State statistics show crime in Ridgewood is declining
SEPTEMBER 19, 2014 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014, 12:31 AM BY JODI WEINBERGER STAFF WRITER THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
Crime in Ridgewood plummeted nearly 30 percent in the first half of this year, mirroring a positive trend throughout the state.
According to data released last month by the state Department of Law and Public Safety reflecting the time period of January to June, non-violent crimes in Ridgewood fell from 97 incidents to 68 when compared with the same time last year, a 29.9 percent decrease.
Meanwhile, the whole state saw a 12.6 percent drop in total crime, which includes homicide, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft.
Ridgewood saw the most improvement in curbing simple assaults, with a 56.9 percent decrease, translating to 58 incidents in the first half of last year to 25 incidents in the first half of 2014.
The police department also saw significant improvements in burglaries, with a decrease from 22 to 12 incidents; and in larceny, where there was a decrease from 75 to 56 incidents.
“We’ve been working hard in a number of different areas of traffic safety and crime prevention,” said Police Chief John Ward.
Ward said because Ridgewood is a “relatively safe community” the drop in its crime numbers does not reflect any one effort, but speaks more to the department’s ongoing commitment to protecting the entire community.
Parking Meter Scandal : he could not have acted alone
Readers continue to speculate on parking meter security issues and continue to come up with one resounding conclusion ,he could not have acted alone .
Even a $41 million renovation of the Ridgewood Train station did not change the out dated parking meter system .
While ,Village officials said a forensic accounting firm has been retained to examine how a former employee managed to steal $460,000 in quarters from parking meters.
Although I’m not convinced that all meters would need to be replaced in order to implement a closed container/collection system, I’ll give the Village Manager the benefit of the doubt.
But, at a minimum, they should deep six those open white paint buckets/pickle containers and have all collectors use the carts depicted here:
https://www.pom.com/collectionsystems.htm
Continuing to use those buckets is a huge security risk, for the individual collecting monies (holdup/robbery) and for taxpayers (shrinkage).
It is actually very funny that we can’t afford to secure the Villages’s cash. I’m sure there is a solution out there that costs less than $460,000.
They made a deal and I’m hoping the whole story will come out eventually. Who in the police dept. is/are being protected?
Yet again, taxpayers getting screwed to protect some mob/union crony(ies) in Village Hall and/or the PD. Put in smart meters like NYC and let people use credit cards… how are we doing on Tommy Boy’s restitution ? Is he paying us back every week? The guy is obviously a wise guy, and refused to rat out his minders in Village Hall.
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving Bicyclist injured after colliding with vehicle in Ridgewood September 15th 2014 Boyd A. Loving 5:56 PM
Ridgewood NJ, A male youth riding a bicycle was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of North Maple and Franklin Avenues in Ridgewood just before 5:30 PM on Monday, 09/15. Ridgewood PD, FD, and EMS units rushed to the scene following receipt of a 911 telephone call reporting the incident. The youth’s injuries appeared to be minor in nature; he walked on his own power to a waiting ambulance, which transported him to The Valley Hospital for treatment. Ridgewood FD personnel transported the victim’s bicycle to his house with the help of a friend who had been riding with him at the time of the crash.
Police investigating string of car break-ins in Ridgewood and Glen Rock
SEPTEMBER 14, 2014, 12:49 PM LAST UPDATED: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2014, 10:52 PM BY ANDREW WYRICH STAFF WRITER THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD – Police departments in Glen Rock and Ridgewood are investigating whether a string of nearly 20 separate vehicle break-ins over the past week within the two towns are connected.
Ridgewood police said four vehicles were broken into over the weekend near the Glen Rock border on Ackerman Avenue and Doremus Avenue. Glen Rock police said at least 15 vehicles were entered overnight on Sept. 10 near Richard E. Byrd School on Doremus Avenue.
Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward said the two departments are sharing information and working together to see if the string of burglaries was carried out by the same person.
“In any situation like this we coordinate with one another,” Ward said. “Anytime you have a number of burglaries or entries we obviously look at all possible angles – you don’t automatically say they aren’t connected.”
A Reminder from the Ridgewood Police :: Car Burglary Alert
Remember to lock your cars especially at night. There were several thefts from vehicles reported Friday evening 9/12 on the west side of town along the Glen Rock border. All vehicle that were entered were left unlocked. The Glen Rock Police reported numerous vehicles entered over the past several nights. Please report any suspicious activity to the Ridgewood Police Department. 201-652-3900
On September 5, 2014 five separate individuals reported entries to their unlocked vehicles. The vehicles were all located on the east side of town. Numerous items were reported missing. The matter is under investigation. (Police Blotter)
Please share this information with your neighbors..
The Garber Square paving project is scheduled to resume on Monday, August 25th. The work will take place 7:30am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. During construction, vehicles will be able to use alternating lanes (one lane will be closed), supervised by Police Officers. It is recommended that the public use alternate routes during construction to avoid potential traffic congestion. Thank you for your patience.
Photo credit:Boyd A. Loving Injured deer slows traffic . . .
Boyd A. Loving
9:24 AM
Ridgewood NJ, An injured deer slowed rush hour traffic on Grove Street in Ridgewood just before 8 AM on Monday, 08/18. Ridgewood Police Department Patrol Officer Paul Dinice responded to the scene and attempted to restrain the deer until animal control personnel arrived, but the deer broke free and dashed back into a nearby wooded area. Glen Rock Police Department Patrol Officer Murray Yang lent a hand.
Motorcyclist escapes serious injury in Ridgewood crash August 17,2014 Boyd A. Loving 6:45 PM
Ridgewood NJ, A motorcyclist sustained only minor injuries after his bike collided with an Acura RDX and fell to the pavement in the 200 block of Union Street, Ridgewood, shortly before 6 PM on Sunday, 08/17. Ridgewood PD and EMS personnel responded to the scene of the crash after receiving several 911 telephone calls. The biker was alert, conscious, and walking when the first police units arrived at the scene. Although an ambulance was called to provide transportation to a local hospital, the biker refused such service. A tow truck was called to change a flat tire on the Acura; the bike was able to be driven from the scene. A paramedic unit from The Valley Hospital also responded to assist.
Ridgewood council weighs costs of turf versus grass
AUGUST 14, 2014 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, AUGUST 14, 2014, 3:48 PM BY LAURA HERZOG STAFF WRITER
Artificial turf appears to cost less to maintain than grass, at least on Maple Field.
According to Village Manager Roberta Sonenfeld, an estimated $121,500 was spent maintaining the turf on Maple Field during an eight-year period from 2006 to 2014.
Turf king endorses Aronsohn, Hauck and Puciarell criticizes police and firemen, attacking salary and benefits
TAKEN FROM THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG (Archived ) You should read the whole article.
From 2009-2010 Brian Abdoo repeatedly endorsed the multi-million dollar controversial turf projects at Stadium and Stevens fields. As we all know the turf has been an unmitigated disaster resulting in Ridgewood Taxpayers incurring the burden of costly repairs
Turf king endorses Aronsohn, Hauck and Puciarell criticizes police and firemen, attacking salary and benefits
Moments ago, after a long day at work I sat down to review my personal emails, check school info and sports emails, kids schedule, etc. In the mix was an email from Brian Abdoo who I know from a number of sports programs my kids are involved in. I began reading the Abdoo’s endorsement of candidates, Aronsohn, Hauck and Puciarelli. The more I read the sicker I became. Abdoo has thoroughly disgusted me with his hypocritical rhetoric.
From 2009-2010 Brian Abdoo repeatedly endorsed the multi-million dollar controversial turf projects at Stadium and Stevens fields. As we all know the turf has been an unmitigated disaster resulting in Ridgewood Taxpayers incurring the burden of costly repairs.
Now, this same Brian Abdoo wants to express concern over taxes? He attempts to peddle Paul Aronsohn’s gimmicky zero based budgeting. Even my 6th grader understands built-in inherent cost increases. Abdoo states he wants more transparency and Village Council should “open the books”. The fact that Brian Abdoo is ignorant should not persuade anyone to his argument. Brian, the books are open. They are a matter of public record and are available for anyone to review. Brian, feel free to visit APP DataUniverse if there is anything you need to know. However, Mr. Abdoo, while doing your research you likely will not find the value of your candidate Aronsohn’s health care costs, at village taxpayer expense, for the past four years. Mr. Abdoo, while Mr. Aronsohn is busy telling you he wants to help Ridgewood Taxpayers, he has been busy helping himself for four years . Brian Abdoo proceeds to attack our police and firemen, attacking their salary and benefits. If this is such a concern why on earth would he support Aronsohn who voted for each and every raise, and contract , pertaining to the police & fire department. Maybe he prefers regionalized police and fire departments like Hauck and Puciarelli. Hauck announced the savings for each village taxpayer during the debate: a whopping $ 285 each! For that money I will sleep better at night with Village police and firemen.
Abdoo professes the revitalization of Ridgewood downtown and how committed each of his threesome is to this goal. Mr. Abdoo, Paul Aronsohn is the Council liaison to the Chamber of Commerce. What has he been doing for the past four years? Shopping at the mall? And Hauck and Puciarelli prefer a more urbanized Ridgewood. If they want urbanization let them move to Hoboken.
Best for last, Abdoo states each of these candidates is committed to helping Valley and residents to negotiate a compromise to allow for expansion. For goodness sake, Brian, where has Al Puciarelli been? He has been a member of the planning board forever. Hauck didn’t speak of compromise when she endorsed the massive expansion, as is, over and over again. Valley Hospital is not interested in compromise. The only time that was suggested by Valley was at the last Village Council hearing. Audrey Meyers, seeing the writing on the wall, begged council to hold off their vote so Valley could develop a compromise. Seriously, where was the compromise for six years?
Mr. Abdoo, reconsider and bullet for Killion and Shinizuka before we are in another turf-like drowning mess attributable to the likes of you.
Reader says it only fair that the Sports Groups step up and contribute to maintenance and depreciation of the turf fields
If the sports clubs have gotten so much value out of the fields, I would think it only fair that they step up and contribute to maintenance and depreciation. It shouldn’t always be the VC or BOE (the rest of us). Given that maintenance seems to be running about $100K year and depreciation another $200K for $1.5M to replace the carpets after a flood-shortened 7 year life, the sports clubs should be contributing on the order of $100K.
Raise dues if you have to — it’s part of the true cost of doing business.
And did they ever contribute everything they had promised for the lights?
What You Should Know About the National Do Not Call Registry
The National Do Not Call Registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. If they do, you can file a complaint at the below website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free.
Scammers have been making phone calls claiming to represent the National Do Not Call Registry. The calls claim to provide an opportunity to sign up for the Registry. These calls are not coming from the Registry or the Federal Trade Commission, and you should not respond to these calls.
To register your phone number or a complaint click on the link below.
Ridgewood NJ, On July 30, 2014 at 6:18 PM Ptl. Anthony Mormino responded to Station Plaza for a welfare check. He found an intoxicated male lying on the ground. While investigating the incident the male party became disruptive. He was found to be in possession of an open container of alcohol as well as marijuana. The accused James Moore 45 of Fairlawn was arrested and charged with Disorderly Conduct, Possession of Marijuana and Open Container in Public.
On July 31, 2014 Detective Douglas Williams concluded an investigation into sexually explicit emails being sent to a Village resident. A search was conducted by Det Williams and McDowell, with the assistance of the NJ State Police, to a Liberty Township residence. The warrant resulted in the arrest of Brandon Kuhl 30 of Liberty Township NJ. The accused was charged Cyber Harassment. The accused was released pending a first appearance in Ridgewood Municipal Court. The investigation is ongoing pending a forensic analysis of the computers seized during the search warrant.
On July 31, 2014 a Garber Square resident reported that a package had been stolen from his mailbox. The matter is under investigation.
On July 31, 2014 a Fairlawn resident reported that her vehicle had been damaged while it was parked at Kings Plaza on North Maple Avenue. The matter is under investigation.
On August 3, 2014 at 6:53 PM Patrol responded to a dispute on Prospect Street. While investigating the dispute it was determined that the accused was in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Matthew Decesare 22 of Ridgewood was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. He was released after posting bail.
All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Photo credit: Boyd A. Loving Chain reaction Route 17 crash injures 1 August 5th ,2014 Boyd A. Loving 6:58 PM
RIdgewood police, fire, and EMS personnel all responded to a multi-vehicle chain reaction crash in the left lane of Route 17 southbound, just south of Paramus Road at approximately 5:30 PM on Tuesday, 08/05. The driver of a red 4-door Mercedes was transported to The Valley Hospital with non-life threatening injuries resultant from air bag deployment in his vehicle. Two vehicles involved in the crash were heavily damaged and had to be removed from the scene by flatbed tow truck. A Bergen County Sheriff’s Office unit assisted with traffic control at the scene. As a result of crash there were very heavy traffic delays on Route 17 south extending back to at least Hollywood Avenue in HoHoKus. There were no rubbernecking delays northbound.
