HANOVER — Hanover Township Committee Meeting – July 9, 2020
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Hanover Township Committee Meeting – July 9, 2020
Police Training Focus on Self-Defense Could Reduce Shootings Under New Legislation
MORRIS COUNTY — Police shoot less when they have the right training. That’s why Assemblymen Brian Bergen and Gordon Johnson introduced bipartisan legislation Thursday to dramatically improve police training in New Jersey.
“Police officers only reach for their weapon as a last resort. Without proper self-defense training, it becomes the last resort faster than it needs to,” said Bergen (R-Morris), who served eight years in combat after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point. “I am keenly aware as a former soldier that in most difficult situations we fall to our highest level of training. Right now there are no training requirements beyond the academy for self-defense in an officer’s 25-year career and that is a scary thought.”
Assemblyman Gordon Johnson is a former law-enforcement officer and veteran who understands firsthand the training needs of police officers.
“The training we provide our police officers needs to encompass the full breadth of functions that are necessary for effective policing our communities,” said Gordon (D-Bergen). “A key component of this is self-defense. It has been overlooked, and we have paid the price on many occasions. It is time to fix this once and for all for the safety of our communities and for the police themselves.”
Police officers have had minimal self-defense training during the police academy and no self-defense requirements for the remainder of their professional careers.
The bill introduced Thursday increases self-defense training at the police academy to 148 hours from 40 hours and implements annual in-service training requirements of 104 hours per year for the remainder of an officer’s career. (Click here to download bill)
The idea came from Detective Paul Marinaccio, a training coordinator with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. Under the leadership of acting Prosecutor Lyndsay Ruotolo, The Union County Prosecutor’s office has created an environment that prioritizes training and pioneered efforts to look at police training differently.
“In order to effectively de-escalate a situation, an officer must be confident in their ability to defend themselves and survive,” explained Marinaccio. “A lack of ability will produce a lack of self-confidence, which leads to fear during a tumultuous encounter and likely to unnecessary escalation of force.”
Marinaccio is a 19-year veteran of law enforcement and serves as an instructor in force de-escalation, defensive tactics, firearms, and physical training. He is also a black belt in American freestyle mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
“The investment in training will pay itself back exponentially in the improvement of our ability to be both safe and effective in the most challenging of situations,”
Johnson has 24 years of experience with the Englewood Police Department, including time as the first African-American sheriff in Bergen County. He agrees self-defense training will go a long way to improve community relations and decrease incidents of excessive force.
“I am proud of this bi-partisan effort to actively improve the training of our law enforcement professionals across the state,” concluded Johnson. “We must continue to evolve our training to meet the needs of our citizens and this is the first step in the right direction.”
Thomas J. Hoover Named to Dean’s List at Western New England University
MADISON — Western New England University is pleased to announce that Thomas Hoover, of Madison, has been named to the Spring Semester 2020 Dean’s List. Hoover is one of over 950 students to achieve this mark of academic excellence. Students are named to the Dean’s List for achieving a semester grade point average of 3.30 or higher.
Hoover is graduating with a BSBA in Marketing.
Having just celebrated its Centennial, Western New England University is a private, independent, coeducational institution. Located on an attractive 215-acre suburban campus in Springfield, Massachusetts, Western New England serves 3,825 students, including 2,580 full-time undergraduate students. Undergraduate, graduate and professional programs are offered through Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and the School of Law.
Man Arrested Without Mask Coughs, Sneezes on QuickChek Merchandise
HANOVER TOWNSHIP — A South Plainfield man was wearing nothing but a robe when he coughed and sneezed on items at Quick Chek, authorities charged.
Hanover Township Police Officer Daniel Acquaro arrested Mr. Raymond Bukowski, a 55-year-old from South Plainfield for disorderly conduct. Officer Acquaro responded to the Quick Chek on Ridgedale Avenue for a report of an individual not wearing a mask and coughing and sneezing over products, on June 20.
Upon arrival, Officer Acquaro was directed by the store manager to a male wearing a robe who was attempting to use the self-checkout register.
After a brief investigation, the male later identified as Mr. Bukowski was arrested and charged with lewdness and disorderly conduct. He was released pending his court date.
Editor’s Note: An arrest or the signing of a criminal complaint is merely an accusation. Despite this accusation, the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until he or she has been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Connor Moran Named to McDaniel College Dean’s List
BOONTON TOWNSHIP — Connor Moran has been recognized for outstanding academic achievement by being named to the McDaniel College Spring 2020 Dean’s List with Highest Honors.
Highest honors are earned for a semester grade point average of 3.90 or higher, high honors for a grade point average of 3.70-3.89, and honors for a 3.50-3.69 grade point average.
For more information about McDaniel College click here.
McDaniel College, founded in 1867, is a four-year, independent college of the liberal arts and sciences offering more than 70 undergraduate programs of study, including pre-professional specializations and student-designed majors, and over 20 graduate programs. One of 40 “Colleges That Change Lives,” McDaniel emphasizes experiential learning and student-faculty collaboration to develop the unique potential in every student. Represented by the Green Terror, its 24 athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference. A student-centered community of 1,600 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students offers access to both Baltimore and Washington, D.C., plus a European campus in Budapest, Hungary.
Becchi Officially Declared Winner of the Republican Nomination for the 11th Congressional District
MORRIS COUNTY — Rosemary Becchi was officially declared the winner of the Republican nomination for the 11th Congressional District of New Jersey. Upon receiving the nomination, she released the following statement:
First and foremost, I want to thank the people of New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District who have supported my campaign and trusted me with your vote in this primary. I am humbled by the support, time, money, and effort that people from across the district have put forward to help us in our campaign. I am honored to be the Republican party nominee for Congress in New Jersey’s 11th District.
This is the first step towards returning our District to a Representative who will be a Representative of the People – not a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi’s liberal agenda. Someone who will represent New Jersey families and not the liberal Democrat elites.
From now until November 3rd and beyond I will keep fighting for the people of New Jersey- for our small business owners and employees, our first responders, our police officers who feel underrepresented in Congress right now, and our families. Somehow, the people of the 11th District have become secondary to the liberal left agenda. I will make sure the voices of the people of our district are heard in this election and in the halls of Congress.
I will work to get the economy going again for New Jersey families, create more good jobs, and make New Jersey affordable so that generations of New Jerseyans can afford to stay in their home state.
My plans are straightforward, I intend to bring my experience and my unyielding desire to serve and help people to advance an agenda that will move our economy forward, rebuild trust with your Representative in Washington, and put people over hyper-partisan politics.
I am grateful for the support that has allowed my campaign to advance to this point. Thank you to the voters, my staff, and most importantly – my family of without whom none of this would be possible.”
Clemson University Announces Spring 2020 Dean’s List
MORRIS COUNTY — Clemson University has announced the Dean’s List for the spring 2020 semester.
To be named to the Dean’s List, a student achieved a grade-point average between 3.50 and 3.99 on a 4.0 scale.
The following is a list of students from this area:
Jillian D. Bostek of Morris Plains, majoring in Food Science and Human Nutrition
John Joseph Donald of Madison, majoring in Management
William Lee Hendrickson of Madison, majoring in Computer Science
Meaghan Hedy Macagnano of Madison, majoring in Biological Sciences
Ryan Anderson Selquist of Madison, majoring in Pre-Business
Founded in 1889, Clemson is the second-largest university in the student population in South Carolina. For the fall 2017 semester, the university enrolled a total of 19,402 undergraduate students and 4,985 graduate students, and the student/faculty ratio was 18:1. Clemson’s 1,400-acre campus is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and sits next to Lake Hartwell. The university manages the nearby 17,500-acre Clemson Experimental Forest that is used for research, education, and recreation.
Clemson University consists of seven colleges: Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences; Architecture, Arts and Humanities; Business; Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences; Education; Engineering, Computing, and Applied Sciences; and Science. U.S. News & World Report ranks Clemson University tied for 24 among all national public universities.
What is Sweet and Heavenly That Makes Everything Better? Sundae!
MORRIS COUNTY — Like the classic dessert, this two-year-old Pit Bull mix is as sweet as can be!
Sundae is a gentle soul who aims to please. She is the ideal family companion due to her loving nature! She would be great in a home with kids of any age and she is also dog-friendly.
Nothing makes Sundae happier than being in your company, specifically cuddled up in your arms. She is a true love bug that will cover your face in kisses and make sure your lap is always warm!
She loves receiving any affection you have to offer and will return the favor in double! She is easy-going and up for anything as long as you are there with her.
Sundae is working on her house training and leash training in her foster home. She does great with other dogs! She would thrive in a forever home with another canine companion. She will play all day with them and they can teach her the ropes. She cannot live with cats.
Sundae will certainly add some sweetness to your life.
If you are interested in adopting Sundae, please fill out an application by clicking here.
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A Letter To The Class of 2020 From Assemblywoman Aura K. Dunn
July 6, 2020
Dear Class of 2020,
First, I would like to congratulate the Class of 2020. All your hard work, especially during a pandemic, has paid off. It is now time to take all that you have learned and make your way into an ever-changing world.
Who would have thought that the last time you would be in your schools would have been a few months ago? Kitchen tables became classrooms as the coronavirus pandemic spread across the country. While there may have been some hiccups along the way, you all adapted and persevered. After all your hard work, you made it to the finish line.
I understand your senior year did not go as you expected, so graduating might feel like a bittersweet moment. You are graduating, but missing many of the milestones that make senior year unique. You may have missed playing in your final varsity game or the magic of prom night. For many, it is the time lost with friends before you start the next chapter of your lives that hurts the most.
Do not fret, because these experiences have made you all stronger. You can adapt to whatever life throws at you, which is a skill you will undoubtedly need as you progress through this journey called adulthood. You understand the value of commitment even when the future seems uncertain.
Again, I commend all your hard work and wish you well in whatever the future holds.
Congratulations Class of 2020! The Greatest Generation!
Aura K. Dunn Assemblywoman, District 25
Black Lives Matter Morristown Wants Thorough Investigation of Amani Kildea
MORRIS COUNTY — On Sunday, June 28, 2020, a 20-year-old black man was found dead as a result of hanging in Lewis Morris Park in Morristown. He was later identified as Amani Kildea, a resident of Washington Township. Less than 72 hours after finding the hanging body, the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Amani’s death a suicide without further investigation of the circumstances.
Morris County Prosecutor Frederick Knapp has failed to disclose important details about the manner of Amani’s death. Instead, Prosecutor Knapp has stated that there is “no cause to believe there is any criminality involved” in Amani’s death by hanging. Prosecutor Knapp’s statement is both premature and unsubstantiated. It is not possible to completely investigate all of the facts (known and unknown) surrounding the death of Amani Kildea in less than 72 hours.
Amani Kildea’s family adopted him in 2005 from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From the age of 5, he resided in Washington Township. He graduated from the Army Reserves Basic Training in February 2020 and was to become a Military Policeman. He planned to further his education at James Madison University in the fall of 2020. Amani will be remembered as a “beautiful young man” with a sensitive soul, an endearing sense of humor, and a daring and courageous character.
Amani planned to finish his education and work in special operations for the FBI or CIA. Despite being only 20-years-old, he did not wait to pursue his dream of serving the community and began setting up sting operations to find and expose pedophiles in New Jersey with his friends, akin to the show “To Catch A Predator.” Through this work, they have exposed at least 30 pedophiles in Morris County and other surrounding areas. This work has led to multiple arrests, including arrests of the Mayor of Netcong’s son and a police officer that was actively serving on a police force, which may demonstrate significant evidence of individuals with a motive to harm him. Amani’s work in the community to expose sexual predators was brave, but dangerous, leaving him vulnerable to retaliation from those criminals. Despite Prosecutor Knapp’s assertion that there is “no cause to believe there is any criminality involved” in his death by hanging, Amani’s work in the community sheds light on a possible motive to kill and silence him.
We have been forced to conclude that this investigation was insufficient given Prosecutor Knapp’s failure to provide the Morris County community with the pertinent details of Amani’s death. Without these details, our community will not be able to heal nor can we be reassured that Amani’s family has received justice and the due process that they are guaranteed under the laws of New Jersey and this Country.
We have questions regarding the death of Amani Kildea.
Were all 30 of the previously exposed pedophiles questioned, and were their alibis vetted before ruling this matter a suicide?
Was Amani in the process of outing yet another pedophile before his death?
What was Amani’s connection to the Greater Morristown Area?
What was Amani hanging on? What was Amani hanging from? Was the hanging object tied like a noose?
Was there a suicide note left anywhere? Has one been subsequently found?
Does Amani have a history of mental health issues?
What was Amani’s life at home like?
Did Amani have a car? If not, how did he get to Lewis Morris Park?
Was Amani’s cell phone pinged? If so, for how long was it pinged prior to him being found at the location of his death? Prior to that, where did he go?
Were Amani’s cell phone records examined?
Did Amani’s friends know anything about his plans or whereabouts on Sunday, June 28, 2020?
We demand answers to these questions. It is possible that Amani’s death was caused by suicide, however, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office has failed to provide the community with transparency and a fair investigation as it relates to the hanging of Amani Kildea. As a result, Black Lives Matter Morristown has zero faith in the declaration of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and seeks the truth. It appears there was a clear and unsubstantiated rush to deem this hanging a suicide rather than conduct a thorough investigation as to the possible lynching of a Black man in Morristown in 2020 – yet another in a series of unexplained hangings that have occurred in recent weeks.
Black bodies are being lynched all across the United States of America, in public places. All of these deaths have swiftly been ruled a suicide, without corroborating evidence. It is obvious that there is, and continues to be, a rush to judgment without thoroughly investigating all of the facts when it pertains to the death of Black people. Amani Kildea’s death will not be in vain and we will fight for a thorough investigation surrounding his death in our beloved community.
We join our community and Amani Kildea’s family and friends in mourning his tragic death. We mourn the lives of our recently fallen loved ones. We mourn the lives of all of those who have been taken from us by agents of racism, hate, and destruction. We fight for our communities that have too long been systematically oppressed, overlooked, under-resourced, and terrorized. The Black community, and the Morristown community at large, require diligence, fairness, and commitment from its public servants in order to feel safe. Likewise, to maintain legitimate authority, public servants must fulfill their mandate and serve all communities equally when carrying out their duties. It is in this spirit that Black Lives Matter Morristown does not accept this investigation as concluded and demands a full investigation into the suspected lynching of Amani Kildea, an independent autopsy report, and we will settle for nothing less than a full accounting of this matter.