Public Safety

North Bergen Police Department Annual Charity Softball Tournament to benefit Special Olympics NJ.

Additional Photos in Online Gallery

Speeding reduces a driver’s ability to steer safety around curves or objects in the roadway. It also extends the distance necessary to stop a vehicle, and it increases the distance a vehicle travels during the time it takes for the driver to react to a dangerous situation.

“If you are speeding in New Jersey, you will be stopped and you will be fined,” Fisher added. “Police will not give warnings. They will be writing tickets.”

North Bergen Public Safety Commissioner Theresa Ferraro also expressed her deepest support to this initiative, “We are working together in a committed effort to make our roads safer”, said Ferraro. “I am very proud of the excellent job North Bergen officers do every day, and I am confident that they will excel in cracking down on speeders in our town.”

More photos available in the online photo gallery.

For 22 consecutive years the North Bergen Police Department has joined the Police Benevolent Association in an effort to raise money to help fund the New Jersey Special Olympics.

Once again this year, the NB Police Department rallied support for the annual Torch Run that encourages police officers to carry the torch in their respective municipalities from North Bergen through Guttenberg, West New York and Union City, into Weehawken and Hoboken and from Jersey City into Newark, with the Torch eventually arriving in Trenton.

More than 20 officers from North Bergen participated in this event that kicked off at 9 a.m. today from North Hudson Braddock Park located at Bergenline Ave and 90th St. These volunteers solicited sponsors that enabled them to donate the collected funds to the Special Olympics of New Jersey.

Captain Robert Dowd has been coordinating the event for numerous years in North Bergen and was please to see one more time, how enthusiastic and committed the officers were to this noble cause. “The Torch run is a great cooperative effort. This is a long standing tradition in our department,” said Dowd, “I am very pleased to see so many fellow officers wanting to get involved and running to support this important cause every year .”

This year the North Bergen Police Department was able to raise about $9,500 thanks to the commitment and dedication of the officers and the support of the community.

Additional photos available in the online photo gallery.

Rebeka Verea was an 18 year old resident of West New York. In 2005, right after her High School Graduation Ceremony, Rebeka was involved in a fatal accident on West Side Ave and 74th St. in North Bergen that ended her life. Since her death, Rebeka’s parents, Dr. Jorge Verea and Lourdes Verea have worked tirelessly to create awareness in our youth about the risk and consequences of reckless driving.

The Rebeka Verea Foundation, created by Rebeka’s parents, is a non profit organization that works to educate the community, especially parents and adolescents about the tragic consequences of speeding and other reckless driving behavior. The Verea family, in the middle of their tragedy, continues to work to keep Rebeka’s memory alive by saving the lives of many young adults through education and awareness.

On Thursday, April 24th, at 10:00 a.m., Dr. Jorge Verea and Lourdes Verea, President and Vice-President of the Rebeka Verea Foundation will be donating a Speed Radar in Rebeka’s to the Township of North Bergen in an attempt to control drivers’speed. The event will take place on West Side Ave. near the area where Rebeka’s accident took place.

Mayor Nicholas Sacco and North Bergen Police Chief William Galvin will preside over the dedication along with the Verea Foundation Family. West New York Mayor, Sal Vega who also works as a Director of the Foundation will be at the dedication along with Union City Mayor Brian Stack and the Director of the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, Pam Fisher.

This event will serve as an important step to increase the safety of our roadways and also to remember fatal car accident victims such as Rebeka Verea.

For more information about the Rebeka Verea Foundation or to find out how you can help, please call (201) 758.9600 or visit www.rebekavereafoundation.org

On Wednesday, April 9th, The Township of North Bergen celebrated the promotion of 17 law enforcement officers at a ceremony that took place at Town Hall.

Chief William Galvin welcomed the attendees and Police Commissioner Theresa V. Ferraro was in charge of the Commencement address for the occasion. Mayor Nicholas J. Sacco addressed the audience as the keynote speaker and then presided over the swearing-in and oath of office ceremony of the promoted officers.

During this important event, Lieutenant Robert Hovan was promoted to Captain, while Sergeants Randolph Homer, William Lyons, John Sanford and Patrick Irwin took the oath as new Lieutenants.

Detectives James Holsten and Joseph Gener were officially named new Sergeants along with Police Officers Thomas Ferrari, Robert Brown, Alex Guzman and Angelo Forese. Additionally, the rank of Detective was conferred to Police Officers Joseph Rao, Michael DiGuilmi, Carlos Sanz-Batista, Luis Velez, Bronson Jusino and James Gaughran.

Through these promotions Mayor Nicholas J. Sacco and Police Chief William Galvin recognized the effort and great work of these valuable officials.

“These police promotions are an important part of our commitment to keeping our community and all of our residents safe and secure,” said Mayor Sacco. “All of these officers are very deserving and I congratulate them and their families for this great achievement.”