PHOTOS: NYSP, NJSP, FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Community Leaders Gather for Pre-Summer Conferences

[PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

As the summer season continues to draw near, members of law enforcement joined with community leaders for a pair of meetings to discuss the annual influx of summer residents to the Catskills region. An estimated 100,000 New York City residents are expected to summer in the area, which includes Sullivan, Orange, Ulster and Greene counties.

The first of two meetings took place on June 12th at the Orange County Law Enforcement Center in Goshen and was attended by nine county sheriffs and numerous members of local law enforcement. Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois, who hosted the meeting, stressed the importance of good relationships between law enforcement and community leaders in order to provide optimum communication.

Jodi Goodman, Director of Community Services at CRMC, and a long time Sullivan County advocate, introduced the Sullivan County Officials, Sheriff Michael Schiff and others, stressing how important a positive relationship is, praising the pre-summer meetings which improves communications.

Captain Jamie Kaminski of the NYSP Troop F, Captain Richard Mazzone of Troop T and Captain Brenden Casey of Troop F discussed several important issues including the statewide ban against using cell phones for texting or calling while operating a motor vehicle, New York’s newly enacted Move Over Law, requiring drivers to shift one lane to the left when approaching an emergency vehicle whose emergency lights are flashing, the need to exercise caution when approaching construction zones and the importance of automotive maintenance before embarking on any long drives, particularly in the often oppressive summer heat. Leadership of the area’s two largest hospitals, Orange Regional Medical Center and Catskill Regional Medical Center, praised Hatzalah for their continued efforts on behalf of all area residents, Yidel Feig and Bernie Gibs, Catskills Hatzolah Coordinator’s spoke about the relations between the organizations and the law enforcement community.

A large contingent of law enforcement attended the session including local and State Police, representatives of the FBI, USPI, DEA, Department of Homeland Security, New York State Forest Rangers, MTA Police and a number of sheriff’s from area counties. Also in attendance was Rockland and Kiryas Joel Hatzolah as well as Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus and District Attorney David Hoovler, who all concurred how important it is to have open lines of communication.

At a separate event held on Wednesday, June 18th, Passaic County Sheriff Richard H. Berdnik in conjunction with many New Jersey federal and state law enforcement agencies hosted this year’s Annual Pre-Summer Law Enforcement Conference meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to continue dialogue between top and local New Jersey law enforcement agencies to better serve the communities’ safety and quality of life needs.

Sheriff Richard Berdnik , thanked attendees, including police chiefs and county sheriffs, for taking the time to take part in the annual meeting, and stated the importance of open communication between members of law enforcement and leaders of religious and faith based communities, in order to be able to serve those groups with greater sensitivity.

Representatives of the NJ State Police, FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Patrol, the United State Marshall and the DEA all gave informative presentations. Also in attendance were Ocean County prosecutor Joseph D. Coronato, and Al Dellefave representatives of the Passaic and Bergen County Prosecutor’s, representatives from the New Jersey Attorney General’s office and many county sheriffs from Bergen, Passaic and Morris counties, who expressed their satisfaction with the meeting as an excellent means of improving community relations. Lakewood Mayor Menashe Miller, NJ Assemblyman Gary Schaer and other elected officials were in attendance as well.

“These two meetings are another great example of community leaders and law enforcement working hand in hand,” said Rabbi Abe Friedman, law enforcement chaplain and one of the organizers of the two meetings. It is opportunities such as these that allow our community to build bridges with law enforcement, which later on is used in many situations – especially during the summer months”.

PHOTOS OF NEW YORK MEETING BY HESHY RUBENSTEIN – DEE VOCH: