Monday, January 7, 2013
Two vehicles purchased in 2012 different color, model than rest of fleet.
At the start of 2012, the Washington Township Police Department requested four new vehicles to add and supplement to its current fleet. Due to budgetary constraints, the township committee approved the purchase of two vehicles. Those vehicles are different however than their comrades within the fleet. Because the Ford Crown Victoria–a staple in the police vehicle industry–went out of distribution, the police department needed to buy two Cheverolet Caprice vehicles. One of the vehicles is currently on Washington Township roadways and the other is nearly complete, being outfitted and prepared at the Department of Public Works. The vehicles were originally expected to be ready in July 2012, but due to high demand, were not delivered to the …
40.79474
-74.797879
Washington Township Police Department
1 E Springtown Rd, Long Valley, NJ
/articles/new-cop-cars-ready-for-long-valley-roads
1343033
/locations/8542114
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Long Valley resident charged with illegal possession of weapon and drug paraphernalia.
A Long Valley man was found with a sawed-off shotgun and drug paraphernalia after leaving the scene of an accident earlier this month, Washington Township Police Lt. Doug Compton said. Patrick Mackewicz, 31, allegedly struck two trees on the front lawn of a Bartley Road residence and then left the scene, Compton said. Officer Susan Gilligan, after learning the make and model of the vehicle, found the car—and Mackewicz—a short time later at a nearby residence, Compton said. Mackewicz consented to a search of the vehicle and his bedroom, where he was located, Compton said. The investigation revealed a cache of drug paraphernalia and a sawed-off shotgun, Compton said. All contraband was seized, Compton said, and Mackewicz was charged with …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Township Committee says 'PRIDE' can't work due to lack of manpower.
What was once a convenience and an inter-local shared service has now fallen by the wayside, and likely won’t be replaced any time soon. That was part of the discussion at the Washington Township Committee’s recent work session meeting, when Chief of Police Michael Bailey talked about the potential of the town’s PRIDE unit with the elected officials. PRIDE, according to Bailey, was an agreement between the police department and first aid squad that would allow for on-duty officer, with the ability to drive a first aid squad vehicle, to respond to a call if a volunteer squad member was unavailable to do so. The reason for the discussion, Bailey said, was because the all-volunteer Long Valley First Aid Squad has had trouble establishing a …
40.784301
-74.768797
Long Valley First Aid Squad
70 E Mill Rd, Long Valley, NJ
/articles/first-aid-squad-seeks-help-during-day-hours
1633536
/locations/8387658
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Officers will be replacements for retired officers.
The loss of an officer due to early retirement, coupled with the Washington Township Police Department’s chief retiring in June 2013 has led the Washington Township Committee to authorize the hiring of two new patrolmen. In September, the committee gave police Chief Michael Bailey the go-ahead to hire one new officer, replacing officer Peter Cecere who was injured in the line of duty in March and forced into early retirement. At that time, Bailey requested the approval to hire two officers, but was granted only one. In the time since, the process of interviewing potential officers has begun, but it would be another few months before a patrolman is ready to operate alone on Washington Township roadways, Bailey said. The next course of …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Grand jury indicts Passaic County residents–one formerly of Long Valley–for February and March crimes.
Two burglars who allegedly stole jewelry and electronics from five Washington Township homes earlier this year have been indicted in connection with the crimes, according to a report on nj.com. The pair of Passaic County residents, Emily Warrick, 20, formerly of Long Valley and Kyle Jackson, 41, admitted to burglarizing homes on North Bridge Drive, Paula Drive, Cindy Lane, Arbor Way and Fieldstone Drive, Washington Township Lt. Doug Compton said in March. Both were indicted by a Morris County grand jury on five counts of burglary, three counts of theft, five counts of conspiracy to commit burglary and two counts of criminal mischief, the nj.com report said. At the time of arrest on March 23, Jackson was lodged in Middlesex County …
Antennae workers say cell service could be available by year's end.
Can you hear me now? For residents atop Schooley's Mountain, the answer they've been waiting for may come by year's end. That’s what workers from N.M.C.I. said this week as they installed a cellular monopole behind the Washington Township Police Department. The Verizon Communications tower, which was approved in 2011, stands 150 feet tall and includes antennae from Sprint-Nextel. An equipment shelter was put in place earlier this fall that will hold radio equipment and back-up generators to power the tower during an outage. But don’t expect those oft-dropped calls on top of Schooley’s Mountain to stay connected just yet. “(They’re) hoping by the end of the year,” said N.M.C.I. foreman Tim Merz during the antenna installation Tuesday. “…
40.79474
-74.797879
Washington Township Police Department
1 E Springtown Rd, Long Valley, NJ
/articles/cell-tower-almost-ready-on-schooley-s-mountain
1343033
/locations/8376981
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Man turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
What began as a stop for speeding resulted in a charge of obstruction of justice, DWI, and the turn over of a man to United States Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Washington Township Police Lt. Doug Compton said. On Monday morning officer Scott Myers stopped a vehicle on Route 46 for traveling 64 miles-per-hour in a 45 miles-per-hour zone, Compton said. When Myers spoke with the driver, he was presented with a fake “international” driver’s license and claimed to be Nery Fajardo, Compton said. Myers also smelled alcohol on the driver’s breath and conducted field sobriety tests, which the driver failed, Compton said. The driver was arrested and transported to police headquarters. While there, a finger print search of the driver …
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Annual charitable event ongoing through Dec. 20.
The Washington Township Police Benevolence Assocation, Local #301, is hosting its annual Toys for Tots Drive through Dec. 20. Residents can drop off new, unwrapped toy donations at Washington Township Police Headquarters, 1 East Springtown Road. The building is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for drop-offs. Any questions or concerns, resident can contact Officer Michael Thompson at mthompson@wtpdmorris.org, or 908-876-8300, ext. 1409.
40.79474
-74.797879
Washington Township Police Department
1 E Springtown Rd, Long Valley, NJ
/articles/toys-for-tots-drop-off-open-at-police-station
1343033
/locations/8228501
Monday, November 12, 2012
Officer hopes for aid to buffer $12K cost of dog and necessary training.
It’s been more than seven months since Washington Township’s first designated K-9 Unit was removed from the force. That removal was involuntary, however, after the department’s sole personnel member–Kobe–was taken from his duties when his owner, Officer Peter Cecere, was forced into early disability retirement. Without Cecere on the squad, there could be no Kobe. But as time has gone on, one officer believes the department would still greatly benefit from having a K-9 Unit, and has taken the steps in making it happen. With the approval from Chief Michael Bailey, Officer Mike Thompson is in the process of acquiring his own Belgium Malinois–the same breed as Kobe–with the hopes of properly training the pooch and bringing him into the …
Monday, October 22, 2012
In-depth, state-wide program certifies officers to better understand effects of intoxication.
A program originating in Los Angeles to better recognize drug use has made its way to Long Valley, and further prepared two Washington Township Police officers in keeping intoxicated persons off the street. Cpl. Brian Bigham and Sgt. Chris Bratus are certified Drug Recognition Experts, having completed training to enhance the department’s ability to arrest and charge intoxicated persons using narcotics or prescription drugs. Bigham and Bratus were chosen based on their prior productivity of recognizing drunken and intoxicated motorists and pedestrians. Graduating from the New Jersey State Police-conducted training in December of 2009, Bigham has conducted 20 evaluations in nearly three years, nine of which have come in the first 10 months …
jesscott
2:57 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The armed tax collectors...er....excuse me.....police department needs new vehicles. They rack up hundreds of thousands of miles in short periods of time. I have no issue with new cars, small price to pay to keep the revenue generation...er...um....township current. more ›