Officer coming on board to help patrol downtown

PLUMSTED - With financial support, in part, from a $525,000 Neighbor-hood Preservation Program (NPP) state grant, the Township Committee has appointed another police officer to bring the number of uniformed officers to 12, the highest level in the history of the township.

According to Mayor Ron Dancer, from another historical perspective, with this hiring the township now employs the first woman police officer in Plumsted's history. Suzanne DesMarais was appointed at a special meeting of the Township Committee on Feb. 26 as a part-time special law enforcement officer.

Prior to joining the Plumsted Police Department, DesMarais was employed by the Long Branch Police Department for the past nine years. She graduated from the Monmouth County Police Academy in 1997 and received her Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification from the Bayshore Area EMT Academy, Hazlet, in 1989.

According to Dancer, among the awards presented to DesMarais by the Long Branch Police Department are: commendations for reviving a drowning victim during a water rescue in 1998; commendation for actions during an armed robbery in 2000; and commendations for actions during a foot pursuit of a suspect attempting to steal a vehicle in 2003.

With the hiring of DesMarais, the Township Committee is also implemen-ting, with funding from the $525,000 Neighborhood Preservation state grant, a new and expanded community policing program in downtown New Egypt by establishing a downtown police substation office within the Township Welcome Center, 31 Main Street.

Under the guidelines of the NPP state grant, the new community policing program places an emphasis on foot and bike patrol that will see the new officer walking into stores, banks, businesses and restaurants, as well as patrolling downtown parks and parking lots, according to the mayor.

Dancer said the increased presence of police will also help address speeding and pedestrian street crossing safety. When DesMarais, as the NPP police officer, is not on assigned downtown duty, the township will be able to assign her for more township-wide shift coverage and enhanced municipal court security.

In other business, Dancer said senior citizens who need assistance in completing and filing their federal and state income tax returns in advance of the April 15 deadline may qualify for a free tax return assistance program provided by the Ocean County Office of Senior Services, the Township Committee and hosted by the Plumsted Library.

The service is available April 2 from 1-4 p.m. by appointment. To determine if you qualify for this free tax return assistance program and for a checklist of items to bring, call the Ocean County Office of Senior Services at 1-800-668-4899 (toll-free). If qualified, call the library at (609) 758-7888 to schedule an appointment.