In Haledon, police 'bridge that gap' to the community with fro-yo and pizza
HALEDON — In between their sworn duties to protect and serve, police officers here are trying a new tack to win over a growing community.
It comes in 16 flavors.
And judging by the long line of customers who waited to get in to Luv Yogurt on Wednesday evening, the strategy is a hit.
An "Ice Cream with a Cop" event drew at least 300 people to the fro-yo shop on Belmont Avenue, where Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 349 treated them to free dessert.
The event was part of a wider effort by the 20-person police force to build positive connections with local families.
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“We’ve been trying to bridge that gap,” said Chief Angelo Daniele. “We’ve always had a great relationship with our residents, but it’s just gotten better and better.”
The PBA sponsored a "Pizza with a Cop" event at a pizzeria on Belmont Avenue last month, and on the night before the event at Luv Yogurt, the officers co-organized a giveaway of backpacks and school supplies for children at the recreation building on Roe Street.
'We have their backs'
Capt. George Guzmán, also a member of the Board of Education, said the recent events have been successful due to the buy-in of so many stakeholders who make them possible.
“We try to do a lot to interact with the community,” Guzmán said. “We want them to know we have their backs. It’s about trust. If they know they can trust us, they know they can come to us.”
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In the realm of public safety, the philosophy is called community policing.
According to a study by the Department of Justice, the “seed of community policing” was planted in England during the Victorian era, when Sir Robert Peel established the London Metropolitan Police. He set forth several principles, including that the “police are the public” and the “public are the police.”
“Through community policing,” said Mayor Michael Johnson, “we aim to create an inclusive environment and a professional culture that mirrors the best of all of us.”
George Khalid Jones of Prospect Park, a retired professional boxer who co-owns Luv Yogurt with his wife, Naomi DelValle-Kasib, said he appreciated the support of his business.
The anti-police climate that has enveloped parts of the country in recent years has no place in Haledon, he said.
“We’re trying to do the opposite,” Jones said. “We can’t say enough about our law enforcement.”
Philip DeVencentis is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: devencentis@northjersey.com
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Fro-yo event in Haledon helps police build relationships with families
