Tag: Chief John Ward

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New SARPD chief wants greater bond with community

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By Kevin Kunzmann
Pocono Record Writer

The floor of John Ward’s office is littered with boxes of medals, plaques, framed certificates and memorabilia. Ward is nearly one full month into his tenure as Stroud Area Regional Police, and he’s still not sure what from his 36 years of work should hang on the walls of his corner office.

The hope for the former police chief of Ridgewood, New Jersey, is that he could cover the walls with his work in the Poconos.

Ward was announced as the new SARPD chief in late September, ending a half-year long absence from the position after William Parrish took the position of campus police chief at East Stroudsburg University. Ward was put through an interview process with four different groups — members of the police commission, community leaders, local officials and current SARP staff.

https://www.poconorecord.com/news/20161029/new-sarpd-chief-wants-greater-bond-with-community

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Public Awareness: Marijuana Candy

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Public Awareness: Marijuana Candy

The use of marijuana candy has been increasing in New Jersey and nearby states. This poses serious health risks to users, especially children during Halloween. It is possible that children could accidently receive marijuana candy. Adults should check for strange odors in candy received by children. Currently there is no information indicating that anyone would intentionally give out marijuana candy. While there have been no specific incidents reported in our community we felt it important to provide our parents with the latest safety awareness information. For additional information please see;

https://www.cnn.com/2014/10/14/living/pot-edibles-halloween-eatocracy/index.html?

Respectfully Chief John M. Ward

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Support for police chief

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Support for police chief
Anne LaGrange Loving

Regarding “Ridgewood police chief cleared of wrongdoing” (Page L-2, Oct. 24):

I am very happy that the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office has cleared Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward of any criminal wrongdoing in the investigation into his hiring of two police recruits this year.

Chief Ward is quoted as saying he hopes that the public’s faith in him has been reaffirmed. Rest assured, the residents of Ridgewood never lost faith in Ward, as witnessed by the many, many residents who attended and spoke in his defense at two contentious Village Council meetings earlier this year.

Furthermore, those residents condemned the manner in which our elected officials conducted their questioning of our police chief, and in their last-minute retraction of the job offers to the police recruits.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/the-record-letters-monday-oct-27-1.1118596#sthash.H5oN2ssV.dpuf

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County prosecutor clears Ridgewood police chief in hiring flap

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file photo by Boyd Loving

County prosecutor clears Ridgewood police chief in hiring flap
October 22,2014
Boyd A. Loving
12:14 AM 

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward was cleared by the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office of any “criminality” in connection with the hiring of two new police recruits earlier this year.  This according to Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld, who publicly announced the official findings during Wednesday evening’s Village Council Work Session.

During a heated Village Council meeting on January 29th, a meeting attendee who spoke during the public comment segment accused Chief Ward of manipulating civil service guidelines in order to hire the son of a current police officer, and the son of a retired police captain.  Ward, who insisted that no rules were broken and that the two individuals hired met all civil service qualifications, requested that the Prosecutor’s Office fully investigate his actions.

One of the hired recruits, Keith Killion, was sworn in at a Village Council meeting earlier this month.

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Maintaining a safe community requires effort from all stakeholders

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file photo by Boyd Loving

Maintaining a safe community requires effort from all stakeholders

Maintaining a safe community requires effort from all stakeholders. Dedicated police professionals working in collaboration with vigilant and engaged citizens can truly make a significant difference in the overall safety and security of a community. We are fortunate to have both in our community. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of our law enforcement professionals our citizens for helping to keep our community safe.

While the current trends are positive, we must continue to take proactive steps to make our community less attractive to criminals. Each of us can take steps to ensure that individually we are less vulnerable to criminal activity as well as looking out for our neighbors. On our end the department will continue our proactive efforts to keep the community safe. We have several trained crime prevention officers ready to provide information and assistance to any resident and/or business owner wishing information on better securing their persons and/or property.

Thank You
Chief John M. Ward

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Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward on Pedestrian Safety

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file photo Ridgewood PD

Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward on Pedestrian Safety
May 20,2014
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ ,The Ridgewoood Police Department conducted a Pedestrian Decoy program to enforce crosswalk safety , in the area of Franklin Ave today.This gave us an opportunity to stop by and and talk traffic safety with Chief John Ward .

Chief Ward felt that while things are not perfect , the Village has come a long way the last couple of years in the area of pedestrian safety in the Central Business District . Residents seem to have gotten the message to make that  extra effort and be mindful of cars , bicycles and pedestrians .

The last couple of years has seen a downward trend in pedestrian/car  traffic accidents.

The Ridgewood Police announce the Pedestrian Decoy program on Facebook and the Chief goes out of his way to wear brightly colored shits so as to give everyone early warning. Still a few people manage to not heed the warnings .

Chief Ward told us that driving under 15 miles per hour greatly reduces the probability of a lethal accident and was lobbying the Village Council for reduced speed limits in the CBD.

The Chief then  went on to talk about  the Ridgewood Police youth  out reach and reminding us that kids make up 30% of the Village population.

The Ridgewood Community Policing Youth Ambassador/Leadership has just been recognized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is a featured program in their Youth Focused Policing Resource Center.

https://www.iacpyouth.org/ProgramDirectory/ProgramProfile.aspx?c=2249

Also the Application deadline for the Michael Feeney Jr.Police Academy is Friday May 30th 2014.The Ridgewood Police Department will be hosting the Chief Michael Feeney Jr.Police Academy June 26th through July 2nd 2014. The Academy is open to Ridgewood residents ages 10 to 14. Applications are available at the Riddgewood Police desk 131 North Maple Ave.

Hotwire US

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Storm Message form Chief John Ward

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Storm Message form Chief John Ward

First I would like to thank our residents for demonstrating concern and compassion for the neighbors. Throughout the day I witnessed neighbors helping neighbors. We have experienced a significant snowfall thus far with another 3-6 inches anticipated by tomorrow morning, so I am making the following requests;

I would encourage those of you with snow blowers to lend a hand to your elderly and special needs neighbors.

Please check on your neighbors to be sure they are okay.
Please continue to reframe from driving unless absolutely necessary, as road conditions will continue to be dangerous.

Please do not park your vehicles on the roadway through noon tomorrow, so our plow crews can continue to clear our streets.

Please do not throw and/or push snow onto the roadways.
Further information is available of the Village of Ridgewood website www.ridgewoodnj.net

I thank you for your continued cooperation
Chief John M. Ward

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Chief admits Ridgewood police hires violate code

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Chief admits Ridgewood police hires violate code

Friday, January 31, 2014    Last updated: Friday January 31, 2014, 12:03 PM
BY  CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER
The Record

RIDGEWOOD — The chief of police has acknowledged that he violated Ridgewood’s code by extending conditional offers of employment to two residents who are related to current and former village officers.

The move may have also violated the village’s nepotism policy, which requires council approval when hiring any individual related to a current village employee.

The hires would boost the department’s patrol officer ranks to 32 — exceeding the number currently allowed.

Chief John Ward told the Village Council he did not realize Ridgewood’s code capped that number at 30 when he made the job offers on Jan. 17.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/ridgewood/Chief_admits_Ridgewood_police_hires_violate_code.html#sthash.IjZoGj1N.dpuf