The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | March 2021
Newton , Byram , Hardyston Retired Chiefs Support Local Charities
This article was originally published on March 21 , 2021 on tapinto . net
Even in retirement , three former police chiefs continue to give back . After years of serving the people of Sussex County , when three police chiefs retired last year they , together with Steve Scro of the Mohawk House , put together a unique send off .
“ We spend our careers looking to the future as problem solvers ,” Richards said in remarks to open the event . “ This dinner was to help insure we can make a lasting impact in the areas that are important to us . We wanted our legacy to be one of service to our community .”
Forgoing a traditional retirement dinner , or three dinners , Newton Chief Michael Richards , Byram Chief Pete Zabita and Hardyston Chief Bret Alemy worked with Scro and Sparta Chief Neil Spidaletto to create a night of giving back .
Or at least that was the plan , until COVID-19 .
The intention was to use the proceeds of tickets sold for the joint retirement dinner to be donated to a charity selected by each of the chiefs . Approximately 225 tickets were sold but the pandemic shut everything down before the dinner could be held .
People were given the option to exchange their ticket for a meal at the Mohawk House but only a few took Scro up on that offer , he said . “ Most elected to have their money go to the charities .”
On Wednesday , a year after the planned event , Sussex County Chiefs , their delegates , police officers , New Jersey State Police , Sussex County Sheriff Strada and Undersheriff McCurry and other law enforcement officers met in the conservatory at the Mohawk House to celebrate the chiefs and share the donations with representatives from their selected charities .
Alemy introduced Tom Maranaro , whose foundation raised more than $ 1 million just to go to families of those suffering from medical conditions , " helping with some of the ancillary costs that are not covered by insurance " such as transportation and lodging associated with getting treatments . Maranaro ’ s organization has recently joined with the Dean Michael Clarizio Cancer Foundation with the same mission . Dean ’ s brother Chris Clarizio was at the lunch to receive the $ 7,450 check from Alemy . Clarizio said the foundation was named for his brother who passed away just prior to their first fundraising event in 2005 .
“ We are truly grateful for the generosity today and of all who supported the dinner planned for last year ,” Clarizio said . He said his brother ’ s dream was to help others and that mission continues , having donated $ 1.5 million directly to families in need .
“ This year was a tough year for these families who need help more than ever . There is always a waiting list .” He said last year ’ s event at the Westmount Country Club happened just before the pandemic shut them down . They were able to make distributions this year but have had to postpone the 2021 fundraiser to later in the year .
“ It was really great at the time that we chose these charities but really over the last year it ’ s grown to be more of a problem ,” Richards said .
Zabita chose the Sussex County Food Pantry to be the recipient of his $ 6,450 check . It was a natural choice with Zabita having brought " Cram the Cruiser " to the county .
“ When we started Cram the Cruiser my department was a little hesitant ,” Zabita said . The first year Byram was the only town to run the food drive that had to be done in the parking lot of Lakeland Bank because Shoprite would not let them do it at their location , according to Zabita . And Byram did not have their own food pantry .
Since then Cram the Cruiser has become a familiar event in Sussex County . “ The community support is amazing ,” Zabita said . “ I ’ m hoping long after I ’ m gone it will still be going on .”
“ We are so thankful to the chiefs and the Mohawk House for this donation ,” Carol Norvit said . Norvit is the Sussex County Health and Human Services Administrator , overseeing the county food pantry .
12
Continued on next page