Toms River Local 137 offers support
to officers affected by Hurricane Florence
Members of Toms River Local 137 know what it means to re-
ceive assistance in the aftermath of a natural disaster. And when
Hurricane Florence devastated the Carolinas in September, they
were reminded of the efforts it took to recover after Hurricane
Sandy hit the Jersey Shore in 2012.
Local 137 member Adam Koeppen felt especially connected
to the devastation. The former Wilmington Police Department
officer saw the difficult conditions that Wilmington, North Car-
olina first responders were under while residing at the police
department for many days during the hurricane, when they
were out of touch with family members for an extended period
of time.
“When Hurricane Florence struck Wilmington dead-center, I
observed [the officers] living the life that we at the Toms River
Police Department had to live through six years ago,” Koeppen
insisted. He communicated with Wilmington Police Depart-
ment Detective Sergeant John Kunak to see how Local 137 could
help.
After receiving a list of 20 officers whose homes were damaged
during the storm, Koeppen approached the Local 137 executive
board to propose a fundraising initiative to give back. Local 137
members loved the idea of helping out fellow members of law
enforcement and agreed to purchase $800 worth of Toms River
Police Department blankets to donate.
The members also generously donated $1,375, which was uti-
lized to purchase Home Depot gift cards for the officers. Each
of the officers received a care package of a Toms River blanket
and gift card, in addition to a powerful message about how law
enforcement looks out for its own, no matter the distance.
“The Toms River PBA wanted the officers of the Wilmington
Police Department to know that we understand what they are
going through,” Koeppen stated. “Even though we are 600 miles
apart, we are always there for each other, as brothers and sisters
in blue.”
Wilmington Police Department K9 Diablo enjoying the Toms River Police
Department blanket donation.
www.njcopsmagazine.com
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