Police 'Reunion' Marks Department's 40th Anniversary

Township also receives accreditation of department's procedures, policies from NJ Chiefs of Police Association.

On March 1, 1973, Warren Township Chief of Police Leonard Visotski sent a teletype message to the New Jersey State Police headquarters that read, “Thank you for your past services. You’re no longer needed.”  With that, the Warren Township Police Department took over the responsibility of protecting and serving residents of the township, first with a bare handful of officers, then growing with the township to today’s 30-officer department. The township celebrated the department’s 40th anniversary at the April 25 Township Committee meeting with former department members on hand, as well as former chiefs Visotski and William Stahl. Visotski spoke to the audience about the challenges of launching the department, noting the importance of the …

• Photos (5)
• Videos (1)

6 Percent of Somerset County Bridges Deemed Structurally Deficient

About 13 percent of county bridges rated functionally obsolete.

Of Somerset County's 498 bridges, about 6 percent have been rated structurally deficient. Additionally, 13 percent are considered to be functionally obsolete and not in line with current lane and shoulder standards, or occasionally flood, according to National Bridge Inventory data. The average age of a Somerset County bridge is 49 years old. About one in four bridges in the state are either in poor condition or unable to handle current traffic loads, the data shows. Each bridge was rated based on structure, substructure and its deck to determine the type of work needed to fully restore the bridge. Some of the more highly-trafficked bridges are under the ownership of the state and recommended work varies from smaller fixes to full-scale …

• Photos (1)

Officials: Boston Marathon Bombers Planned Times Square Attack

Plan to attack New York City collapsed after carjacked vehicle ran low on gas, police commissioner says.

The Boston Marathon bombers hatched a last-minute plot to detonate their remaining explosives in New York City's Times Square, but the scheme fell apart when they realized that their carjacked SUV was low on gas, city officials said Thursday.  Although surviving terrorist Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, first told authorities that he and his brother, Tamerlan, planned to "party" in New York City after the Marathon bombings, more questioning revealed that the pair wanted to attack Manhattan last Thursday night, according to NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly.  “We don’t know if we would have been able to stop the terrorists, had they arrived here from Boston, we’re just thankful we didn’t have to find out that answer," New York City Mayor Michael R. …

•  50 Comments
• Photos (1)

I plead the 2nd!

8:51 am on Friday, May 3, 2013

D Ambriano. you total tard. Koch brothers do a lot more for this country than any politician ever has. They employ more people, pay more taxes, make more things, than your welfare taking azzz. Koch brothers are great american producers, and that makes commies like you mad. your a pos.   more ›

New Crackdown Planned For Distracted Driving

Undercover operation, new fines considered to stop texting, talking and driving around state.

State law enforcement officials are cracking down on distracted drivers in the Garden State announcing a new undercover police operation focusing on drivers who talk and text behind the wheel, a broadcast report said. Authorities told CBS 2 Monday drivers need to be made aware of the dangers involved with the practice. “It appears they’re not getting the message,” Cpl. Dennis Kardos of the North Plainfield Police Department said in the broadcast.” Last year we lost 3,300 lives across the country.” Currently, New Jersey drivers face a $130 ticket for distracted driving, the report said, but under a new bill being considered in the state Legislature, those fines could increase to $200 to $400 for a first offense and $600 to $800 plus three …

•  72 Comments
• Photos (1)

Chris

12:04 pm on Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Well of course, how are they going to pay for cops to sit on the side of the road without giving out more tickets? Cars are safer, people are getting in to less accidents... so Cops have less to do. Therefore, the PBA has to lobby and make excuses to keep cops siting by the road for 12 hours a day doing nothing. And, of course, they need to keep finding more revenue streams so they can keep …   more ›

Sisters of Accused Boston Marathon Bombers 'Absolutely Devastated'

Tsarnaev sisters say they "don’t have any answers" after brothers suspected in Boston attacks.

Attorneys for the sisters of the suspected Boston Marathon bombers released a statement Tuesday saying their clients are "absolutely devastated" and were awaiting a thorough investigation.  "Our heart goes out the victims of last week’s bombing. It saddens us to see so many innocent people hurt after such a callous act. As a family, we are absolutely devastated by the sense of loss and sorrow this has caused. We don’t have any answers but we look forward to a thorough investigation and hope to learn more," said the statement, issued on behalf of Ailina and Bella Tsarnaev, who have lived in Fairview and West New York.  "We ask the media to respect our privacy during this difficult time," said the statement from attorneys Joseph Ginarte and …

•  39 Comments
• Photos (1)

Computer, Phones Seized From Suspected Bombers' Sister

Authorities took potential evidence from Ailina Tsarnaev of West New York at the same time her younger brother was being taken into custody in Watertown, Massachusetts.

FBI agents and local police spent several hours in a West New York apartment Friday night removing computers, cell phones and other belongings from the residence of Ailina Tsarnaev, the sister of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, according to northjersey.com. A police presence in the form of one cruiser vehicle was stationed in front of the apartment building Saturday morning, the report said, and the officer on duty did not know how long the detail was scheduled to last. Officials told northjersey.com a 24-hour police presence would be placed outside the apartment. It was not known if Tsarnaev was still in the residence Saturday. Tsarnaev’s brothers, Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev, 19, and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26 are suspected of planting the two…

•  53 Comments
• Photos (5)

FourScore

8:09 am on Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Eisenhower was mostly lucky that his 8 years in office enjoyed relative peace and post-war economic prosperity. However, his lack of action on civil rights issues and his lack of enthusiasm for the space race program, which allowed the Soviet Union to quickly eclipse us, made his presidential accomplishments marginal at best.   more ›

Berkeley Heights Man Charged with DUI After Hit-and-Run

Warren police also report four accidents requiring hospitalization this week.

Berkeley Heights resident John Blasch, 47, was charged with multiple moving violations, including driving under the influence and obstructing justice, after allegedly leaving the scene of an accident on Hillcrest Road at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday. He was taken into custody and subsequently released after the charges were filed, pending an appearance in municipal court. The incident was one of seven accidents reported this week by Warren police—five of which involved vehicles hitting the rear of another. To see details on this week's accidents, click on the balloon markers. Previously reported accidents are marked by pushpins. 

• Photos (1)

Motorcyclist Injured in Mountain Boulevard Accident

Warren police say woman failed to follow traffic signal before hitting motorcyclist.

Warren resident Jeff Gutkin, 51, was taken to Somerset Medical Center after he was struck while riding a motorcycle on Mountain Boulevard, at Mt. Bethel Road, at 7:26 p.m. Tuesday. Police charged Kim Maloney, 46, Bridgewater, with failing to observe the westbound traffic signal after the vehicle she was driving hit Gutkin's motorcycle. Rescue squad volunteers responded to the accident and took Gutkin to Somerset Medical Center. Hospital officials have not responded to a request for information on Gutkin's condition.  It marked the second accident with injuries reported Tuesday, after police and EMS personnel responded to a three-car accident at 10:10 a.m. on Warrenville Road, near the entrance to the Warrenbrook Senior Center, which also …

• Photos (1)

Marathon Bombing: Boston Patch Coverage

Patch is on the scene and constantly updating with details from Monday's Boston Marathon bombing.