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Police & Fire

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Friday, March 12, 2010

Suspected Arson Fire Extinguished on Ward Place

The family was advised not to remain in the house overnight and went to stay with relatives in Maplewood.

The South Orange Fire Department responded to a fire at 69 Ward Place on Thursday evening shortly after 8:30. Five occupants were home at the time of the fire, but all of them escaped through the back door, according to Fire Chief Jeffrey Markey. There were no reported injuries. The fire started on the front porch and extended up the front of the house, and backup was requested from Maplewood and Orange. The origin and cause of the fire is being investigated by the South Orange Fire Department, Essex County Arson Investigative Unit and the South Orange Police Department Detective Squad and other partners. The family was advised not to remain overnight at 69 Ward Place and is staying with relatives in Maplewood.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Police Blotter: Incidences of Criminal Mischief

There was a possible attempted break-in at Montrose School in an otherwise light week of crime.

Sunday, March 7: Monday, March 8:

Three New Police Officers Sworn In

Thomas Horton, Zavian Bryant and John DeGroot have completed their Police Academy training.

Observed by family and friends, three new South Orange police officers—Thomas Horton, Zavian Bryant and John DeGroot—were sworn in by Village President Douglas Newman at Monday night's Board of Trustee meeting. They recently completed the 22-week Police Academy training in Cedar Grove. The addition of the three officers brings the size of the South Orange police department up to 53. The Village decided to proceed with the hirings despite being rejected over the summer for a federal stimulus dollar-funded COPS grant, which would have offset the cost.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Fire Department Receives $37K Grant

The grant will be used to obtain thermal imaging devices, monitoring and sampling devices and hazardous materials equipment.

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. announced Thursday that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded a new federal FIRE Assistance to Firefighters Grant to the South Orange Fire Department. The $37,525 grant will help the fire department obtain thermal imaging devices, monitoring and sampling devices and hazardous materials equipment. "The firefighters of the South Orange Fire Department will now have state-of-the-art technology available to them when they answer a fire call. They deserve nothing less given their responsibility of protecting their community that includes Seton Hall University," said Pascrell, who introduced the Firefighter Investment Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act in March 1999, in a press release. "The FIRE Act was …

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Police Blotter: Downed Power Lines During Blizzard

Police also responded to a report of a fallen tree during last week's snowstorm.

Thursday, Feb. 25: Friday, Feb. 26: Saturday, Feb. 27: Sunday, Feb. 28:

Firefighter Entrance Exam Currently Offered

The deadline to file an application is March 31.

The New Jersey Civil Service Commission will be conducting a firefighter entrance exam, and the deadline to apply is March 31. Applications can be obtained online or at the Fire Department, Village Hall or the South Orange Public Library. According to Fire Chief Jeffrey Markey, the list generated based on the exam—which has written and physical portions—will supplant the existing list with 18 names, which was compiled three years ago. If the Village is hiring, candidates would be brought in for interviews and be required to take physical and psychological tests. South Orange last hired a firefighter seven years ago, he said. Candidates may file only one application, and residency determines which town's list they will be added to. Hiring …

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Fire Department Merger—What's the Timetable?

South Orange and Maplewood are in the early stages of discussing a fire department merger.

The potential merger of the South Orange and Maplewood fire departments is a topic that has been overshadowed by many other conversations lately—including possible mergers of the police departments, recreation departments, libraries and the actual impending merger of the municipal court systems between the two towns. (The South Orange Trustees are voting on moving the proposal to the state Administrative Office of the Courts at their Wednesday night meeting.) The Maplewood Township Committee officially endorsed the idea of the merger at its Feb. 16 meeting by passing a resolution to authorize negotiations with South Orange for the establishment of a shared fire department. (At the same meeting, the Township Committee passed a resolution …

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Police Blotter: Attempted Auto Theft

The ignition was removed from a car parked on Montrose Street, but nothing else was reported missing.

Thursday, Feb. 18: Friday, Feb. 19: Saturday, Feb. 20:

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Police Blotter: Stolen Shovels

A couple of shovels were reported stolen in the wake of last week's snow storm.

Wednesday, Feb. 10: Thursday, Feb. 11: Saturday, Feb. 13:

After the snowstorm, and right after I turned down a group of men offering to shovel my walk, I discovered my very good snow shovel gone from it's place tucked behind the side of our front porch. In it's place was a cheap plastic shovel with the handle broken off. And I'm still wondering whether to take this "gift" as the ultimate indignity or a kind of apology from the thief.  more ›

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Police Blotter: Saturday Night DWI

An Orange woman was charged with a DWI after a police officer spotted her driving without her headlights on.

Tuesday, Feb. 2: Saturday, Feb. 6: Monday, Feb. 8:

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