BEYOND BARS
No disrespect to the livestock pavilion or the pie-eating contest, but the biggest hit at the Burlington County 4H annual Farm Fair July 19-26 might have been the inmate transport van the officers from the county jail brought to show the public.
For the third consecutive year, Burlington County Corrections Local 249 set up an exhibition that showed riot gear, contraband confiscated from inmates and the transport van.
“ If I had a dollar for every person who wanted to put their kids in the van and take a picture, we wouldn’ t have to sell t-shirts to raise money,” quipped Local 249 State Delegate Terrance Benson.“ Most people only know about the jails from what they see on television, so we had a chance to get out and show them what we really do. A lot of them were showing their kids the van and telling them,‘ You don’ t want to wind up here.’”
Benson noted that Burlington County Jail Warden Mildred Scholtz allowed the corrections officer to bring out the equipment and contraband collected. He also said the Local 249 members were able to provide some advice and guidance for several young people in the community who expressed an interest in getting into law enforcement.
“ We got a lot of‘ Thank yous’ and‘ We couldn’ t do what you do for a living,’” Benson added.“ It was great to get Burlington County Correc-
Burlington County Corrections reaches out to the community
Fair game: residents get an inside look
Burlington County Corrections Local 249 officers who participated in the County 4H Fair exhibit included( from left): Officer G. Butler, Officer M. L. Curtis, Sergeant P. P. Morris( SOA Local 249), State Delegate Terrance Benson and Officer L. L. Curtis.
tions out in the community with a positive light, and I want to thank all the members Local 249 for making this possible. None of this happens without them.” d
Hooping it up with The Children’ s Home
Members of The Children’ s Home and Burlington County Corrections Local 249 who participated in a basketball game pitting the officers against the kids.
Burlington County Corrections Local 249 took advantage of another opportunity to show how much it cares on May 7.
The Local has provided ongoing support of the Carie Cares Foundation and the kids at the Children’ s Home in Lumberton Township. The rare care reached new heights in May when the corrections officers matched up against the kids from the home in a basketball game.
Local 249 brought T-shirts the members had made for the kids and the event, and a highly-competitive game culminated with the officers scoring a close victory. The day, also sponsored by the Legacy Foundation, was topped off with an ice-cream sundae bar.
“ The kids were really receptive and it was important for us to be there because they don’ t get a lot of outside contact,” commented Local 249 State Delegate Terrance Benson.“ It’ s also important to show they are not the forgotten ones. Any one of us could have been just like then, so we wanted to show them an event that would shed a positive light.”
Local 249 had partnered with Carie Cares in the past to provide kids in the Children’ s Home, who are up to age 17, backpacks and clothing.
“ Especially for the girls,” Benson added.“ They told us that some of the kids in the home are young girls who are kind of forgotten when clothes are donated. So we took care of that.”
As for the next event Burlington County Corrections has planned for Carie Cares: That would be a rematch.
www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ AUGUST 2016 55