Observer e-Newspaper — Jan. 13, 2021

Page 1

Wednesday, 13 January 2021

www.TheObserver.com

Vol. CXXXIII, No. 36

THIS WEEK IN SPORTS New coach, Macri, takes the helm of Nutley High School hockey team. See Page 9

BELLEVILLE • BLOOMFIELD • EAST NEWARK • HARRISON • KEARNY • LYNDHURST • NORTH ARLINGTON • NUTLEY

Kearny police, fire & EMTs first in Hudson to get COVID-19 vaccine By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com

I

f you drove anywhere near Kearny Police Department Headquarters on Friday, Jan. 8, you may have wondered why Laurel Avenue was closed between Forest and Elm streets. There wasn’t an accident or incident, but instead, inside the police garage, police officers, firefighters and EMTs were getting their first of two COVID-19 vaccines. It was the first day the aforementioned group of three first responders were eligible to receive the vaccine, after Gov. Philip D. Murphy belatedly made a decision to open up the vaccine to them. The event at police headquarters was made possible because of early discussions between KPD Chief George King and North Hudson Community Action Corporation’s CEO Joan Quigley.

Kearny Police Officer Jose Canela is vaccinated by a nurse from the North Hudson Community Access Center, of Union City. Canela was one of around 50 Kearny police officers to take the vaccine last week, in addition to EMTs and firefighters. The chief wanted to open up the vaccine to his force -and the fire department and EMTs -- as soon as possible. And so when the governor made the decision to open it

up to what is called Category 1A, it was on. “Around 50 on the police department signed up to get the vaccine,” King said. “Members of the fire depart-

ment will be here, too, as will others.” The Observer was invited to watch as several cops and firefighters got their shots, the first of what will be two

in total. Police Officer Jose Canela allowed us to photograph him getting the shot in his right arm. “It was fine,” he said after getting the shot, noting he didn’t feel a thing as a NHCAC nurse injected it. That doesn’t always happen, though. One of the NHCAC employees said people getting the vaccine have complained of soreness in the arm, but only for a short while -- around a day or so after vaccination. While police officers who were at headquarters were able to walk into the garage by foot, others pulled in with their vehicles from the Elm Street entrance. King says he wanted a large area for the event and wanted it to be as convenient as possible for everyone. Once they pulled in and See VACCINE, Page 19

HCPO: Kearny detective shoots at suspect who nearly hit cop w/car By Kevin Canessa kc@theobserver.com

T

he Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Friday morning, Jan. 8, in Kearny,

Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said late last week. According to Suarez: That day, at approximately 9:20 a.m., members of the Kearny Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit observed a narcotics transaction in the area of 27 Franklin Place between

a juvenile and an adult. Both attempted to flee the area, with the adult driving his vehicle directly at a Kearny police officer who ordered him to stop. As this was happening, a Kearny detective reportedly fired at the vehicle, which then fled from the area at a high rate of speed.

The suspect led Kearny police on a pursuit into Newark, where he eventually lost control of his vehicle and crashed at Broad Street and Raymond Boulevard. The suspect was soon apprehended See SHOT, Page 15

NEW YEAR PROMOTION See Page 16 Schedule your visit today www.loftsatkearny.com (800) 484-4155

300 Hoyt St. | Kearny 3 Floors | 45 units welcome@loftsatkearny.com


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.