The JACKSON Times Vol. 18 - No. 44
In This Week’s Edition
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Meet Jackson’s Eight New Police Officers
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Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 14
Dear Pharmacist Page 15
Inside The Law Page 17
Classifieds Page 19
─Photo courtesy Jackson Township New members of the Jackson Police Department who now number 110, the highest number ever on their roster, gather for a photo prior to their formal swearing in during a recent Jackson Council meeting. By Bob Vosseller introduced to the gov- ship. During a recent Chief Kunz provided JACKSON – It was a erning body and the Tow n s h i p C o u n c i l a brief bio on each of familiar sight as eight public. meeting the chief in- the of officers prior to new members of the The chief frequently troduced the officers their taking their oath township police de- accompanies his of- who then took their of office. partment were intro- ficers when they are oaths of office with the The new officers induced by Police Chief promoted or when they Township Clerk Diane clude Kayla Reale who (Police - See Page 4) Mat thew Ku n z and start with the town- Fastino.
Sheriff’s Department Unveils New Rescue ATV
By Alyssa Riccardi OCEAN COUNTY – Covered with waterways like marshes, lakes and rivers, Ocean County has a unique landscape that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Since the terrain can sometimes be difficult to travel through, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office has introduced a state-of-the-art vehicle in the event a
water-based rescue is needed. “We now have a new vehicle that can assist in both land and water rescues throughout the County,” said Commissioner Gary Quinn, liaison to the Sheriff’s Department. The ATV known as “SHER P” can plow through ice, mud and marshes. It will be used by the Ocean County Office of Emergency
Management to reach someone who may be hurt or is having a medical episode. The idea was first proposed by Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy after he was caught in a hurricane in North Carolina. “Based on Ocean County’s topography, having this vehicle will allow us to perform rescues that in the past have been difficult to
access,” Mastronardy said. “This vehicle is rugged and can withstand just about anything allowing us to perform life-saving rescues while eliminating the concern of how to navigate reaching a victim.” The SHERP can move at 25 miles per hour by land and 3.7 miles per hour in the water. It can effortlessly move over mounds of
sand, through brush and across other obstacles including downed trees. Not only can it move through water, it can go through deep snow and into ice. “This is a piece of equipment that we are certainly are very happy to have in Ocean County. Sheriff first brought this idea to the Board of Commissioners a few years ago.
April 23, 2022
Township Facing $54.6M Budget By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – A vote to adopt this year’s municipal budget will take place at the Township Council’s April 26 meeting. Township officials recently introduced a $54.6 million municipal budget for 2022, which features increased investments in police and public safety, roadwork and various community improvements. A public hearing will take place during that meeting concerning the spending plan which reduces the municipal tax rate from .501 to .500. New investments are featured in the spending plan which will be offset with funds from the township’s $9.1 million surplus, enabling Jackson to make investments while also reducing the tax rate. Mayor Michael Reina remarked that “balancing the need to invest in public safety, essential infrastructure and various community needs – like improvements to parks, playgrounds and fields – with (Budget - See Page 5)
School Resource Officer Retires
By Bob Vosseller JACKSON – The Board of Education recognized a long-standing school resource officer during their recent meeting. “The Board of Education wanted to take a moment to recognize a changing of the guard of sorts here in the district,” Board President Michael Walsh said. “After a career in the Jackson Police Department - and 18 years as a School Resource Officer here in our district - we are saying a very warm farewell to School Resource Officer John Pejoski, who is retiring. “We are pleased to introduce and welcome his replacement - Officer Tom Conti - to our district and we have no doubt he will continue to build relationships in our community. There is no way to quantify the impact he and fellow SRO Colin Menafra have had on our students and in our community,” Walsh added.
(ATV - See Page 7)
(Retires - See Page 5)
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