Township police and road department

take surprise snow storm in stride 

      MOUNT OLIVE (10/29/08) – It was “all hands on deck” when yesterday’s “October Surprise” snow storm struck, piling up to five inches of snow in some areas of the township

      Police handled over 1,000 weather related issues. The township and county road departments worked throughout the storm and stayed out through the night.

       Regular police patrols were supplemented by officers from the police department’s detective bureau, communications division and the support services division. 

       They responded to some 17 disabled motor vehicles, eight fires, 30 weather related property damage calls, 20 traffic accidents and two welfare checks.

      Of the calls that came into police headquarters 736 came into the dispatch center via regular phone lines and another 282 were handled by the 911 police dispatch center.

      The Budd Lake Fire Department responded to an assist to 54 Garfield school students who became stranded at the Pax Amicus Theater when their bus got stuck in the snow. The fire fighters took the kids back to the fire department for temporary shelter

      According to Police Chief Mark Spitzer there was an interruption of power affecting approximately 13,000 residents.

      “Our people handled this extended weather event with incredible patience and professionalism,” Spitzer said. The township and county road departments worked throughout the storm and stayed out through the night.  We eventually were able to put together a fleet of four wheel drive vehicles by utilizing health department, fire marshal and engineering  department SUV’s.