Police Message to Community; Changes to Dispatch & New Phone Number Added
After lengthy deliberation and consultation, the Montgomery Township Committee decided in January to transfer the emergency communications function from the municipal Police Department to Somerset County Communications, for the purpose of realizing cost-savings to township taxpayers.
Somerset County Communications is a county-wide emergency communications center located in Somerville and directed by the Somerset County Division of Emergency Management. It currently dispatches police, fire and emergency medical assets for several Somerset County municipalities, and will now also perform this function for Montgomery Township.
The transfer will be complete on or about July 6, whereupon the Police Department will close its fullservice emergency communications center. Here is how the new system will work:
1. All 9-1-1 telephone calls generated from any hard-wire telephone within Montgomery Township
will be received at Somerset County Communications. (As is currently the case, 9-1-1 calls
from cell phones may be received by other agencies and transferred to County dispatch.)
2. The non-emergency (908) 359-3222 number will remain operational but will be answered at
the County. Somerset County Communications dispatchers will direct your call in order for you
to receive the appropriate response. Use this number if you have an immediate need of police
assistance, but not for regular police business calls (see back side).
3. A police business phone number, (908) 874-3333, will allow callers to contact the Police Dept.
directly during regular business hours M - F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will access voicemail
after hours. This phone number is for administrative business ie. requesting a police report, a
firearms permit, leaving a message for a specific police officer, etc.
4. There will no longer be a police dispatcher in the municipal building 24 hours per day, 365
days per year. The municipal building will be closed outside of regular business hours.
Arrangements have been made to accommodate public access at evening meetings that take
place in the municipal building.
5. Individuals who come to the municipal building after hours in search of a police officer or other
municipal service may use special telephones located beneath blue beacons immediately
outside the Police Department lobby and the front door of the municipal building. These
phones automatically connect with county dispatch so that callers are assisted.
This transition has been planned with great care and consideration to its impact on Township
residents. Township and County officials are confident that this partnership will deliver the highest
level of service while minimizing any inconvenience to our community. We look forward to hearing
from residents about any questions or concerns you may have.
Township Man Dies From Burns
A 53 year old Montgomery Township resident has died from an apparent act of self-immolation. On Saturday December 12 at 9 am, police were dispatched to a first floor apartment on Primrose Court in the Pike Run complex for a fire call. Upon arrival, they found the building manager tending to the victim inside his apartment. The fire caused the unit’s automatic fire suppression system to activate and the water flow alarm alerted employees at the development who found the victim while they were investigating the alarm.
The victim was found lying on the living room floor of the apartment; he was the sole occupant and was home by himself at the time of the fire. Montgomery Fire Companies #1 and #2 responded with Montgomery EMS and Somerset County MICU.
The victim was airlifted to St. Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, NJ by the New Jersey State Police North Star Medevac where he succumbed from his injuries and was pronounced dead the next morning. No other residents in the building of approximately 20 units were displaced by the fire and the apartment where the fire occurred sustained minimal damage caused primarily by the sprinkler system.
Evidence recovered at the scene, and additional information obtained by police during their investigation concluded the burns were self-inflicted. The investigation is on-going and is being conducted by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, the Montgomery Township Police Department and the Montgomery Township Fire Inspector’s Office.
Township Police Officer Suffers Minor Firing Range Injury
A 12-year veteran Montgomery Township Police sergeant suffered a minor injury to his toe on Dec. 14 at 4 pm when his service handgun discharged accidentally at the Township gun range. There were eight other officers present at the time, including the range safety officer.
According to Township Police, the gun discharged through the holster sending the bullet through the top of his right boot before grazing his big toe, exiting through the bottom of the boot into the ground.
He was taken by officers to RWJUH in New Brunswick, where he was treated and released.
New Jersey police officers are required to qualify with sidearms and shotguns semi-annually, which the department had been doing for the previous two weeks. The MTPD is Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating the incident.
Slow Motion Train Wrecks Car
Montgomery Township received a report from a driver on December 12, that his car was stuck on the tracks at a crossing on Rt. 601 at 8:05 pm. Before officers could arrive at the scene, the dispatcher received a second call that a northbound train was approaching.
By the time officers arrived, the train had struck the car, but by then, the four occupants had left the vehicle and were standing by helplessly.
The driver, a 48-year-old Randolph man, told police that he had been northbound on Rt. 601 and was unfamiliar with the area. He turned right and found himself on the tracks as he reached the grade crossing. Although a train was coming, it wasn’t close enough at that point to activate the gate and signals. He was able to leave the car with his wife and two children in time.
The train engineer reported that he saw the car on the tracks and hit the brakes, but was unable to come to a complete stop before striking the car and dragging it some 20 feet down the line. The train was carrying 10 loaded and 70 empty boxcars from Pavonia, NJ to Selkirk, NY.
No injuries were reported, nor was the train damaged, but the car was in rough shape.
Sergeant Rock Promoted by Montgomery Towmship Police Dept.
Police Officer Kurt Rock was promoted to the rank of police sergeant during Montgomery Township’s regular session meeting on Thursday December 17, 2009. Mayor Louise Wilson read a resolution to promote Kurt Rock to the rank of sergeant and he was sworn in by Township Attorney Kris Hadinger. The ceremony took place in the Township court room where Rock stood with his wife Dawn and his daughters Emily and Kaitlyn as he took his oath. His fellow Montgomery police officers, family and friends filled the room.
Sergeant Rock, 44, holds a B.A. in Geography from East Stroudsburg University and began his career with Montgomery Township Police in January of 1995 as a patrol officer. He was assigned to the Traffic Bureau from January 2003 through May 2005 before returning to the Patrol Bureau. Sergeant Rock was assigned as an Acting Sergeant from January 2009 until his promotion. Additionally, Rock is an instructor at the Somerset County Police Academy, a member of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Collision Analysis Reconstruction Team (C.A.R.T.) and a Montgomery Police Department RADAR instructor.
Sergeant Rock is assigned to the Patrol Bureau as a patrol squad sergeant.
Police Blotter - March 2010
Dept. of Corrections: in the February Police Blotter, in a story about a teenage driver who rear-ended a car driven by a Township police officer on Dec. 14, we asked the rhetorical question, “Who would give their 17-year-old a big SUV?” Now we know. It’s one living in an irony-free zone. We know because despite not having been named, they both (mother and son) actually emailed to us to complain, a first for us, that we had two critical errors in that brief, anonymous paragraph. First, the teenager in question actually lives in Skillman, not Belle Mead, where we have our office. Thank God. Secondly, the victimized police officer was driving his personal car, not a police car per se. We regret our mistake.
Now, for more of the same: a 17-year-old Skillman youth was ticketed for careless driving on a Jan. 17 accident when he lost control of his northbound car ran off the road on Mountain View Road at 12:10 am and hit a utility pole. There were no injuries, but his car had to be towed. Officers determined that he was driving too fast for a gravel road.
Officer Clifford stopped a car on Bridgepoint Road for failing to keep right and for running a stop sign on Jan. 17 at 3:30 am, and found that the driver was an unlicensed 15-year from Princeton, with three juvenile passengers. The four were turned over to their parents, and the driver was charged with being an unlicensed driver, operating a car without the owner’s consent, failure to keep right, and failure to stop at a stop sign.
Officers investigating a loud noise complaint at a Symes Drive address on Jan 17 at 5:05 arrested a 22-year-old Flemington man, who had an outstanding warrant from Somerville. He was released after a friend posted bail.
Someone did $980 damage to bathroom doors at the 15th hole putting green at Cherry Valley Country Club on Jan 19, in an attempt to enter the locked bathrooms. No entry was gained. Iof anyone has information about this, please contact the MTPD Detective Bureau at 908-874-3333.
MTPD, Township Fire Companies #1 and 2, MEMS, and Somerset County MICU responded to a fatal car accident on Jan. 23 at 7:32 pm on Rt. 601, about 1 mile south oif Rt. 518. There they found a car wrapped around a utility pole with a lone occupant, a 45-year-old Pennington man, trapped inside. He was declared dead at the scene. Rt. 601 was closed for about five hours as a officers investigated the accident and removed the victim. An investigation determined that the southbound driver failed to negotiate a left hand curve and lost control in a straight section of dry pavement. He crossed into the northbound lane, returned to the southbound side, then hit the pole on the driver’s side.
On Jan 30, MTPD Officer Gray saw a car on Rt. 206 southbound without an inspection sticker or a front plate. After stopping the driver, Officer Gray noticed a smell of marijuana coming from the car. Lt. Pino from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Dept. responded to the scene with his K9, which detected narcotics. A search uncovered a pipe, empty plastic bags containing pot residue, and a scale. The 17-year-old driver, a Montgomery resident, was arrested for possessing drug paraphernalia, and issued summons for failure to inspect and improper display of plates.
A 25-year-old Skillman man was arrested on Feb. 6 at 4 am after his car left the roadway on Cherry Valley Rd. and got stuck in a ditch. Arriving officers determined that he was drunk, and he was issued summonses for DUI, careless driving, and failure to notify change of address.
“Ooops! Did I say that?” MTPD Officer Wilkes stopped a 21-year-old Edison man for traffic violations on Rt. 206 on Feb. 14 and detected the smell of marijuana coming from the car. The driver, when questioned, answered that he had a bag of marijuana in his pocket. The pot was found, the driver was arrested.
Officer Gray stopped a car leaving the Belle Mead Post Office at 10:54 pm on Feb. 15. Normally, no one would be parked at that location at that time. He found that the passenger, a 20-year-old woman from Manville, had an active warrant from Manville Borough. She was turned over toi Manville Police when she was unable to post $1,000 bail.
Police Blotter - February 2010
Ooops! On Dec. 14, a 17-year-old Belle Mead resident driving a Ford Explorer rear-ended a police car driven by MTPD Det. Hofacker at 7:17 am. Both vehicles were damaged. The first drive was ticketed for careless driving. But who would give a 17-year-old a big SUV? Some things we’re just not supposed to know.
At 8:06 on Dec. 14, a northbound 40-year-old Princeton man lost control of his Lincoln Navigator on River Rd., struck and got stuck on the guardrail. Traffic was stopped for 20 minutes before the wreckers got him free. There was no injury reported, but the driver was ticketed for careless driving.
A 20-year-old Somerset man was arrested on Dec. 19 after he was stopped for speeding on Millstoneb River Rd. and found to be drunk. He was also found to have pot in his car, so he was charged with possession of marijuana, DWI, failure to change address on his license, underaged DWI, and possession of marijuana under 50 grams.
Township police responded to a domestic disturbance on Dec. 20, and brought a 16-year-old back to headquarters. During the trip, the arrested youth kicked out a rear window in the patrol car and offered to kill the arresting officer. After he was handcuffed to a bench at HQ, he deliberately spit and vomited on the floor, walls, and ceiling of the room. He then attempted to fling body fluids on Township officers, who stopped his antics with pepper spray, then hauled him off to Somerset Medical Center for evaluation, with charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, terrorist threats, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.
A southbound Belle Mead woman rear-ended a car stopped on Rt. 206 waiting to turn left onto Pike Run on New Year’s Eve. The first driver was ticketed for careless driving. No injuries were reported.
MTPD, MEMS, and Fire Company #2 repsonded to a single-car accident on Jan. 1 at 3:25 am on Sunset Rd when an 18-year-old Skillman man hit a pole, cutting it in half with his car. Power was out for several hours before it was restored by PSEG. The driver was found to be drunk, and was charged with DWI, underaged DWI, and careless driving.
Someone entered the garage of a Princeton Avenue resident and sprayed an oily substance on a parked vehicle. MTPD Detective Bureau is investigating.
Township officers charged a 17-year-old Belle Mead driver with careless driving on Jan 4 at 2:23 pm after the young driver rear-ended a car driven by a 52-year-old Princeton man stopped and waiting to turn on the Bell Mead RR Bridge. No injuries were reported.
On Jan. 5, a 39-year-old Princeton driver rear-ended a car driven by a 32-year-old Pennington man who had, he said, stopped on Cherry Hill Rd. near Cherry Brook Dr. to avoid hitting an animal. The Princeton man was ticketed for careless driving and for having an unrestrained child.
Under the heading of “The bed was on fire when I got into it”: MTPD, Fire Company #2, MEMS, and the Rocky Hill Fire Company responded to a car fire on Jan. 6 at 9:30 am at a local car repair shop near the corner of Rt. 518 and Rt. 206. They found a Porsche fully engulfed in flames near a building with two businesses and a private home. After evacuating the two home occupants, officers saw the owner of the auto repair business moving his private vehicle away from the fire. He reported that he had just backed the Porsche, which had been under repairs, out of the garage when he noticed smoke. He attempted to put out the fire with an extinguisher, but high winds fanned the flames. He then had employees at the other business call 911. While discussing the cause of the fire with him, offices noticed that the car repair shop owner had been drinking, conducted a field sobriety test, and as a result, charged him with DWI. Two lawn mowers awaiting repair were damaged by flames, and an occupant of the home injured her foot while leaving.
Vandals paintballed a car parked on West Street someone during the afternoon of Jan 10 with six yellow paint balls. No estimate of damage.
A 20-year-old Belle Mead man was arrested on Jan. 12 after an officer saw a suspicious vehicle parked at the Pike Run Clubhouse at 11:30 pm. The officer detected the odor of marijuana on the defendant’s clothing. Further investigation uncovered a small amount of pot. The defendant was charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana.
Someone broke into a Dominicus Ct. apartment sometime on Jan. 12 between 1:15 pm and 5:39 pm, when the break-in was discovered. Thieves broke in through a window next to the front door by removing the xterior screen and partially removing the frame. Some $2,000 worth of jewelry was stolen from a countertop. The MTPD Detective Bureau is investigating.
A 48-year-old Philadelphia woman was arrested on Jan 13 after the arresting officer saw her speeding on Rt. 206 near the tennis courts. The officer detected the odor of alcohol and administered a field sobriety test, which she failed. The driver was ticketed for speeding and DWI.
ALTERNATE ROUTE ORIENTATION ON MARCH 2, 2010
SOMERVILLE - Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest and Academy Director Dr. Richard Celeste announced that the Somerset County Police Academy will be conducting an orientation for potential candidates in the Basic Police Recruit Alternate Route Program. The program allows civilians to enter police recruit training on their own without first being employed by a police agency.
The Somerset County Police Academy was the first academy in the State to offer such a program in 1993. The Somerset County Police Academy’s Basic Police Alternate Route Program is certified by the New Jersey Police Training Commission.
Candidates who are selected are enrolled directly into the 24-week training cycle at the Police Academy, which is one of the longest and most comprehensive in the State and can be best described as a blend of military and college training. The environment is very challenging and requires a commitment to excellence. During the training process, recruits are taught in over 120 subjects to include: Police Professionalism; Criminal Justice Systems; Criminal Law; Arrest, Search and Seizure; Communications; Emergency Driving; Emergency Medical Training; Firearms; Self-Defense; Patrol Practices; Motor Vehicle Law; Accident Investigation; Criminal Investigation; and Physical Fitness.
Since its inception in 1987, the Somerset County Police Academy developed a reputation for providing quality training in all topical areas. Over 1,500 police recruits have been trained at the Academy and over 22,000 individuals have been trained in a variety of law enforcement continuing education related topics. The Police Academy is operated by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office in conjunction with Raritan Valley Community College and law enforcement authorities in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset, and Warren Counties.
Scholarships are available for those individuals with economic need. Those applying will be presented with the particulars concerning the scholarship opportunity. Do not let finances preclude you from attending if law enforcement is your goal!
The requirements for all candidates include that you must show proof of residing in Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex or Warren County on March 2, 2010, possess at least 60 college credits from an accredited college or university, as recognized by Raritan Valley Community College, or possess two years of full time active military duty or a combination of college and military that equals two years, no criminal record, be at least 18 years of age and a citizen of the United States, possess a valid New Jersey driver’s license, have a good driving record, and be in good physical condition.
Candidates will have the opportunity to pre-register for the written test from now until February 19, 2010 when registrations will no longer be accepted. Pre-registration is done by completing the registration form on the Somerset County Police Academy website. The Registration forms and a $50.00 money order must be received at the Police Academy by February 19, 2010 by 3:00 p.m. Money orders are made payable to Somerset County Police Academy. No personal checks or cash will be accepted.
Mandatory Orientation will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the Somerset County Police Academy located on the campus of Raritan Valley Community College in North Branch, New Jersey at the corner of Lamington Road and Route 28. The program will be held in the Grand Conference Room in the Conference Center (Building # 11). The written test is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, March 16, 2010 in the same room.
Individuals wishing to go to the Orientation for informational purposes will be allowed to attend but pre-registration is required to sit for the written test.
Directions to the Academy and further information about the Alternate Route Program can be obtained through the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office website, www.scpo.net, and clicking on the Police Academy or through the Raritan Valley Community College website, www.raritanval.edu/police, and clicking on recruit training.
Township PD Bike Patrol Takes to the Streets
It’s not uncommon to see a Montgomery Township Police Department patrol officer on a bicycle as well as in a patrol car. Lieutenant Jim Curry, who oversees the Bicycle Patrol, says it was started eight years ago as part of a nationwide trend. “Bike Patrol officers can get where patrol cars can’t and can cover a large area quickly. Patrol cars can’t drive through certain places or cross small bridges” explains Curry.
Police Officer Joseph Samec, who is part of the Bicycle Patrol, adds, “Officers on bikes are very approachable. Youth in the Township can connect with that type of activity. The bike is also appealing because the officer is getting healthy exercise while carrying out his duties.”
Parks, bike trails, office complexes, shopping centers, residential areas, and schools, especially at the beginning of the year, are some of the areas patrolled. Events patrolled include the fireworks and block parties, where they give safety presentations or put on bike rodeos.
Eight of Montgomery’s patrol officers – roughly half – are certified for bike patrol. They receive one week of training which includes bicycle maintenance and operation and instruction on how to perform tactical operations while using a bike for transportation. “They ride a lot that week” notes Curry. When officers are on bike patrol, their patrol car always has a bike rack, so they can always switch back to normal patrolling if needed
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