Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police are cautioning residents that beginning Friday 7/8/16 W.Glen Ave will be closed between Oak Street and Upper Boulavard while PSE&G continues their gas main replacement project from 7am to 4pm Monday through Friday for approximately 2 weeks as the crew works through the train trestle. This will have an impact on traffic traveling west and east through Ridgewood. Traffic will be diverted to the Franklin Ave Underpass for cars. Trucks will be diverted to Wyckoff Ave in Waldwick due to height restrictions. Officers will be deployed to critical intersections to assist the traffic flow. Please plan an alternate route if possible.
We need more police for the fireworks. Cars stopped in both directions on Ridgewood Ave to watch the show. Drivers were trying to pass.
After the show families were leaving and flooding across the street. One car kept moving forward, the driver clearly did not want to be held up by pedestrian traffic. A pedestrian got into an argument with him
Ridgewood NJ, Applications are available for The New Jersey Civil Service Commission Law Enforcement Examination. The Ridgewood Police Department uses the eligibility list provided by the State to hire candidates. The test is given every three years. Click on the link below for more information.
1. Applicants must be citizens of the United States as of August 31, 2016.
2. Applicants must meet the residency requirements of the appointing jurisdiction as of August 31, 2016 and may be required to maintain continuous residency in that jurisdiction up to and including the date of appointment.
3. Applicants must be high school or vocational high school graduates, or possess an approved High School Equivalency Certificate by August 31, 2016.
4. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age as of August 31, 2016. Applicants for Municipal Police Officer and its bilingual variant positions cannot be over 35 years of age (one is considered over 35 on the day of his/her 35th birthday) as of August 31, 2016, unless they meet the exceptions in “Maximum hiring age requirement for Municipal Police Officer” as indicated on the Fact Sheet. NOTE: The age 35 maximum hiring requirement applies only to Municipal Police Officer and its bilingual variants.
5. Appointees will be required to possess a driver’s license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
6. Appointees may be required to pass thorough medical and drug screening, and psychological/psychiatric examinations. Failure of any of these is cause for removal from that title area.
7. Appointees will be required to successfully complete a training program mandated by the NJ Police Training Commission. This training must be completed prior to enrollment in the Police and Fire Retirement System.
8. After you complete and submit your online application, you will receive a confirmation page which includes a link and access code to the Candidate Preparation Guide. Please print your confirmation page prior to going to the link.
An abbreviated application is used for this title. Information regarding education, experience, licenses/certifications, training or internships is not collected. https://info.csc.state.nj.us/vats/WebAnno.aspx
I sat at the top of East Ridgewood Avenue this beautiful Sunday morning enjoying some time on a bench with my granddaughter, drinking iced coffee and a blueberry coolatta. She noticed that cars were not stopping at the stop sign heading south on Broad Street at the Ridgewood Avenue “T” by the train station parking lot. She is 6 years old and was disturbed by this. So we counted 40 cars passing through. Out of 40 cars, 28 of them rolled through the stop sign without stopping. Only 12 actually stopped. And all the while people were crossing on foot, pushing strollers, on bicycles, etc. So dangerous. And mind you, this was on a Sunday morning from about 9:00 – 9:15. What must this be like on a busy weekday when the trains are coming and going, when commuters are rushing about, when people are trying to get their kids to school, and so on. I suggested that we tell a police officer but she was afraid to get the police in trouble for not doing their job of ticketing these drivers.
First I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Jacquie Luthcke on her new role as Chief of the Ridgewood Police Department. I would also like to thank every from our community and region who worked with me and our department over the past 35 plus years to help make Ridgewood a safe and wonderful community. I am proud of the successes and the level of excellence the department has achieved over the past six years even in face of many challenges. Our community should be proud of the fact that the Ridgewood Police Department has achieved and maintained national recognition in many areas including; recognition as a flagship /benchmark for excellence organization from the commission on law enforcement accreditation (CALEA), recognition for our community policing youth ambassadors program from the international association chiefs of police association (IACP), and recognition for our community policing and trust initiatives. Regionally the department and its members are recognized for their level of training and preparedness in handling critical incidents as well as their efforts in ensuring that our community is resilient to hazards and threats whether natural or human. While just a few of the department’s many achievements it should be noted that these achievements were due to a truly collaborative effort even in the face historically low staffing levels. These achievements are a testament to the character and competence of the members of the Ridgewood Police Department as well as their love and commitment to their community.
It has been my honor to have served a community I love and will always think of as home. I have been fortunate to have met many wonderful people within our community, many of which remain friends. Words cannot express the pride and love I have for the men and women with whom I have served and who continue protect and serve Ridgewood and the Region.
I look forward to seeing the continued successes of the Ridgewood Police Department and our community under its new leadership.
I am pleased and honored to announce that Captain Jacqueline Luthcke will be Ridgewood’s next Chief of Police and Ridgewood’s first woman Chief of Police effective July 1, 2016. Captain Luthcke is eminently qualified to serve in this capacity. She started her career with the Ridgewood Police Department in 1996 as a patrol officer advancing to Sergeant in 2005, Lieutenant in 2008 and Captain in 2010. Jacqueline has been active in the Ridgewood community and has been the face of the RPD to our community. Jacqueline has had a distinguished career and has impressive credentials. I am absolutely confident and certain that she will make an excellent Chief and that out community will be well served.
Mayor Aronsohn will be swearing Chief Luthcke in on Friday July 1st at 9:00 A.M. at BF Middle School where the ceremony will be attended by the graduating class of the Junior Police Academy.
Please join me in congratulating Jacquie and in wishing her the best as the Ridgewood Chief of Police, Roberta
all photos courtesy of the Ridgewood Police Department
June 30,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Police Department has announced the 3rd annual Chief Michael Feeney, Jr. Police Academy scheduled from Thursday June 23rd to Friday July 1st. The academy is open to Ridgewood Residents entering 6th 7th and 8th grades in the fall of 2016.
For only a small fee is $50 per student the Academy which includes two shirts per student a baseball hat a string bag and transportation to our field trip.
Sgt.Lembo finds out the bad guy can’t get away from the K-9
Lt.Paul Acakios talking to the students about the day in the life of an inmate.
This year’s academy features demonstrations from The Ridgewood Police Department, Bergen County Sheriff’s Department K-9 and Bomb Squad, Police Motorcycles, Ridgewood Emergency Services, FBI, Ridgewood Fire Department, Helicopter landing as well as demonstrations from various other agencies. A field trip to the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Complex in Mahwah is also scheduled.
The height of the seven-day Chief Michael Feeney Junior Police Academy may have come on Wednesday when bomb squad members blew up a watermelon.
According to the Ridgewood Police, “The Junior Police Academy has proven to be a valuable experience for all involved and has provided a vital link between the Police Department and the youth of Ridgewood. Further, the Junior Police Academy has afforded students a deeper understanding of the Police function as well as an increased ability to see what the Police and the community can do to serve the Village. The overwhelming success of our Junior Police Academy class has far exceeded the expectations of everyone involved. This program attracts a highly motivated group of recruits, and the Instructors thoroughly enjoy their interaction with these young people. We look forward to another great class.”
photo courtesy of Ridgewood PD 2013 4th of July Parade
June 29,2016
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Captain Jacqueline Luthcke will be Ridgewood’s next Chief of Police and Ridgewood’s first woman Chief of Police effective July 1, 2016.
RHS Class of 1988 ie… Jacqueline Bartlett , she took police test and waited 2 1/2 years to be called up. ( at same time as Hoerst (sp) Chemical Co wanted her for international director of security and Prosecutors office also wanted her. ) She was working as a private investigator and doing executive protection in the meantime. She guarded Christopher Reeves in his first public appearance and the VP of the US at the Baseball Hall Of Fame dinner.
Captain Luthcke started her career with the Ridgewood Police Department in 1996 as a patrol officer advancing to Sergeant in 2005, Lieutenant in 2008 and Captain in 2010. She holds a BA Degree in Sociology/Criminology from Ohio University, where she was graduated with honors. She is a graduate of the West Point Command and Leadership course run by the New Jersey State Association Of Chiefs of Police — graduating first in her class and receiving the Chief Harry Wilde Academic Achievement Award.
Jacqueline has also been active in the Ridgewood community and has been the face of the Ridgewood Police Department to our community. Jacqueline has had a distinguished career and has impressive credentials. We are confident that she will make an excellent Chief and that out community will be well served.
She was also a panelists with Lynne Algrant, Councilwoman, Englewood; Stephen Borg, Publisher / President, North Jersey Media Group; Jacqueline Luthcke, Captain, Ridgewood Police Department; Robert Sommer, Public Affairs Executive / Jersey City Official; James Tedesco, Bergen County Executive at the Civility in Public Discourse panel discussion in February.
Mayor Aronsohn in what maybe his last act before he leaves office will be swearing Chief Luthcke in on Friday July 1st at 9:00 A.M. at BF Middle School where the ceremony will also be attended by the graduating class of the Junior Police Academy.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Police report that Ridgewood High School was the target of vandalism. The Ridgewood Board of Education reported criminal mischief at the Ridgewood High School occurred over the weekend. A rock was thrown through a window causing property damage.
All actors are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood police report a number of IRS Investigator scams , first a South Pleasant Avenue resident reported on 6/27/16 he received a suspicious phone call from a person who identified himself as an IRS Investigator. The caller advised the resident he owed back taxes and requested payment immediately. The resident became suspicious and contacted his accountant who informed him this was a scam and to call the police to report the incident. The resident reported he never provided personal information or banking information to the caller and requested a report as a matter of record.
On 6/24/16 a Fairway Road resident responded to headquarters to report a Fraud. The victim reported he began receiving phone calls from a person who identified himself as a Tax Agent advising the victim he had committed tax fraud. The caller persuaded the victim into purchasing and transferring $2000 in Apple Gift Cards.
The Ridgewood Police also report a victim of identity fraud; a South Irving Street resident responded to headquarters on 6/20/16 to report his personal information was used to open a fraudulent Verizon account. The victim reported the fraudulent account was opened by Verizon Wireless of New York. Verizon reported the account was opened at a Verizon Wireless store by someone utilizing his name, Social Security number, and home address. The victim’s account was not charged and Verizon Wireless is investigating.
The Ridgewood Police Department would like to remind citizens of the increased amount of scams. Always investigate communications made through postal mail, telephone, and/or the internet to prevent fraud and deceptive activity. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Ridgewood Police Department to ensure you’re not becoming a victim of these scams.
Ridgewood NJ, Two (2) adult females were transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital following a Saturday afternoon, 06/16, crash at the intersection of East Glen Avenue and Paramus Road in Ridgewood. Ridgewood PD Patrol Officer Salvatore D’Amico issued three (3) summonses in connection with the crash, at least one (1) of which was to the driver of a large landscaping vehicle who was driving with a suspended drivers license. Both vehicles involved in the collision were removed by tow trucks. Injuries to both victims were reported as non life threatening.
Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood PD, FD, and EMS personnel rushed to save the life of an adult male who was found unresponsive and not breathing on a bench at the Ridgewood train station early Saturday afternoon, 06/18. A paramedic team from The Valley Hospital arrived on the scene as the man was being loaded onto a stretcher for removal from the train platform. The victim was transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital in grave condition.
Ridgewood NJ, The adult female driver of a Toyota RAV4 SUV was transported by ambulance to The Valley Hospital following a Thursday afternoon, 6/16, accident in which her vehicle hit a utility pole, crossed over a lane of traffic flowing in the opposite direction, then rolled into a tree before coming to a rest. The incident occurred in front of 678 Grove Street, Ridgewood shortly after 4 PM. The victim reportedly sustained non-life threatening neck and back injuries. There were no other occupants in the vehicle. Ridgewood PD, EMS and FD units responded. A minor crash related fluid spill was attended to by firefighters. The heavily damaged SUV was removed from the scene by a flatbed tow truck.
Criminal Activity Alert – Auto Thefts & Burglaries – S.R. & Neighboring Towns – Remove Key FOB’s and Lock Vehicles
Saddle River and several neighboring jurisdictions have been experiencing high end auto thefts and auto burglaries. Another vehicle was stolen from the Burning Hollow section of town last night. Earlier in the week a vehicle was stolen from the north east section of Saddle River. That vehicle was recovered in Newark. If everyone removes the keys and key FOB’s from their vehicles these thefts will stop. We had an attempt but the criminals were unsuccessful because the key FOB was removed from the vehicle. Locking your vehicle when its in the driveway prevents car burglaries from occurring and deters criminals from our area. These criminals will continue to come to our town if they are successful stealing cars that have the keys or FOB’s left in them.
Ridgewood NJ, A Ridgewood Police Department Patrol Patrol Officer and two (2) police department supervisors responded to Ridgewood High School (627 East Ridgewood Avenue) shortly after 11 AM on Friday, 6/10 in response to a 911 telephone call from a school employee reporting dozens of students running amok in the school’s main hallway with plastic swords in their hands. Police confiscated an undisclosed number of swords and reported damage to at least one (1) classroom’s windows. No immediate arrests were apparent.
