Mayor Dodd Administers Oath to New Dover Patrolman Michael Cannon
DOVER — The Dover Police Department recently hired Michael Cannon as a Patrolman. Mayor James Dodd administered the Oath of Office to Cannon at the Township Mayor and Council Meeting on April 30.
Born and raised in the Town of Dover, he proudly graduated from Dover High School in 2014. Since then, he has been a dedicated volunteer with the Dover Fire Department and is a certified EMT. Michael earned his associate degree in criminal justice from the County College of Morris in 2017.
Michael Cannon Realizes Dream of Becoming a Dover Police Officer
In 2018 and 2019, Michael volunteered as a summer camp counselor in Dover, serving as a positive role model for local youth. He also worked as a paraprofessional at Canfield Avenue Elementary School, helping children. In 2020, Michael graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
In 2022, he attended the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy as an alternate group recruit and graduated from the 98th Basic Police Force for police officers. After graduation, Michael was hired as a full-time police officer in Wayne Township.
“He dreamed of returning to his hometown and becoming a Dover Police Officer. We are honored and proud to help him achieve this dream tonight, and we welcome him to the police officer position in Dover,” said Mayor Dodd.
DOVER — Diego E. Tacuriyunga, 23, Orange, hit a traffic post in the rear parking lot of Saint Clares Hospital on Saturday, April 20, at 2:05 a.m.
Dover Police Officer Errick Williams arrived at the scene and spoke to a witness who stated that Mr. Tacuriyunga exited his vehicle and began striking it before returning to it. He allegedly consumed a beverage from a glass bottle and drove from the scene. The vehicle was identified as a 2014 Black Ford Escape with an identifiable license plate.
Approximately five minutes later, a Dover Police Officer spotted the vehicle on North Elm Street and stopped it. The officers requested Bunky’s Heavy Towing & Auto impound the vehicle, and Mr. Tacuriyunga was transported to Dover Police Headquarters.
Mr. Tacuriyunga was charged with
•Failure to report an accident, 39:4-130 •Open Container Alcohol, 39:4-518 •Careless Driving, 39:4-97 •Reckless Driving, 39:4-96 •Leaving the scene of an accident, 39:4-129B •Operating Under Influence of Liquor or Drugs, 39:4-50 •Consent to Take Samples of Breath, 39:4-50.2 •Refusual to Submit to Chemical Test Penalties, 39:4-50.4A •Openly consume one 12 oz. Bottle of Corona in Public. Local Ordinance 105-10
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, this Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Lee Grabarczyk is among the distinguished panelists at the "The Power of Thoughts and Words" event.
MORRIS COUNTY — On Wednesday, June 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the Wellness Gala presents “The Power of Thoughts and Words” at the Best Western Fairfield Executive Inn, 216 Route 46 East, Fairfield.
This enlightening event features a panel of esteemed psychics, mediums, and healers, including Jamie Butler, The Everyday Medium; Jaye Regincos, Thought Strategist; Ray Sette, Spiritualist, and Astrologer; Laurie Wheeler, Illuminary Futurist; and Lee Grabarczyk, Intuitive Artist. They will provide prophetic messages and personalized guidance during an audience Q&A session, offering connections to departed loved ones.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for mini psychic readings and the chance to explore high-vibrational products. Tickets are available for $59.00 in advance or $65.00 at the door.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
MOUNTAIN LAKES — Mountain Lakes Patrolman Grady attempted to stop a vehicle on Route 46 East on April 15th, but the driver sped off, dangerously weaving through traffic.
New Jersey State Police eventually intercepted the vehicle on Route 80 and arrested 19-year-old Shazil Siddiqi of Mountain Lakes. Siddiqi was charged with eluding police and reckless and careless driving, among other offenses, and was taken to Morris County Correctional Facility to await a court hearing.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, this Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
MOUNTAIN LAKES — On April 13, 2024, Mountain Lakes Detective Torres received notification from the Morris County Sheriff’s Office about a positive fingerprint match linked to a motor vehicle burglary attempt on Laurel Hill Road in July 2022.
Detective Torres positively identified the suspect as 19-year-old Yafee Q. Finch from Newark, leveraging video surveillance and additional images from various law enforcement agencies.
Finch is currently held at the Morris County Correctional Facility. Finch was formally charged on April 16th with burglary to a motor vehicle and failure to submit to fingerprinting.
A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, this Defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
MORRIS COUNTY — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs and 50 other attorneys general announced a $10.25 million agreement with the nation’s largest cell phone companies to resolve an investigation into their allegedly misleading and confusing advertising and sales tactics.
Under the Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) terms, AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile each agreed to change how they market, advertise, and sell wireless services to prospective customers.
“Wireless carriers have every right to compete for customers on price and features, but they don’t have the right to ensnare consumers with misleading advertisements and offers that hide or misrepresent the true cost of cell phone service,” Platkin said. “We will continue to make sure that New Jersey customers know what they are getting and know what they are paying for.”
“New Jersey consumers are entitled to clear and accurate information in the marketplace,” said Cari Fais, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “This settlement requires cell phone companies to be transparent in their advertising and marketing and sends the message that misleading business tactics will not be tolerated.”
The states allege that the wireless carriers’ advertisements, including those appearing in print, television, and online, did not disclose or misrepresent their offers’ material terms and conditions, violating their consumer protection laws. Under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, N.J.S.A. 56:8-2, “any commercial practice that is unconscionable or abusive, deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, misrepresentation, or the knowing, concealment, suppression, or omission of any material fact” is an unlawful practice.
The AVCs address the common misleading advertising practices of the wireless carriers, including misrepresentations concerning (1) “unlimited” data advertisements, which failed to clearly and conspicuously disclose material limitations; (2) “free” phone offers, which failed to clearly and conspicuously disclose material conditions; (3) monetary incentives to “switch” wireless networks, which failed to clearly and conspicuously disclose how the monetary incentives would be provided; and (4) wireless carrier plan comparisons, which failed to disclose material differences.
Under the terms of the settlements, the companies are required to:
disclose the material terms of an offer to pay, credit, or reimburse the consumer for switching carriers, including specifying the form in which the payment or reimbursement will be made and when;
make all advertisements or representations to consumers truthful, accurate, and non-misleading;
disclose any restrictions that may apply about the speed of unlimited data, and display those restrictions in such a way that they cannot be missed by the person viewing the advertisement, whether printed or online;
refrain from representing, expressly or by implication, that the mobile data in a capped data plan is unlimited;
specify all the terms and conditions that must be met for a customer to receive a “free” device, including any fees (such as activation or shipping and processing) and lease agreements;
Refrain from increasing the cost of purchasing or leasing a device to recoup all or part of the cost of the “free” device or service;
make clear that a lease agreement is not an agreement to purchase the device;
disclose the comparisons that are being used to make a pricing or savings claim compared to other companies or services;
Train customer service representatives about these changes, including staff who meet with consumers as well as those who create advertising and
appoint a representative to handle consumer complaints.
Verizon (which includes TracFone and Cellco Partnership), T-Mobile (which merged with Sprint in 2020), and AT&T (which includes Cricket Wireless) will each pay a little more than $4 million, and AT&T will pay about $2 million.
New Jersey’s share of the overall settlement is $202,337.40 ($95,038.80 from T-Mobile; $58,526.51 from Verizon; and $48,772.09 from AT&T) to be used for purposes that may include future consumer protection enforcement, consumer education, or compliance monitoring.
DOVER — Advancing efforts that led to a 16% drop in the number of vehicles stolen in New Jersey between September 2022 and March 2023, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today announced that 34 law enforcement agencies in 21 counties and the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) will receive grant funding to acquire or expand technology to combat auto theft thanks to $10 million in funding made available by the Murphy Administration. The Town of Dover Police Department will receive $48,000.
At least one local enforcement agency in each county across New Jersey will receive grants ranging from $23,400 to $595,000 to acquire and expand existing Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology systems. These systems utilize high-speed, automated camera networks to capture and store computer-readable images of license plates in a centralized database accessible to law enforcement. This information assists law enforcement in identifying, locating, and recovering stolen vehicles, interrupting auto theft networks, and apprehending individuals involved in vehicle theft and other violent crimes.
The grants, made available by Governor Phil Murphy using federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, ensure that for the first time, all 21 counties will use ALPR technology at fixed locations within their jurisdictions. The grants are the latest investments in law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft in New Jersey and reduce the violent crime it gives rise to.
“Residents across New Jersey deserve to feel safe in their communities. As we continue to address the ongoing wave of auto theft in our state, it is important that we equip our law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools they need to identify and catch these bad actors,” said Governor Murphy.“We appreciate our congressional delegation’s continued support in our efforts to combat crime here in New Jersey. We have witnessed the success that new technology, including the Automated License Plate Readers, has played in this process, and we are committed to further investing in this cause until the number of auto thefts in our state hits zero.”
“Reducing auto thefts across New Jersey is a top priority, and thanks to the leadership and support of Governor Murphy and our congressional delegation, we are investing millions of dollars to provide law enforcement officers in all 21 counties with the tools they need to protect residents, make communities safer, and save lives,” said Attorney General Platkin. “We know that car thefts on their own are bad enough, but they are also used to commit other violent crimes. By equipping law enforcement with sophisticated Automated License Plate Reader technology, we are sending a clear message of deterrence against committing auto thefts.”
“Auto theft not only victimizes the owner of the vehicle, but it can also victimize the whole community. Stolen vehicles are often used in committing crimes and can be found driving recklessly on our roadways, creating a dangerous environment for everyone,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “The funding to expand ALPR technology throughout the state will be pivotal in our effort to combat this ongoing issue. The steps taken to approve this funding represent a commitment to supporting not only law enforcement but a commitment to the safety of all New Jersey residents.”
ALPR technology is a critical component in New Jersey’s comprehensive strategy to combat auto theft. This effort has led to a 16% reduction in the number of vehicles stolen statewide over a six-month period from September 2022 through March 2023.
In April 2022, Governor Murphy announced he would invest $10 million in ARP funding for ALPR technology.
NJSP will receive just over $3 million of the grant funding to deploy ALPR units along major roadways throughout the state. The intelligence gathered will be shared by NJSP in real-time through the Regional Operations Intelligence Center and Real Time Crime Centers operated by the NJSP with relevant law enforcement partners as appropriate for investigative and operational needs.
The remaining funds were made accessible through a competitive grant process open to all law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction in New Jersey that serve communities demonstrating an increase in violent crime, gun violence, and/or auto theft. Funding decisions were made to ensure the broadest and deepest levels of service coverage practicable, with consideration given to the type of deliverables, the desired outcomes, and the geographical location of the project in comparison with crime statistics and data.
MORRIS COUNTY — Advancing efforts that led to a 16% drop in the number of vehicles stolen in New Jersey between September 2022 and March 2023, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today announced that 34 law enforcement agencies in 21 counties and the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) will receive grant funding to acquire or expand technology to combat auto theft thanks to $10 million in funding made available by the Murphy Administration.
The towns in Morris County will receive:
Morris
Chatham Township Police Department
$69,194.00
Morris
Long Hill Police Department
$72,000.00
Morris
Morris County Prosecutor’s Office
$372,000.00
Morris
Town of Dover Police Department
$48,000.00
At least one local enforcement agency in each county across New Jersey will receive grants ranging from $23,400 to $595,000 to acquire and expand existing Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology systems. These systems utilize high-speed, automated camera networks to capture and store computer-readable images of license plates in a centralized database accessible to law enforcement. This information assists law enforcement in identifying, locating, and recovering stolen vehicles, interrupting auto theft networks, and apprehending individuals involved in vehicle theft and other violent crimes.
The grants, made available by Governor Phil Murphy using federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds, ensure that for the first time, all 21 counties will have usage of ALPR technology at fixed locations within their jurisdictions. The grants are the latest investments to law enforcement agencies to combat auto theft in New Jersey and reduce the violent crime it gives rise to.
“Residents across New Jersey deserve to feel safe in their communities. As we continue to address the ongoing wave of auto theft in our state, it is important that we equip our law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools they need to identify and catch these bad actors,” said Governor Murphy.“We appreciate our congressional delegation’s continued support in our efforts to combat crime here in New Jersey. We have witnessed the success that new technology, including the Automated License Plate Readers, has played in this process, and we are committed to further investing in this cause until the number of auto thefts in our state hits zero.”
“Reducing auto thefts across New Jersey is a top priority, and thanks to the leadership and support of Governor Murphy and our congressional delegation, we are investing millions of dollars to provide law enforcement officers in all 21 counties with the tools they need to protect residents, make communities safer, and save lives,” said Attorney General Platkin. “We know that car thefts on their own are bad enough, but they are also used to commit other violent crimes. By equipping law enforcement with sophisticated Automated License Plate Reader technology, we are sending a clear message of deterrence against committing auto thefts.”
“Auto theft not only victimizes the owner of the vehicle, but it can also victimize the whole community. Stolen vehicles are often used in committing crimes and can be found driving recklessly on our roadways, creating a dangerous environment for everyone,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “The funding to expand ALPR technology throughout the state will be pivotal in our effort to combat this ongoing issue. The steps taken to approve this funding represent a commitment to supporting not only law enforcement but a commitment to the safety of all New Jersey residents.”
ALPR technology is a critical component in New Jersey’s comprehensive strategy to combat auto theft. This effort has led to a 16% reduction in the number of vehicles stolen statewide over a six-month period from September 2022 through March 2023.
In April 2022, Governor Murphy announced he would invest $10 million in ARP funding for ALPR technology.
NJSP will receive just over $3 million of the grant funding to deploy ALPR units along major roadways throughout the state. The intelligence gathered will be shared by NJSP in real-time through the Regional Operations Intelligence Center and Real Time Crime Centers operated by the NJSP with relevant law enforcement partners as appropriate for investigative and operational needs.
The remaining funds were made accessible through a competitive grant process open to all law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction in New Jersey that serve communities demonstrating an increase in violent crime, gun violence, and/or auto theft. Funding decisions were made to ensure the broadest and deepest levels of service coverage practicable, with consideration given to the type of deliverables, the desired outcomes, and the geographical location of the project in comparison with crime statistics and data.
Dover Mt. Sinai Cemetery is located at 237 W. Chrystal Street, Randolph
DOVER — On Sunday, June 2nd, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Join the volunteers as “Good Deed Doers” to pay tribute to our loved ones by revitalizing their headstones and footstones, long overdue for care.
Consider the transformation of my grandmother’s footstone shown in our before and after photos for inspiration. We will provide all necessary materials, including cleaning solutions, brushes, and gloves. The event will be held across from 237 W. Chrystal Street, Randolph. Please consider lending a hand in this respectful endeavor.
DOVER — Favio Jasso of Dover and his team, the CCM Data Titans from County College of Morris, recently earned two prestigious awards at the Spring 2024 American Statistical Association (ASA) National DataFest competition.
CCM congratulates team members Hamza Alvi of Rockaway, Favio Jasso of Dover, David Maldonado of Wharton, Rohan Sharma of Mt. Olive, and Lucas Spitzer of Succasunna for an amazing job. The students are pursuing their Associate of Science degree in Mathematics, Computer Science-Data Science option, and are enrolled in the Certificate of Achievement in Data Analytics program at CCM.
Professor Kelly Fitzpatrick, CFA, of the college’s Department of Mathematics and a Tableau Desktop Specialist, served as the team’s faculty advisor. Fitzpatrick takes the students from zero to 100 in just 15 weeks to learn data science in MAT 114, Introduction to Data Science class.
“It is impressive every semester to see how quickly students can grasp high-level data science techniques using technology and perform at a high level to win national competitions,” said Fitzpatrick.
Each year, the ASA DataFest challenges students to analyze real-world data and make recommendations to address interesting and timely topics. The 2024 challenge was investigating the CourseKata student data and looking for discoveries to help improve student success in statistics and data science courses.
Team CCM Data Titans won Best Statistical Analysis by using box plots to detect and remove outliers and extraneous input, regression analysis, decision trees, and a heat map to determine how to improve student success. The team worked aggressively in R, Python, and Tableau to perform tidy data techniques and create custom categorical fields and visualizations during the weekend in April.
They presented their results in a five-minute video to the judges. On behalf of the Campus Life Center, each team member will receive a $25 gift card to the college’s campus store and a complimentary ASA student membership.
