Consumer Fraud Alert
PBA Beefsteak
The Wayne Policeman’s Benevolent Association #136 is sponsoring a Beef Steak and Comedy Night for November 21 2008. The time is 7:00pm at the Wayne PAL building. The menu includes anti-Paste, beef steak, and pasta along with beer and soda. The Wayne PBA # 136 and its members would be honored if you and your organization would attendant. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Tickets are 50.00 each. The featured comic for the night is the “One man Comedy Tornado”. For more information on the comedian go to his website at www.comedytornado.com
Raffle tickets are also available for a 2008 Harley Davidson Road King Classic. The tickets for the Raffle are 50.00 each. You can go to our website at www.waynepba136.com and download a form. The tickets will be on sale on the day of the drawing.
Thank you,
Sgt. Joe Shenekji
973-633-3585
PBA Beefsteak
The Wayne Policeman’s Benevolent Association #136 is sponsoring a Beef Steak and Comedy Night for November 21 2008. The time is 7:00pm at the Wayne PAL building. The menu includes anti-Paste, beef steak, and pasta along with beer and soda. The Wayne PBA # 136 and its members would be honored if you and your organization would attendant. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me. Tickets are 50.00 each. The featured comic for the night is the “One man Comedy Tornado”. For more information on the comedian go to his website at www.comedytornado.com
Raffle tickets are also available for a 2008 Harley Davidson Road King Classic. The tickets for the Raffle are 50.00 each. You can go to our website at www.waynepba136.com and download a form. The tickets will be on sale on the day of the drawing.
Thank you,
Sgt. Joe Shenekji
973-633-3585
In Memory of Wayne Police Sgt. Thomas Deppa
Less than 3 months after being diagnosed with cancer Sergeant Deppa, a Vietnam Veteran, died on August 29, 2007.
At the time of his death he was working as a Wayne Police Sergeant in the Patrol Division.
In addition, Sgt. Deppa was caring for his wife Wendy who has advanced stages of Multiple Sclerosis and is confined to a wheelchair. Sgt. Deppa also leaves behind five children ages 28, 25, 14, 12 and 11.
The Wayne Policeman’s Benevolent Association on behalf of the Deppa family has established a trust fund to assist his family. The Wayne PBA is kindly asking for donations to help his family during this difficult time. We thank you for your support.
Wayne PBA 136
c/o Thomas Deppa foundation
PO Box 3597, Wayne, NJ 07470
Article from The Record
Lawsuit isn't the way to resolve Wayne tragedy
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
By MIKE KELLY
RECORD COLUMNIST
The death of Frank Sanabria was a tragedy -- for his family who tried to help him and for Wayne cops who fired the bullets that killed him on a rainy night in November 2005.
But this should not be a lawsuit.
Our nation is obsessed with suing. Indeed, there are times when people need to take their problems to a judge.
This is not one of them.
Sanabria's family filed suit last week, claiming Wayne's police lacked "appropriate procedures, standards, policies or training" in "dealing with mentally ill or otherwise disabled residents."
That may be true. But this incident left little time to consult standards or policies. This was about a split-second decision by cops, responding to a call by a desperate wife, who, authorities say, left this fearsome message:
"He has a knife. He has a knife. He's got my daughter."
When cops arrived, they confronted a man with a 15-inch knife, struggling with his 15-year-old daughter. After refusing repeated pleas during a 12-minute span to drop the knife, the man charged cops.
What would you do if you were a cop? Run? Duck? Ask the knife-wielding man if he was mentally ill or just having a bad day?
This columnist has taken the deadly force test at the Bergen County Police Academy -- and flunked that test, flunked it badly. And while I am not shy about criticizing cops for unnecessarily pulling the trigger, I also know that a cop's decision to shoot is not easy.
After his death, Sanabria's family told police the 43-year-old iron worker had been in the grip of psychological problems for about 18 months and had recently visited a psychiatrist who gave him two prescriptions, including one for an antidepressant. An autopsy also found high levels of cocaine in Sanabria's system.
The day he died, Sanabria was up at 3 a.m., confused and irrational, authorities say. By late afternoon, he had damaged a wall and ceiling with a knife and yanked a TV cable from a wall, claiming people were spying on him. When he slashed his neck, chest and abdomen, Sanabria's wife phoned cops for help.
Sanabria ran outside. His daughter chased him, concerned for his safety. It was now about 6:35 p.m. -- dark and raining.
A Wayne officer arrived, followed by three more cops. They found Sanabria outside his garage, a knife in one hand, his other arm wrapped around his daughter.
Cops tried to calm Sanabria, but the daughter said her father would not comprehend what they told him. The daughter broke free, later telling authorities she never felt in danger.
Cops told the girl to go inside.
During the 12-minute confrontation, officers reportedly asked Sanabria several times to drop his knife and "calm down." Sanabria refused.
Sanabria moved toward the cops, who backed away and summoned a hostage negotiator and ambulance. Sanabria lunged again, first at two cops on the driveway, then turning at two others backed against a 3-foot wooden fence.
The cops fired, explaining later that Sanabria was only a few feet from them and not stopping.
The facts of this story ache with sadness -- for Sanabria, for his family, for the cops.
Sanabria was deeply troubled -- that much seems sure. His family will live with the burden he left. So will the cops.
His death should remind us of the incalculable suffering of mentally ill people and the difficulty families and police face in caring for them.
It should not remind us to go to court.
This is a matter of broken hearts, not a broken law.
June 2007
Wayne Junior Police Academy Is A Success Once Again
For the ninth consecutive year, the Junior Police Academy conducted by the Wayne Police Department allowed local youngsters to have the chance to see how a police force operates. This year, 63 boys and girls in the 10-13 age group participated in various activities during the four-day program. Among those activities were a tour of the police department, self-defense training, a tour of the county police facility, Project Adventure, relay races with Fatal Vision goggles, a demonstration by the Wayne Fire Company, how radar guns work, and a visit from the State Police helicopter.
New activities for this year were the driving simulator and the FATS shooting simulator, along with self-defense against a person wearing a “Red Man” protective suit. While the great variety of activities keeps the children’s interest at a high level, the real purpose of the Junior Police Academy is to teach youngsters that law enforcement officers are very approachable people who have the well-being of the members of the community first and foremost in their thoughts and actions.
Like last year, the academy culminated with a graduation ceremony in the Wayne Valley High School auditorium that featured a slide show presentation by Officer Scott Rappaport. While the academy was in progress, Officer Rappaport took more than 600 digital photographs, and many of these were shown to the children and their parents on a big screen. The slide show was a big hit with everyone once again, and as Officer Rappaport noted, “It gives parents the opportunity to see what their kids were involved with.”
The Wayne Junior Police Academy is a cooperative effort between many members of the police department, and their dedication has made this a nationally-recognized program. The academy is coordinated by Officers Tom Colella and Chris Corsiglia of the Community Policing Unit, and the success of the program is largely dependent on their hard work and planning. “All the kids had a great time” said Officer Corsiglia, who added, “The kids really enjoyed it, and it’s a great program for them.”
With regard to the success of the academy, Wayne Police Chief Don Stouthamer said, ”The program is the huge success that it is because the officers who volunteer every year are dedicated to providing a fun-filled, action-packed and challenging week of instruction to their young charges. They have a great time with the kids and derive so much satisfaction from interacting with them. It’s a high priority for all of us to befriend the young people in our community and there is no better way to do so than through the Junior Police Academy.”
Other members of the Wayne Police Department who served as Squad Leaders or otherwise included Det/Sgt. Matt Dox, Sgt. Steve Giardino, Off. Robert Hitson, Cpl. Jon Liebchen, Off. Craig Mc Intyre, Park Ranger Bob Morgenfruh, Off. Michael O’Rourke, Sgt. Al Strumolo, and Captain Peter Yurkosky.
Article from The Record
Wayne officers argue for benefits
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
By MARGARET K. COLLINS
STAFF WRITER - The Record
WAYNE -- An officer who can't work because of lasting trauma after witnessing a shooting. Another retired prematurely with a back injury incurred on duty. Both left without municipal health benefits.
The two cases have united fellow officers in the Police Department behind what they say is the last sticking point after nearly two years of contract talks: They want continuing health benefits for officers injured on the job who can no longer work and those officers' families.
The township currently provides lifetime medical coverage for retired officers and their spouses. However, to be eligible, those hired after 1996 must have served at least 20 years in the department.
Police say they did not realize until this contract negotiation that the two-decade caveat also pertained to officers who retire as a result of an on-duty injury.
"We all thought we were covered," former Patrol Officer Michelle Jones, 37, of Wayne said Monday. "I could have been paralyzed and one of these guys could be shot. And now they're thinking they might not have health care for their families if that happens."
Fast facts
• Township officials and Wayne PBA representatives are scheduled to meet again today.
• With a stalemate over benefits, all contract items remain on the table.
• The salary scale as of 2004 ranges from $31,817 for a patrol officer taking academy training to $115,654 for a captain.
Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 136 is working under terms of the prior, four-year contract that expired in December 2004. The two cases of officers injured on the job alerted the union's 110 members to the gap in their coverage.
Jones lost her health benefits when she retired in February 2005 after nearly nine years of service. She injured her back while on duty in a patrol car accident in 1999. She went back to work for several years, she says, but her injury got progressively worse. After retiring, Jones applied for and received a state disability pension -- giving her a portion of her salary. But her health benefits were within the township's jurisdiction.
The township terminated Patrolman John Scully's employment in July and his medical benefits this month. Scully is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since November. He was one of four officers involved that month in the fatal shooting of an emotionally disturbed man who charged at police with a knife. Scully did not fire his gun but has been unable to return to work.
Neither Township Business Administrator Neal Bellet nor Mayor Scott Rumana would comment for this story because of ongoing negotiations.
Police compensation is the largest item in the township's budget: $13.4 million in 2006.
Police argue the added safety net for injured officers -- and their families -- would not pinch taxpayer pocketbooks for two reasons:
Wayne police are rarely injured because they receive good training and equipment. The two injured officers are the first to go out on disability in two decades.
The township could dip into its municipal surplus -- $2.5 million at the start of 2006 -- if an officer is injured, without costing taxpayers extra.
Neighboring communities such as Clifton provide health benefits for injured officers and their families. Clifton City Manager Albert Greco said Monday that police officers -- unlike other employees -- are entitled to full pay and benefits while out on disability. If an officer is unable to return to work, Greco said, the city will pay health benefits until the state pension kicks in.
The police union is fighting to secure that interim coverage for Scully immediately as negotiations continue, said Wayne PBA President Robert Simpson.
Scully has applied for a disability pension from the state, but in the meantime has had to extend a home equity line of credit to support his family and pays $1,300 a month for insurance, according to a grievance filed to the township by the Wayne PBA on his behalf.
"We thought that if an officer is doing his or her job and is hit by a car -- or, God forbid, shot -- that the towns would want to cover us," Simpson said. "We're out here trying to do our best to protect the residents of Wayne and we'd hope that in our times of need that the residents would be there for us."
E-mail: collinsp@northjersey.com
Wayne PD Holds Another Successful Junior Academy
Staff Writer
Wayne PD Holds Another Successful Junior Academy
For the eighth consecutive year, the Wayne Police Department has conducted its nationally-acclaimed Wayne Police Junior Academy for children 9-13 years of age. The program has always been a win-win situation that combines fun with education, as the cadets participate in numerous activities that show them how a police force operates. Most of all, by working with their squad leaders, the youngsters learn that police officers are very approachable people that can always be counted on to help in a difficult situation.
This year's academy took place from Tuesday, June 27, through Friday, June 30. Most of the events were held at Wayne Valley High School and at the police headquarters, with one day spent at the Passaic County Police Academy to observe firearm training and a SWAT demonstration. Other activities included self-defense with Det. Sgt. Ron Gaeta, a tour of police headquarters, relay races with Fatal Vision goggles, radar detection, driving a golf cart, ATF, a visit from the New Jersey State Police helicopter, a demonstration by the Wayne Fire Department, and a mock trial.
The PBA Local 136-sponsored graduation ceremony was held in the Wayne Valley High School auditorium, where the graduates were presented with certificates by Wayne Mayor Scott Rumana and Wayne Police Chief Don Stouthamer. An addition this year to the graduation ceremony was an outstanding slide show by Officer Scott Rappaport, which gave an overview of the program’s events. These photos, along with many others from the Wayne Police, can be seen on the web site www.waynepba136.com .
Once again, the Wayne Police Department Community Policing Unit was responsible for coordinating the Junior Academy, and Officers Tom Colella and Chris Corsiglia maintained the tradition of excellence that had been set eight years ago. Both officers expressed their thanks to Mayor Rumana, Chief Stouthamer, Captain Peter Yurkosky, and Business Administrator Neal Bellet for their support of the program. They also thanked the officers who served so well to make the academy a success, because without the total cooperation of all involved, there would not be a Junior Academy.
This year, the 71 cadets were split up into eight squads, and the officers who served as squad leaders were Det. Dennis Paylo, Cpl. Jon Liebchen, P.O. Craig Mc Intyre, Sgt. Steve Giardino, Det. Sgt. Matt Dox, P.O. Robert Hitson, P.O. Andrew Verdon, and Park Ranger Bob Morgenfruh. Det. Al Strumolo served as Drill Instructor.
In his address to the cadets and their parents assembled at the graduation proceedings, Mayor Rumana stated that the academy is “...one of the best things we’ve done to reach out to our young people,” as they “learn about character building and leadership ability.” Chief Stouthamer reflected on his 38 years with the Wayne Police Department and said, “I couldn’t ask to work with better people.” He also expressed his satisfaction with the academy, and having the chance to take an active role in the lives of the children of the community.
Overall, the Wayne Police Junior Academy teaches young people lessons that they will remember for the rest of their lives. Many kids have already benefitted from this positive experience in the eight years the academy has run, and many more in the community can look forward to doing so in the future.
Once again, the Wayne Police Department Community Policing Unit was responsible for coordinating the Junior Academy, and Officers Tom Colella and Chris Corsiglia maintained the tradition of excellence that had been set eight years ago. Both officers expressed their thanks to Mayor Rumana, Chief Stouthamer, Captain Peter Yurkosky, and Business Administrator Neal Bellet for their support of the program. They also thanked the officers who served so well to make the academy a success, because without the total cooperation of all involved, there would not be a Junior Academy.
This year, the 71 cadets were split up into eight squads, and the officers who served as squad leaders were Det. Dennis Paylo, Cpl. Jon Liebchen, P.O. Craig Mc Intyre, Sgt. Steve Giardino, Det. Sgt. Matt Dox, P.O. Robert Hitson, P.O. Andrew Verdon, and Park Ranger Bob Morgenfruh. Det. Al Strumolo served as Drill Instructor.
In his address to the cadets and their parents assembled at the graduation proceedings, Mayor Rumana stated that the academy is “...one of the best things we’ve done to reach out to our young people,” as they “learn about character building and leadership ability.” Chief Stouthamer reflected on his 38 years with the Wayne Police Department and said, “I couldn’t ask to work with better people.” He also expressed his satisfaction with the academy, and having the chance to take an active role in the lives of the children of the community.
Overall, the Wayne Police Junior Academy teaches young people lessons that they will remember for the rest of their lives. Many kids have already benefitted from this positive experience in the eight years the academy has run, and many more in the community can look forward to doing so in the future.