Police Vehicle Wins Award

The police department's Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE, pickup truck was selected "Best in Show" during the annual DARE training conference in Atlantic City last week.

The conference was held at Bally's Tuesday through Thursday.

The two Community Relations Unit officers to attend the conference—Sgt. Brendan Barton and Ptl. David Belcher—received training to help them get a better understanding of the so-called "instant gratification" generation. The training will assist the officers with the ongoing 10-week DARE programs being offered to township schools' fifth-grade students.

Other seminars offered at the conference focused on Internet predators, bullying and drugs in the state. Township police officers were certified in a DARE program for middle-school students called "Keeping It Real."

The police department was presented the "Best in Show" award for its recently purchased 2004 Dodge Ram "bumblebee" pickup truck during the 2011 New Jersey DARE Officers Association Dinner. The truck was on display in the sixth-floor lobby at Bally's.

The truck, which was purchased for the DARE program with grant funds, will be used throughout the year at events where the Community Relations Unit will be teaching youth about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

The police department's Honor Guard participated in the conference's opening ceremonies, assisting with the "Presentation of Colors" ceremony.