Local 72 on mission to spread smiles in Verona
n PHOTOS AND STORY BY ED CARATTINI JR.
On Dec. 11, for the 42nd year, Verona Local 72 members left
their uniforms hanging neatly in their lockers, instead choos-
ing to don a few funny-looking costumes on a mission to make
kids smile.
The Verona Police PBA “Costume Trip” was created in 1976
by former Verona Police Department Captain Fred DiStefa-
no. The Costume Trip has become an important tradition for
Local 72 members. Each holiday season, officers dress up as
various cartoon figures and holiday characters before making
visits to local schools and children with special needs who are
on the autism spectrum or have Down syndrome.
“It has been a long-standing tradition with the PBA to keep
this event going,” noted Lieutenant Robert Shafer, who has co-
ordinated this magical and uplifting event for many years. “We
put smiles on everyone’s faces. The kids love it, the teachers
think it’s hilarious and the parents appreciate what we do ev-
ery year.”
Shafer announced that after a decade of organizing Local
72’s Costume Trip, it is time for him to pass the torch to some-
one new. Local 72 member John DeSomma is excited to take
on the responsibility of planning the next excursion, which
brings the community together and spreads happiness to chil-
dren throughout Verona.
East Hanover members
bring holiday cheer to
children’s hospital Mountainside Local 126
members bring Santa
along for school visit
On Dec. 17, members of East Hanover Local 227 visit-
ed Goryeb Children’s Hospital at Morristown Medical Cen-
ter to deliver holiday gifts that they collected and purchased
throughout the month. Officers made the rounds in the unit to
hand-deliver the gifts and spend time with the children. Mountainside Local 126 brought the spirit of Christmas
to many children on Dec. 12, when members visited the Arc
Kohler School in Mountainside with Santa, gifts and plenty of
holiday cheer.
Each year, Local 126 members enjoy visiting the school to
put smiles on the faces of children who are developmentally
delayed or disabled. Local 126 also gave out many gifts that
were purchased and donated by members for the annual
event.
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ JANUARY 2019