STONE HARBOR – Recognizing the need to enhance contacts within the community in a non-law enforcement capacity, Stone Harbor Police Chief Paul Reynolds and his team of officers and staff are finding volunteer opportunities to get to better know the community, and afford the community an opportunity to know them better.
“It’s so important,” Reynolds said, “because all of the officers live outside of Stone Harbor. Working in Stone Harbor is unique because we don’t live in town, which sometimes leaves our only contact with the community when we are needed for emergencies or law enforcement functions. These business-type calls do not give the best opportunity for the community we serve to get to know our officers.”
To assist with this situation, Sgt. Christopher Palmer leads the Public Relations/Special Events Committee and has been instrumental in the success they’ve had so far, according to Reynolds. The committee consists of the 17 full-time officers and two-full-time support staff.
“We have attempted to find avenues on a volunteer basis to get our officers to come back to town for events on their off time,” Reynolds explained, “whether they be beach clean-ups, National Night Out, American Legion ceremonies, or other activities. We have partnered since 2012 with the Alex Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) to raise funds for pediatric cancer by holding lemonade stands throughout the summer and then culminating with some of our officers running during the Philadelphia Marathon/Half Marathon weekend held in late November.”
This November, Palmer, Officer Matthew Sokorai, and Detective Brent Grunow ran the full marathon and Officer Joseph Smith, Officer Richard Boyle, Officer Justin Glass, Administrative Assistant Maureen Jackson, and Reynolds ran the half marathon on behalf of ALSF.
Four officers and one spouse donated about 100 hours to Habitat for Humanity Cape May County. “This is an extension of our commitment to service and I am proud of the participation that my officers and family were able to donate to this worthwhile endeavor,” Reynolds said.
“It is very difficult to find the time to volunteer with work schedules, shift work, and family obligations, but the personnel from the Stone Harbor Police Department, from our support staff to police officers, have embraced our efforts to connect with the community. We are blessed to have such committed and dedicated employees,” he added.
Because it is difficult to manage work schedules and family obligations, many officers include their families when participating in events. Capt. Thomas Schutta and wife, Kathy, for example, were among the Habitat for Humanity volunteers this year.
“It’s a way of giving back to the community,” Schutta said.
“Officers bring their kids to Ocean Action beach clean-up days, some participate in lemonade stands, and some have run in the races associated with the ALSF with our officers or traveled to Philly during the races in show of support,” Reynolds added.
According to Reynolds, feedback from partners, community, visitors, businesses and Stone Harbor Elementary School “has been outstanding. Many other departments participate in Coffee with Cops programs so residents can get to know their officers,” he noted. “We attempt to utilize events held in town to do the same so the community can get to know our officers and answer any questions they may have.”
Another example of community service is the police department’s partnership with the Stone Harbor Elementary School and their Adopt-A-Cop program where officers go into the school to interact with students and teachers.
“This year, the Department joined forces with parents, teachers and the students of SHES to further the Department’s charitable efforts,” Reynolds said. Students were asked to participate in donating small toys, crayons, coloring books, and similar items as part of a donation drive to collect Bedside Activity Kits for young patients at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
“In an incredible gesture of giving, students donated over 70 bedside kits to CHOP,” Reynolds said. “These kits were delivered to CHOP in Philadelphia by Sgt. Palmer and his family during our participation with Alex Lemonade Stand Foundation on Philadelphia Marathon Weekend in late November.
“In addition to raising awareness, providing funding and offering comfort to those affected, these charitable efforts allow members of the Stone Harbor Police Department to interact with the community in a non-law enforcement manner while reinforcing the department’s values of teamwork, physical fitness and service,” Reynolds said. “With everything that is happening across our country and world, we believe it is really important.”
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.
Villas – I guess Kamala Harris was just too honest, too intelligent and too sane of a person to win an election in a racist, sexist, backward country like America.
