about the shooting through neighbors rather than from official sources.
Rosemarie Barone, a concerned resident, accused the council of failing to promptly inform the public, thus creating chaos. Her sentiments were echoed by others in the community who felt an immediate alert with basic details should have been issued.
Official Response and Apologies
Mayor Kristine Morieko issued a reverse 911 call hours after the incident, apologizing for the delay. She explained that she was at the scene working with police and waiting for permission to release information.
Eileen Hillock, another resident, questioned the protocol that delayed the reverse 911 alert, stressing the need for timely communication during emergencies.
Safety Concerns and Suggestions
Residents also raised concerns about the prelude to the shooting, mentioning the noise and suspected marijuana use at the basketball court. Rob Carosella, who was coaching nearby, described the panic as “30 to 50” shots were fired, causing parents and children to scramble for safety. He emphasized that the lack of more severe injuries was purely “damn blind luck.”
Glen Rock Police Chief Dean Ackermann explained that two officers were present in the park at the time, and the response was quickly bolstered to about 50 officers through mutual aid. He assured that the situation was swiftly contained, posing no further threat to the general public.
Potential Safety Measures
Mayor Morieko highlighted that the borough is exploring all legal avenues to enhance public safety. Potential measures include closing the basketball court, enforcing capacity limits, or restricting access to Glen Rock residents. However, these actions could impact funding from the New Jersey Green Acres program.
The Call for Action
The shooting has left many residents questioning the safety of their community. Sanjiv Ohri, a resident, urged the council and police to take concrete steps to restore the town’s sense of security.
Ongoing Investigation
The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office and Glen Rock Police are soliciting the public’s assistance in the ongoing investigation. They encourage anyone with photos, videos, or relevant information from the park around the time of the shooting to submit them at bcponj.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/glenrock.
The Glen Rock community remains vigilant, hoping for swift action and improved communication to prevent future incidents and restore peace in their town.
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If Glen Rock wants a better “sense of security” they need to move the town further away from Paterson.
Diversity is our Strength
Take down the basketball hoops replace with pickle ball courts. Problem solved
They can always put special police there,
That’ll help against a mob.
Hope those people don’t infiltrate our town. The scary thing is they probably already are lurking around
Just look at all the gang graffiti on utility boxes and on the shacks on the main line below Rock Road…….they’ve been in town for a while………….
Some of it was cleaned off. The utility box across from Starbucks, the wall of the building at Main and Rodney………………
How about closing it at 9pm