Sea Girt, NJ (April 20, 2023) – The Borough of Sea Girt Police Department has announced its partnership with a regional drunk driving prevention organization by unveiling a new HERO patrol vehicle to promote the use of safe and sober designated drivers.

A Ford Explorer from the department’s fleet was recently wrapped with the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign’s bright blue and yellow logo and life-saving slogan, “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.” The HERO Campaign’s vehicle wrap program is expanding through a grant from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety (NJDHTS).

The Sea Girt HERO SUV is now a “rolling billboard” for the HERO Campaign to promote the use and important role of designated drivers in preventing drunk and impaired driving. The Campaign is named in memory of Navy Ensign John R. Elliott of Egg Harbor Township, who was killed in a collision with a drunk driver near Woodstown in July 2000.

“We are grateful to Sea Girt’s Police Department and Chief Justin Macko and Mayor Donald Fetzer for participating in our HERO Patrol Car Program,” said Bill Elliott, John’s father. “The HERO cruisers have been well received all over the New Jersey area by both the police and the entire community.”

“Our partnership with the HERO Campaign is an important reminder for motorists to always have a safe ride home whenever they consume alcoholic beverages,” said Police Chief Macko. “We are also excited that the Sea Girt Police Department is the first department in Monmouth County to partner with the HERO Campaign in its HERO Patrol Vehicle Program.”

“Our community is pleased to support this campaign, which in turn will save lives,” said Mayor Donald Fetzer. “The wrap serves as a reminder to have a plan for a designated driver to get everyone home safely after enjoying what Sea Girt has to offer. The vehicle will be highly visible around town, at area schools, and at special events.”

Sea Girt is the 13th city to adopt the HERO Campaign with a DUI prevention vehicle. Atlantic City, Evesham Township, Linwood, Lower Township, Middle Township, North Wildwood, Ocean City, Longport, Sea Isle City, Pleasantville, Ventnor, and Vineland also have HERO cruisers currently in service. New police vehicle wraps will soon be unveiled in Margate and Somers Point; in Egg Harbor Township a new EMS Humvee is also on the road with the new HERO wrap.

Sea Girt’s HERO SUV, like the other police vehicles in the HERO fleet, will be highly visible in the community as officers drive it on traffic duty, to special events, and to area schools. An official dedication ceremony for the Sea Girt HERO vehicle will take place on Friday, May 26, 2023.

The HERO Campaign is now saving lives throughout New Jersey and several neighboring states, including Pennsylvania and Delaware, through its partnerships with law enforcement; schools and colleges; federal and state highway safety organizations; the licensed beverage industry; and professional sports teams. Since its inception in 2000, the HERO Campaign has grown into a major movement to prevent impaired driving that has received national recognition and awards. It has also helped to reduce alcohol-related fatalities and incidents, including a 20 percent reduction in DUI fatalities in New Jersey and other states over the past decade. For more information visit HEROcampaign.org or call 609-626-3880.

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The Sea Girt Police Department’s newly wrapped HERO SUV includes the logo for the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign and its slogan, “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.” Part of a 13-car fleet of HERO Campaign patrol vehicles being used by police departments throughout southern New Jersey. The Sea Girt HERO SUV wrap was funded by a grant from the N.J. Division of Highway Traffic Safety. Courtesy Sea Girt PD.

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September 22, 2021

SEA GIRT, NJ (MONMOUTH)–A borough police officer was not seriously injured when he struck a building with his patrol vehicle while on duty yesterday afternoon, and the cause of the collision is under investigation, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced Wednesday.

Shortly after 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, the 27-year-old Class II officer was responding to a first-aid call originating from the 1000 block of Ocean Avenue when his 2019 Ford Explorer left the roadway and drove onto a property on the 100 block of Beacon Boulevard, according to the preliminary investigation.
The vehicle struck a cottage on the property and came to rest after striking a trailer. No one was home at the property at the time, and no civilians were injured.

The officer was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center Trauma Unit in Neptune City, where he agreed to provide a blood sample and turn over his cell phone to investigators with the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team (SCART). Monmouth County Fleet Services towed the vehicle back to the Monmouth County Central Motor Pool for further investigation.
The officer, who joined the Sea Girt Police Department in June, has since been discharged from the hospital.

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July 8, 2021

SEA GIRT, NJ (MONMOUTH)–Just prior to the start of the 4th of July, Sea Girt’s Police Department received a 9-1-1 call for a surfer pulled from the waters off of Baltimore Blvd at 8:59am on Sunday, July 4th. Chief Lifeguard and Director of Beachfront Operations, Tim Harmon heard the call for service go out during the morning roll call and assignment briefing. Harmon and Lifeguards Emma Hecht and Brianna Murphy were first on scene along with Lt. John O’Connor and Patrolman First Class William Joule of the Sea Girt Police Department to a call of CPR in progress. Bystanders walking the beach that morning observed the surfer face down in the water and quickly pulled the 58 year old Brick Township man ashore. Sea Girt’s Lifeguards quickly made an assessment of the situation and continued CPR. After performing multiple rounds of CPR for eight minutes the Lifeguards regained a pulse and the victim was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center by Brielle Volunteer First Aid. Tim Harmon said, “Our training and preparedness proved its worth today as all the cogs of the wheel for situations like this just clicked. Many thanks to the good Samaritans for their initial help in removing the individual from the water and initial assessment. I am very proud of our Lifeguards and our mutual aid EMS plan with neighboring Manasquan Mobile Rescue and how they all responded today. They all worked effectively and tirelessly to bring this man back to life.”

Fast forward 24 hours, déjà vu seemed to become a reality. The call for service rang out again at 8:43am Monday, July 5th, for a medical episode at the same location on Baltimore Blvd. Beach. Once again, Sea Girt’s Police and Lifeguards responded to a report of a 53 year old Edison Township man who had collapsed on the beach while walking. Lt. O’Connor and PFC Joule arrived and recognized the man was unconscious and not breathing. PFC Joule began CPR and awaited the arrival of Lifeguards, Chief Lifeguard Tim Harmon, Lifeguard Sgt. Will Sodano, Brianna Murphy and Lifeguard EMT Emma Hecht. After fifteen minutes of CPR the Lifeguards were able to regain a pulse and assist in the transport of the 53 year old to Jersey Shore Medical Center by Manasquan Volunteer First Aid. Police Chief Justin Macko said, “It is great to see that a collaborative effort between citizens, police, lifeguards, EMS and paramedics providing immediate life saving measures saved two lives over the 4th of July weekend.”

The Sea Girt Beach Patrol is a United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) certified agency, having received certification in 1997 and consistently train in the area of oceanfront rescue.

Borough Administrator Jim Gant said, “When I heard of the efforts of all involved I was incredibly proud to know that our Borough and our beaches are protected by some of the most highly trained public safety professionals around, their devotion to their profession is second to none, and it’s just in them to serve. Lt. John O’Connor, Chief Lifeguard Tim Harmon, Beach Manager Jim Freda, LG Lt. Matt Harmon, PFC William Joule, LG Sgt. Ed Krausser, LG Sgt. Will Sodano, LG EMT Zack Milko, LG EMT Ed Oser, LG EMT Emma Hecht, LG Brianna Murphy, LG Tyler Goldsmith and LG Kristin Ditomasso all deserve to be recognized for their life saving efforts.”

It is important to note the mutual aid response by the Manasquan Mobile Rescue Team, Hackensack Meridian Advanced Life Support Unit, Brielle Volunteer Rescue Squad and Manasquan Volunteer Rescue Squad. Councilwoman Melissa Giegerich, Chairwoman of the Beachfront Management Committee said, “We are extremely grateful for our lifeguards and police. They saved two lives in two days which is incredible. Their training and dedication is unsurpassed.” The Borough of Sea Girt extends wishes of recovery to both families.

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