Chief for a Day program brings smiles to Sheriff’ s Department and many Bergen County agencies
Bergen County Sheriff’ s Officer Aimee Mehnert kneels next to Chief for a Day Justin Pagan in his personalized Sheriff’ s vehicle. Behind them from left: Justin’ s parents, Luis and Tara Pagan, Undersheriff Robert Colaneri, Sheriff Michael Saudino, Executive Undersheriff Joseph Hornyak, Undersheriff Brian Smith, Undersheriff Harry Shortway and Sheriff’ s Officer Sonya Bekier.
Power Wheels and good feels
Chief for a Day program brings smiles to Sheriff’ s Department and many Bergen County agencies
n BY JOSHUA SIGMUND n PHOTOS BY BRIAN SHORE
Michael Saudino has never been so happy to lose his job.
In fact, when the Bergen County Sheriff and former State PBA Executive Board Member graciously yielded his title, desk and staff to 5-year-old Chief for a Day Justin Pagan on June 3, the entire department was thrilled.
“ He’ s already given half my staff a raise,” jested the temporary“ Ex-Sheriff.”
For the sixth year, the countywide Chief for a Day program brightened the lives of local children battling chronic health conditions and provided them and their families a behind-thescenes look at the inner workings of law enforcement.
For Bergen County Sheriff’ s Office’ s Chief for a Day Justin, this included waking up and putting on his new uniform before being picked up by his“ predecessor” and Sheriff’ s Officer Aimee Mehnert, the event organizer, in the morning to report to HQ for breakfast with the sheriff. An official swearing in and a department tour that included a hands-on fingerprinting lesson and a K-9 demonstration wrapped up the morning before going to lunch.
And to get him from event to event in style, Justin was provided his own marked patrol unit.
“ I ask the parents what’ s the best thing your child would want that you can’ t get for them?” Mehnert described, referencing
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NEW JERSEY COPS n JUNE 2016
Bergen County Sheriff’ s Office Detective Sergeant Brian Shore shows his Chief for a Day around a patrol vehicle.
previous wishes for bicycles, sports memorabilia and other gifts that get“ better and better” each year.“ They said Justin always wanted a Power Wheels car so the PBA( Local 134) donated money and a lot of Sheriff’ s officers dipped into their own pockets and we went to Toys“ R” Us and bought one for him. Then