Past news

 



House Numbers are very Important

Please note, it is required by the Township Ordinance, Chapter 73, that all buildings (houses and businesses) be properly labeled with identifying number (street address). This helps us help you in case of emergency, 911 response. The properly numbered building helps with easy identification, quick response and reduces confusion. Thanks for your cooperation.

 

 

Gloucester Township Police Launches Seventh Grade D.A.R.E. Program 9/22/11

Since 1990 the Gloucester Township Police Department has provided D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) instruction to tens of thousands of fifth grade students. These specially trained Gloucester Township Police Officers have developed a great relationship with so many of the young children who have participated in the fifth grade D.A.R.E. Program.

In continuing our commitment to involve the community as our partners in policing, four Gloucester Township Police D.A.R.E. officers were recently trained and certified in teaching the D.A.R.E. "Keepin It Real" Middle School Program. "Keepin It Real" is a multicultural, school based substance use prevention program for students 12-14 years old and will be taught to all seventh graders who attend Gloucester Township Public Schools and Our Lady of Hope School.

The new “Keepin It Real” curriculum prepares students to act decisively in refusing offers to use drugs, helps students recognize risks, builds strong decision making skills, develops communication, planning and assertiveness refusal skills, and empowers our youth to value their own perceptions and feelings. The curriculum contains ten separate lessons that last approximately 45 minutes. The lessons help promote interaction with the students, and the curriculum uses a series of five videos produced by youth which embraces real stories as a key learning tool.

Chief W. Harry Earle stated " Keepin It Real” reinforces the lessons already learned from the 5th grade program, and continues to build positive relationships between students and law enforcement, teachers, parents, and other community leaders."

The Gloucester Township Police Department Community Relations Bureau strongly values the positive relationship with our community and particularly our youth. If you have any questions about the Middle School D.A.R.E. curriculum please contact Sgt. Barton or Cpl. Grannan at 856-228-4011 or email communityrelations@gtpolice.com.


Gloucester Township Police Collaborate With Schools, Community and
Government In Making Prom And Graduation Season Safer

In 2009 33,808 people died from traffic crashes in the United States including an estimated 10,839 people who died in the alcohol-impaired crashes. As the high school prom and graduation season approaches the need to focus on alcohol use by teens is clear. Statistics show the months of April, May, and June, which is the Prom-Graduation Season, is the most dangerous time for teens. One-third of the alcohol-related traffic fatalities involving teens each year occur during those months according to the NHTSA. The Gloucester Township Police Department has collaborated with the Black Horse Pike Regional School District, the Camden County Technical School, Gloucester Township Council, and members of the community in a special effort to help prevent the deadly consequences of underage drinking and driving.

The Gloucester Township Police Department’s Community Relations Bureau will distribute safety information to members of the community, local bars, and local retail liquor stores informing them of the tragedies that occur nationally during the Prom-Graduation season. The Gloucester Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Bureau is conducting “Fatal Vision” assemblies at our local high schools. During these assemblies, students operate a low speed vehicle while wearing vision distortion goggles which simulate driving while impaired and attempt to negotiate an obstacle course. Gloucester Township Police will also have additional officers on duty on the night of the local schools' proms dedicated to DWI enforcement.

Additionally, in an effort to combat underage drinking, Gloucester Township Council adopted a new ordinance on April 25, 2011. This ordinance further prohibits underage alcohol consumption within the township with a focus on underage drinking on private property violations just in time for the Prom-Graduation season. A copy of the new ordinance is available on our website, here. "With the months of April, May, and June being the most deadly for young drivers, it is clear that members of the community needed to take action and work collectively in this effort" said Chief Harry Earle.

For more information on how to make prom night safer visit the Partnership for Drug Free America at www.drugfree.org and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at www.nhtsa.gov.

 


Gloucester Township Police Launch A Nationally Recognized Sixteen Part Public Safety Message Series On Their New YouTube Channel 

Nearly 1,000 fifth grade elementary school students in Gloucester Township will graduate from the DARE Program this April and May. The DARE lessons have taught children the skills in recognizing the dangers of drugs, ways to be in charge; such as strength in numbers, avoiding the situation and repeated refusal, handling peer pressure, building friendship foundations and bullying. In addition to the students learning important life skills essential for resisting drugs and alcohol, the DARE program encourages children to discuss their experiences they have in class at home. Chief Earle has stated, “Although the completion of the Gloucester Township Police DARE program is a great achievement for any child, it is hopeful that it is just the beginning of many conversations that will occur between the DARE graduates and their parents or guardians about alcohol and drugs”.

In an effort to further foster the necessary communication between parents and their children about substance abuse, the Gloucester Township Police Department has launched a sixteen part public safety message series about substance abuse. The DARE program involves a process of educating children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol while involving three important influences in a child’s life – The child’s school, the police, and the child’s parents or guardian. “The Gloucester Township Police Department is utilizing social media to reach parents in a whole new way to further involve them in the drug education triangle by sparking communication between them and their children”, said Chief Harry Earle.

The public safety message videos can be viewed at the Gloucester Township Police Department’s new YouTube Channel a youtube.com/glotwppolice, as well as our Facebook and Twitter Pages. Parents and guardians are also encouraged to visit the following anti-drug websites: drugfreeworld.org, www.dea.gov, darenj.com, dareamerica.com, drugfree.org, justthinktwice.com.

 

Gloucester Township Police Complete A Succesful "Click It Or Ticket" 2011 Campaign 

Gloucester Township Police officers participated in the nationwide “Click It or Ticket” campaign that occurred May 23rd through June 5, 2011. This annual campaign focuses on unbuckled motorist and their passengers and incorporates zero-tolerance enforcement of safety belt laws and is funded by a $4,000 grant awarded from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety.

As part of the campaign, officers conducted high visibility patrols along the Townships main roadways, targeting vehicle occupants who were not wearing seatbelts. This years campaign also coincided with the multi jurisdictional safe passage initiative that has targeted enforcement along the Cross Keys Road corridor.

According to the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, using a seat belt is the simplest way for a driver and his or her passengers to protect themselves when traveling. Motor vehicle occupants who buckle-up increase their chances of surviving a crash by as much as 75 percent.

Last year, the front seat belt usage rate in New Jersey rose for the 14th consecutive year to 93.73%. While front seat belt usage rates continue to increase in New Jersey, law enforcement and safety officials want to ultimately see a 100 percent compliance rate.

During this years “Click it or Ticket” campaign, Gloucester Township Police issued a total of 313 motor vehicle summons including 244 summons for failure to wear a seatbelt, 3 summons for children not being properly secured in a car seat, 5 summons for speeding offenses, and 10 summons for driving with a suspended license. Additionally 1 driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated and 3 fugatives were arrested during the campaign.

Additional information on seatbelt usage and passenger safety can be found at
www.nj.gov/oag/hts/seatbelts, www.njsaferoads.com or www.nhtsa.gov


Gloucester Township Installs New Pedestrian Crossing Signs On Area Roadways

On Thursday 6/9/11, Gloucester Township Police and Public Works Department completed the installation of six new, in-street pedestrian crossing signs. The signs were installed on Almonsesson Road, West Church Street and Lakeland Road where the Townships bicycle and walking path crosses the roadways. These crossings were recently legally changed to pedestrian crosswalks.

These new reflective, high visibility signs are used to remind drivers of the law regarding right of way at pedestrian crossings. On April 1st, 2010 a new law, NJSA 39:4-36, went into effect in New Jersey requiring motorists to come to a complete stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in crosswalks as well as for pedestrians crossing at intersections where there are no marked crosswalks. This is the first change in N.J. law regarding pedestrian safety in more than 50 yrs. and comes in the aftermath of some 157 pedestrian fatalities in the state in 2009, more than double the national average. It represents some 27 percent of car crash fatalities, giving N.J. the ranking of number 1 in the nation in pedestrian deaths.

The law is referred to as “Casey’s Law” and was named for 21 year old Casey Feldman who was killed in July 2009 as she crossed 14th Street and Central Avenue in Ocean City NJ. Casey was crossing the street in a crosswalk at an intersection controlled by 4-way stop signs, during daylight hours when she was struck by a distracted driver.

Additionally, the New Jersey Department of Transportation installed a new crosswalk on the Black Horse Pike at Central Avenue. This crosswalk will allow pedestrians to safely cross the Black Horse Pike in the area of the Township branch of the Camden County Library as well as the adjacent area where frequent Township events are held.
Pedestrians are reminded to still use due caution when crossing in the marked crosswalks. For additonal information on pedestrian safety and the laws governing it, read more information.

Spring Brings Positive Change to the Gloucester Township Police Department

The arrival of Spring 2011 will see creative changes to the way the Gloucester Township Police serves its residents. After working the same schedule for the last 40+ years, Chief Harry Earle changed his Department's patrol watches from 10 hour shifts to 12 hour shifts on February 15. This change of working hours is designed to put put more officers on the streets while reducing overtime costs. Chief Earle completed a re-structuring of the entire Department which will improve operational efficiency and the service to the public. These changes have allowed for the creation of a proactive squad of officers who are directed to patrol crime hot spots in the Township. The squads, called the Operational Response Units (ORU), will be responsible for patrolling trouble areas and for responding to the complaints we receive from the community, in addition to the Department's normal patrol force. Chief Earle stated "As the warm spring weather arrives, these officers will be concentrating on bike patrol, targeting known wanted criminals, and improving community interaction. We need to get the feedback from our residents about what is going on in their neighborhoods".

The implementation of the 12 hour shifts is expected to put more officers on the street during peak times when we need them the most. Chief Earle stated, "This effort could not have been done without the cooperation and partnership that we have with our Gloucester Township FOP Lodge # 206 union members. My officers recognized the need to change the way we were doing things, and for that I am proud of them. It was a win-win situation for the community and for our officers."

"With the warm weather approaching, the Department sees an increase in nuisance and disturbance types of calls. This year we are getting out early to make our presence known" Chief Earle said. The Department is doing this with the increase in the number of bike patrols, the golf cart type low speed vehicles we have deployed to out parks, and enforcement details such as the DWI checkpoint which was help on St. Patricks's Day. This DWI checkpoint resulted in 1 DWI arrest, 13 suspended / unregistered drivers cited, numerous safety violation summonses, and 3 persons arrested for outstanding warrants. According to Chief Earle, "We believe these operational changes will have a positive impact on crime and will make Gloucester Township safer."

 

GT Police News Release - 3/7/2011

New Jersey experiences a disproportionate number of pedestrian injury crashes and fatalities compared to the nation as a whole. MOTORISTS in New Jersey MUST stop for pedestrians in a marked cross walk. Failure to observe the law may subject you to one or more of the following: 2 points, $200.00 fine, 15 days Community Service and Insurance Surcharges. The driver of a vehicle must stop and stay stopped for a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk, but shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except at crosswalks when the movement of traffic is being regulated by police officers or traffic control signals, or where otherwise prohibited by municipal, county, or State regulation, and except where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided, but no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.

Whenever any vehicle is stopped to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall NOT overtake and pass
such stopped vehicle.

Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

Please visit our facebook page to view a Public Safety Announcement titled “Stop and Stay Stopped” which is about Pedestrian Crossing. Additional information about pedestrian crossing and other traffic safety information can be found at www.nj.gov/oag/hts/pedestrian.html

 

 

GT Police News Release - 3/3/11

Members of the Gloucester Township Police Department Community Relations Unit attended the 2011 Annual D.A.R.E. training conference at Bally's Atlantic City from March 1-3 2011. The Conference focused on understanding the Instant Gratification Generation. D.A.R.E. officers attended classes that will assist them with teaching the ten week program to the fifth grade students in Gloucester Township. Classes that were attended focused on internet predators, bullying, drugs in NJ and the officers were certified in a middle school program titled "Keeping It Real."

The Gloucester Township Police Department entered a newly designed and recently purchased D.A.R.E. vehicle into the car show at the conference in which an award is given to the "Best of Show Vehicle." The D.A.R.E vehicle is a 2004 Dodge Ram Rumble Bee Pickup Truck and was purchased with grant funds by the Gloucester Township Police Department for Drug and Alcohol Abuse Education. This vehicle is going to be used year around at local events to help assist the Community Relations Unit with teaching the children of Gloucester Township the dangers of drugs and alcohol. At the NJ D.A.R.E Officers Association Dinner the Gloucester Township D.A.R.E. Unit won "Best of Show" in the state of New Jersey. The vehicle was displayed in the Sixth floor lobby of Bally's.

DARE Truck

The D.A.R.E. program is currently being taught in all 5th grade classrooms in Gloucester Township and both public and private schools. There are two full time D.A.R.E. officer instructors and one part time D.A.R.E. officer instructor. The D.A.R.E curriculum focuses on drug and alcohol abuse and also such areas as bullying and internet safety.

The Gloucester Township Police Department's Honor Guard attended the opening ceremonies of the D.A.R.E. conference and assisted with the Presentation of Colors.

 

GT Police News Release - 2/28/2011

GTPD officers honored at the Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund 45th Annual Dinner 2-25-2011 by Gloucester Township Police on Monday, February 28, 2011 at 9:49am

On February 25, 2011, The Camden County Hero Scholarship Fund held their Forty Fifth Annual Dinner at Lucien's Manor. Each year they honor those in Public Safety Community who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

This year, three members of the Gloucester Township Police were honored: Corporal Joseph Andricola was honored with the Distinguished Service Award (along with NJSP Detective Sergeant Edward Fallon), Corporal Mark Pickard was honored with the Meritorious Award, and K-9 Schultz was honored with the Purple Heart Award.

 

GT Police News Release - 1/6/2011

Police Chief Harry Earle and the Gloucester Township Police Department will be making the following presentations during the Gloucester Township Council meeting on Monday, January 10, 2011 at 07:30 pm:

  • Ptl. Matthew Crabtree will be sworn in as a Police Officer of the Gloucester Township Police Department.
  • The Gloucester Township Police Department K-9 Unit will be honored for their performance at the United States Police Canine Association National Field Trials on November 4, 2010. This recognition will include the performance of Cpl. Mark Pickard and K-9 Schultz for placing 10th best dog overall in the National Trials
  • The Gloucester Township Police Community Relations Bureau and the Community will be honored by Mayor David Mayer and Council, for being selected as the 1st Place winner in the 27th Annual National Night Out event. Gloucester Township won 1st place in New Jersey “Category 3” which comprises com
  • munities with a population 50,000-99,000.
  • Chief Earle and the Gloucester Township Police Honor Guard will be honoring Mr. Don Maloney of DGM Finishing Inc., for donating his time and materials to chrome the Honor Guard’s ceremonial rifles. The media and the public is invited to join us for these special events which are scheduled at the regularly scheduled meeting of the Gloucester Township Council, in the Council Room of the Municipal Building, 1261 Chews Landing Road, Laurel Springs, NJ 08021.