Passaic County Prosecutor ’ s Office Local members join Operation New Jersey Pride in Puerto Rico
One month after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico , the NJ State Police organized a deployment of law enforcement to help serve the territory still faced with major distress . When Jose Castillo and David Posada of Passaic County Prosecutor ’ s Office Local 265 were notified of the Operation New Jersey Pride effort , they both knew that they wanted to be a part of it .
On Oct . 21 , Castillo and Posada joined the deployment of an estimated 100 officers to fly to Puerto Rico for two weeks of disaster relief efforts .
“ It was an opportunity to be a part of a humanitarian effort that we don ’ t have exposure to here ,” stated Castillo . “ We decided to put our personal lives aside to go down there and provide some help for people who really need it .”
Both Castillo and Posada are of Latino descent , and Posada even has a cousin who lives in Puerto Rico and was affected by the hurricane . Together , they assisted the local police with security and traffic control , which were crucial in an area with no working traffic lights . They also helped to distribute supplies like batteries , diapers , water and other basic needs of the community left with nearly nothing after the storm . Still , the Local 265 members were stunned by the generosity of the residents who were so thankful for the support .
“ I was blown away by the hospitality Puerto Rico gave us ,” Posada shared . “ These people have nothing and yet they would
Passaic County Prosecutor ’ s Office Local 265 members David Posada ( left ) and Jose Castillo assist local law enforcement in Puerto Rico during the hurricane relief effort .
stop and give us water and bring us food — full-blown meals .”
During the two weeks that Castillo and Posada were stationed there , the officers had little access to communication with their families , as cellular service was scarce in the area . But the generosity of the people in Puerto Rico made Castillo and Posada feel welcomed and appreciated as they served a community in dire need of assistance . d
64 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ NOVEMBER 2017