Law & Order in Essex County

A medevac helicopter landing, canine dogs, and police demos were all part of the Essex County Police and Public Safety Expo Saturday afternoon at Livingston Mall. Sponsored by the Essex County Crime Prevention Officer's Association, the goal of the event was to raise public awareness about the services offered by local, state, county, and federal agencies.

“We are resurrecting the association in a major way,” said Caldwell Police Chief Kurt Dombrowski. “It’s been dormant for a while. So we’re making an effort to build interactions between the public and all of the officers. We want to equip people with the tools and measures to protect themselves.”

Livingston Police Officer Gary Mankowitz is the association's president. He stressed the importance of safety. “Today we’re doing home and business security surveys,” he said. “It’s a collection of questions about things that pertain to safety. It deals with things like their doors, windows, and helps them with security in their own house.”

Shot guns, lethal and less lethal bullets, and a tactical entry ram were on display by the Livingston Emergency Services Unit. “We work with active shooter-type scenarios such as domestic violence situations, school shootings, barricaded suspects,” said Patrolman Chris Grieco. “That’s the point of the team.”

In addition to the Livingston service departments, other local police departments were on hand from Maplewood, Millburn, Orange, Fairfield, and Bloomfield.

Maplewood Police Sergeant John Tutunjian, who was in attendance with officers, Scott Reeves, and Josue Tirado, provided shoppers with child fingerprint kits, neighborhood watch info, pamphlets for seniors, and more.

“We’re also letting people know that in the spring and summer, that they need to be more aware," said Tutunjian. "People are out more, and in a way that’s good because your neighbors are more alert. We’re telling them to keep their windows open no more than 6 inches, use locks on their doors and cars, and be careful of people who are going door to door. Today is a good event for us to interact with the community.”

Millburn Police Lieutenant Peter Eakley was excited about sharing the services offered by his department. “This is an excellent opportunity to share what we do,” he said. "It’s an opportunity for people to see us on an informal level and to ask questions. We want the public to know that we’re here to serve them. Also, for us, it’s nice to work with all the participating agencies. “

To add to the fun and excitement of the day, the United States Army’s Drug Command Reduction Team allowed adults and children to don safety harnesses and climb up a 60-foot rock climbing wall. “We go out to schools and do a drug awareness program,” said Master Sergeant Karin Dates. “We do the rock wall and other things as an activity for kids and their families.”

Around noon, shoppers gathered in the mall’s parking lot in anticipation of the arrival and landing of the NJ State Police Medevac Unit’s helicopter. After circling a taped off area of the lot, the emergency chopper landed, causing dust and pebbles to stir and envelop the area.

“We were here last year as well,” said flight nurse Carl Corriere, as parents and kids surrounded the helicopter to take pictures. “Adults and children ask all kinds of questions. Our goal is to have people become more aware of what we do. We’re usually called in to go to the closest trauma center for auto accidents and other emergency situations.”

Other highlights of the day’s events included an appearance by Batman, who took pictures with fans in front of a black Camaro; child seat safety inspections; and recognition of accomplishments in crime prevention. Acknowledgements were given to Chief Shiela Byron-Lattunga of Glen Ridge police department, Detective Sergeant Lou Cammaratta of Fairfield, and Doug Collier, of the Drug Enforcement Agency of NJ (Operation Take Back NJ). All will be honored at an ECCPO fundraiser to be held at the Atrium in West Orange on July 7.  The association’s Web site, www.eccpoa.org, will launch in a few weeks.

“The site will provide the public with tips to keep them safe,” Mankowitz said. “It will be interactive where people can log on and ask questions. We’re looking for corporate as well as private citizens who can become associate members to get involved in what we’re doing.”

Also sharing their services were the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Crime Scene Unit, NJ Transit Police (whose Emergency Services Unit addresses transit issues, fire fighting, counter-terrorism), and the Newark Explorers, a police training program for kids ages 13-21.