Mayor, Council Honor GTPD Community Relations Bureau on National Night Out Awards

Mayor David Mayer and the Township Council on Monday recognized the Police Department's Community Relations Bureau for its efforts in organizing the local 2011 National Night Out, which was recently named the best in New Jersey for towns of 49,999 to 99,999 residents.

Mayer presented Police Chief W. Harry Earle and Community Relations Bureau Sgt. Brendan Barton and Cpl. Sean Grannan with a plaque recognizing the achievement.

"In all the communities that host events throughout our state, we are No. 1, and that is really a great tribute not only to our residents but more in particular to the men and women of our Gloucester Township Police Department," Mayer said.

National Night Out was held across Gloucester Township on Aug. 2. There were 24 organized outings in the township for the 28th annual National Association of Town Watch's (NATW) anti-crime celebration.

In addition to being recognized as the best in New Jersey in its population category, Gloucester Township's National Night Out was ranked 26th overall nationally by NATW.

Mayer challenged police to finish No. 1 nationally.

"Unfortunately for you, we're going to raise the bar again," he said.

According to Grannan, NATW judges towns on several criteria, including turnout by residents, police and government officials, media coverage, and the quality fo the submitted post-National Night Out report.

A total of 15,325 towns and more than 37 million people across the US participated in the National Association of Town Watch event in 2011.

Earle credited the men he pegged to head the Community Relations Bureau with the success of National Night Out and other programs.

"Certainly, a special congratuations to Sgt. Barton and Cpl. Grannan for their great work in the past two years in building a Community Relations division that we have that is continuing to grow programs here to Gloucester Township Police both for our youth and senior and all the members of our community," he said.