Tyler Carach, “Donut Boy,” has some fun with Paul Sorrentino of Hamilton
Township Local 66.
even more unbelievable. Thanks to their partnership with
Dunkin Donuts, who reached out to Carach to see if they could
get on board with the Donut Boy mission to give back to cops,
10,000 donuts have been distributed to nearly 100 agencies
across America.
When Tyler and Sheena presented their story to Concerns of
Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) at a luncheon during National Police
Week on May 14, former C.O.P.S. National President Madeline
Neumann’s ears perked up. Ever since losing her husband, Es-
sex County Sheriff’s Office Local 183 Officer Keith Neumann in
a 1989 line of duty death in 1989, Neumann has been dedicated
to showing her appreciation to the men and women who risk
their lives every day.
“I’m really impressed that Tyler wanted to appreciate and
thank police officers in this way,” Neumann explained. “It’s
spreading a lot of awareness and good feelings for police offi-
cers who, I believe, really are the heroes of our communities.”
Upon their introduction, Neumann invited the Carach family
to stay at her home in New Jersey and helped set up the vis-
its to police departments in the area. Neumann felt even more
obliged to host the Donut Boy when she found out the date that
he would be making his rounds in New Jersey was the 28th an-
niversary of her husband’s end of watch.
“I can’t think of a better way to spend the day than saying
thank you to officers,” she stressed.
After taking a tour of the Hamilton Township Police Depart-
ment, sitting in one of the patrol cars and even playing with Lo-
cal 66’s lovable K9, Hunter, it was safe to say that this was a stop
that Donut Boy will not soon forget. But before his visit ended,
Chief Sorrentino presented Tyler with a token to remember the
officers he had impacted that day.
“We’re the largest municipality in NJ. We have lots of land
here. This is who we are. We’re the Township of Hamilton,” Sor-
rentino explained about the picture on the front of the depart-
ment badge. “This is our badge, and at the bottom, this is what
we believe in: Integrity, courage and excellence. Is that you?”
Tyler looked closely at the words stitched into the badge
and fell silent, unsure if such big words could apply to such a
young kid. But the answer was clear to the officers and family
members who watched the exchange take place. After all, this
wasn’t just any kid. This was Tyler Carach, the boy who shaped
a crusade out of a donut exchange in a gas station and spread it
across the nation to thank officers everywhere. This was Donut
Boy. d
40
NEW JERSEY COPS
■ AUGUST 2017