Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.
Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.
CHEERS: To a spatula that's making a difference. Bridgeton resident Jacob Riley Wasserman, 25, died in January from esophageal cancer, but not before leaving us with a wonderful invention, the Star-Spangled Spatula. With it's flag design, the spatula is not just a unique creation, but proceeds from its sales are helping to fund cancer research. In honor of Jacob, the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders in February made Wasserman's Star-Spangled Spatula the "official spatula" of Cumberland County.
JEERS: To stooping low to steal. When three thieves picked out a target in Bridgeton last week, they went after a 12-year-old. Yes, a boy 12. The child -- that's what this victim is -- was beat up and his cell phone was stolen. We all know the stories of thieves preying on little old ladies. Now they are targeting young kids. Another sign of the times?
JEERS to venue jumping. It would seem three former Camden Police Department officers who, among many others, weren't offered jobs when the city force became a county one in 2013 have an axe to grind. This older and decorated trio -- claiming age and race discrimination in the re-hiring process -- have filed or joined lawsuits in a number of venues attempting to recoup losses as a result of being out of a job. We're not lockstep with the hiring process used to form Camden metro, and the constant officer turnover is undoubtedly a offshoot of that, but a county spokesman called this most recent federal lawsuit from the fired trio "venue jumping" and a "waste of taxpayer money" and guess what -- he's right.
CHEERS to safe(r) hallways. When the Evesham school board announced that they'd be asking voters to approve a $685,000 referendum to fund the school resource officer program, we figured it'd go down in flames. So when Evesham police and township officials gathered Wednesday to announce they'd be footing the bill to keep officers in Evesham schools next year , we were pleasantly surprised. What's more, municipal property taxes in the township are going down for the third year in a row. The agreement only covers the 2016-17 school year in the hopes of a plan being hammered out for the coming years. We hope Evesham leaders can sit at the same table, and soon, to sort out those next years.
CHEERS: To Woolwich Police Department for highlighting the dangers posed by imitation firearms and starting a conversation that is long overdue. When Woolwich officers pulled over a motorist recently, the driver told them he had a BB gun tucked in his waistband. What officers found, though, was a BB gun indistinguishable from the real thing. On Facebook, police posted a picture of the fake next to a real gun and asked readers to determine which was the real thing. The point of this exercise was a very important one. It's hard to imagine what must be running through an officer's mind when facing a perp drawing a firearm. It's impossible to know in an instant if that gun is real. Realistic toy guns make policing even more difficult and can get people killed. Responsible owners of real guns know how to handle them. No one else should be permitted to carry something that even looks like a real gun in public. No, we aren't suggested banning what are obviously toy guns that a child might play with in the backyard. The problem comes when they look like the real deal. The drive for authenticity just clashes with common sense. If you're a parent, don't let your kids get ahold of one of these realistic fakes. If you're an adult, get a clue.
JEERS: To the clown who shot a partygoer in the leg over the weekend in Franklin Township. This is a fairly quiet town when it comes to violent crime, so we were surprised to hear that a gathering at the AFSCME building ended in bloodshed. The victim was a 19-year-old Vineland resident who was driven to the hospital by a friend. Police are still seeking leads in the case, so if you know anything, call the Franklin Township Police Detective Bureau at 856-694-1415, ext. 4.
If you know of someone or something you would like to nominate for a cheer or a jeer, please send the information to sjletters@njadvancemedia.com