Scotch Plains Police Department
The following are links to websites that will give you the most up to date information pertaining to the Covid-19 pandemic.
CDC issues Domestic Travel Advisory for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2020/s038-travel-advisory.html
Further clarification on essential or non-essential businesses use following link
https://faq.business.nj.gov/en/articles/3820777-i-m-not-sure-if-my-business-needs-to-close-due-to-the-state-s-covid-19-directives-what-additional-guidance-is-there
Social distancing guidance for essential retail businesses
https://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/documents/topics/NCOV/Social_Distancing_Guidance_for_Essential_Retail_Business.pdf
NJDOH data specific for New Jersey are located at the following link
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/covid2019_dashboard.shtml
(**In this site you will see that we have 13,386 who have tested positive and there are 22,216 who have tested negative.)
Here is a website with information on how to talk to children about the Covid-19 pandemic:
https://www.njsacop.org//Files/Talking%20to%20Children%20About%20Coronavirus_COVID19.pdf
Please visit the following site for a list of all of the Executive Orders issued by Gov. Murphy:
https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/approved/eo_archive.html EO 109 restricting elective surgeries goes into effect Friday March 27, 2020, at 5:00pm.
Thank You for the Donations!
Keep Social Distancing!
Please keep social distancing, we are certain that this is the best way for us to get this situation under control. Please check in with Gov. Murphy's daily updates to see what new steps are being taken to help protect the public.
Testing Centers in NJ:
Use the following link for the most up to date information on Testing Centers:
https://covid19.nj.gov/search.html?query=Testing+Centers+in+NJ
Community-Based Testing Sites are for individuals who are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness. In order to be eligible for testing, individuals must be current New Jersey residents and experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness. Priority will be given to symptomatic individuals experiencing cough, fever (99.6F or above) and shortness of breath. Complete the self-assessment to learn what to do.
1) PNC Bank Arts Center
Open Now - Closes at 4:00 PM
116 Garden State Pkwy
Holmdel, NJ 07733
3) Hudson Regional Hospital - HUDSON COUNTY RESIDENTS ONLY
5) Bergen Community College
Open Now - Closes at 4:00 PM
400 Paramus Road
Paramus Campus – Lots B & C
Paramus, NJ 07652
Consumer Complaints:
Online: https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov Phone: (888) 225-5322
TTY: (888) 835-5322
Videophone: 1-844-432-2275
Media Contact:
Will Wiquist, (202) 418-0509 will.wiquist@fcc.gov
FCC CONSUMER ADVISORY: COVID-19 SCAMS
COVID-19 Consumer Warnings and Safety Tips Webpage Provides Information on Proliferating
Coronavirus Scams
The FCC has more information on what service providers are doing to help consumers during the
pandemic to Keep Americans Connected.
Media Relations: (202) 418-0500 / ASL: (844) 432-2275 / TTY: (888) 835-5322 / Twitter:
@FCC / www.fcc.gov
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.
Police Response to Emergency Calls
1) The Scotch Plains PD has not changed the way we handle emergency calls. We will respond to
the scene as fast as possible and assist as we always have.
- If you have an emergency, call 9-1-1!
Examples of these calls are the following:
a) Any type of violent crime, including: personal assault, kidnapping, robbery, etc.
b) Any type of sex crime, including: rape, sexual assault, etc.
c) Any type of stolen vehicle, including: trucks, cars, trailers, motorcycles, etc.
d) Any lost/stolen license plates
e) Any type of Court Order violation such as violation of a Restraining Order, any Order of
Protection, etc.
f) Any crime involving a weapon
g) You CANNOT use the telephone to report these types of calls, an officer must respond to take
the report in person.
h) Please note that this is not a comprehensive list, just a sample of the types of calls that we have deemed as top priority that needs an in person response.
i) *If you are not sure, just call dispatch and let them know what you have, they will confer
with the Police Supervisor on duty to decide if an in person response is required or if the call
can be taken care of via telephone.
Police Response to Non-Emergency Calls
1) The following are calls that the Scotch Plains Police Department will take a report for over
the telephone: (again, if you are not sure, just let the dispatcher know what you have and they
along with the Police Supervisor will make the decision)
Examples of Non-Emergency Calls that will be taken over the telephone: Call (908) 322-7100 ext 0
|
Incident Type |
Definition |
Examples |
|
Harassing Phone Call |
Unwanted phone calls of an annoying, harassing or non-threatening in nature. |
Immediate hang-ups, obscene language, etc. with no known suspects. |
|
Identity Theft/Fraud |
Obtaining someone else's personal identifying information and using it to obtain credit, goods or services. |
Someone obtains a credit card using your S.S.N. or obtains phone service using your personal information. |
|
Lost Property |
When property is missing or lost. |
Property that is missing, leaving items in restaurant, or missing from home. |
|
Vandalism |
The act of changing, modifying or defacing public or private property. |
Graffiti, knocking over mail box, throwing rock through windows, etc. |
|
Vandalism of a Vehicle |
The act of changing, modifying or defacing a motor vehicle. |
Graffiti, keying, throwing rocks through windows, denting on purpose or with an object etc. |
Police Response to Medical Calls
2) The SPPD will respond to all medical calls for service, however, if the call is not life
threatening in nature, the officers will stand by and not have any contact with the patient until
the Rescue Squad personnel respond.
a) Officers will monitor the patient from a safe distance to make sure that the call does not
take a turn for the worse into a life threatening situation and require a stepped up response.
b) *Note: If the call is life threatening in nature, i.e. CPR is called for, then our officers
will take any and all action possible to assist the patient in an effort to stabilize them until
medical responders arrive and take over the scene.
Parks, Playgrounds, Etc.
3) The Recreation Department has closed all of the playgrounds, basketball courts, soccer
fields, tennis courts, etc. The reason for this is to discourage groups of people from congregating
in one area.
a) We want people to go out and get fresh air, we do not want groups of people to get together
and possibly spread the Covid-19 virus.
b) Also while out and about, please try to keep a minimum of six (6) feet away from each other
in an effort to not contaminate one another.
Public Buildings- Closed to Public Access
4) All of the Scotch Plains Public buildings have been closed to public access.
a) *If you have an emergency situation, you will have access to the Police Department through
the side door located nearest to the public parking lot. (Use the intercom to gain access.)
Records Department
5) We will have records personnel in the building to process paperwork during normal business
hours, M-F 8:30am – 3:45pm.
6) For all Investigation Reports, you must report in person and show identification, to pick up these reports. (Please only come in if it is
an absolute emergency that you have the report!)
a) For all other requests, call the Records Bureau, (908) 322-7100 x105 & x106 or email A.Azzarello@scotchplainspd.org or L.Kosciolek@scotchplainspd.org and let them know what you are requesting, they may be able to save you a trip and email you the information that you are looking for.
b) Be advised, they will ask a question or two of personal identifying information from you to verify you are who you say you are so that they feel comfortable sending you the information via email.
c) All fees are waived for reports during this State of Emergency.
Scotch Plains Municipal Court- Closed (Until Further Notice)
7) The Scotch Plains Municipal Court is closed until further notice.
a) Persons who are scheduled to appear before a Municipal Court to contest a traffic or parking
ticket, or minor local ordinance violation should not appear and should await notice of a new court
date.
b) The Municipal Courts will continue to handle certain matters, including calendars where a
defendant has been detained; probable cause determinations; and applications for temporary
restraining orders, Extreme Risk Protection Orders and search warrants;
c) As well as other matters that implicate public safety.
d) Attorneys and parties required to appear between March 16 and March 27 will be specifically
notified of that requirement to appear.
e) During this two-week period, Municipal Court offices will remain open (and filings and
payments will continue to be accepted), except where the municipality has closed the Municipal
Court
Building (which is the case currently in Scotch Plains, check the Town’s website to see if the
building has re-opened).
f) Check the Judiciary’s public website (njcourts.gov) for updated information about Municipal
Court closures.
g) Defendants also may continue to make payments through the Municipal Court online payment
system at NJMCDirect.com.
h) Note: If your driver’s license expires from March 16, 2020, until the NJ Motor Vehicle
Commission re-opens, no summonses are to be issued for an expired driver’s license.
Senior Citizens
8) If any of our senior citizens or residents who have compromising conditions, are not able to
leave their residence to pick up emergency medical supplies, medicine, or food, etc. call dispatch
at (908) 322-7100 ext. 0.
a) Let the dispatcher know what your situation is and they will relay the information to the
Police Supervisor on duty.
i) We will do our best to put the person in touch with one of the churches or other charitable
organizations who have volunteered to assist Scotch Plains residents during these trying times.
While these are very trying times for all of us, we are confident that if we work together and
remain calm, we can get through this together. Please visit our website and use the emails listed
if you have any questions or concerns that do not require an immediate response.
Thank you,
Chief Ted Conley
Scotch Plains Police Department
Chief of Police- Theodore D. Conley
Being promoted to the rank of Chief of Police of the Scotch Plains Police Department was one of the most humbling accomplishments in my career. It is truly a pleasure working with the men and women of the Scotch Plains Police Department, I have never met a group of more committed individuals who take the safety and security of the citizens and visitors to our Township more than them. We strive on a daily basis to make everyone feel comfortable in their daily lives while at the same time letting them know that we are constantly on guard protecting them and their families as if they were our own.
The Chief's Administrative Assistant is Virnez Stephens. If you have any questions or concerns that you have for Chief Conley or another matter that concerns the Administrative Division, she can be reached at (908) 322-7100 x102, or email v.stephens@scotchplainspd.org.
About The Scotch Plains Police Department
The story of the Scotch Plains Police Department started in 1868 when the Scotch Plains Mutual Theft Detecting Society was formed. The 'Society' was established to combat theft in the growing community. The members were empowered to arrest any person they would find stealing and to bring them to the Magistrate to be "dealt with in accordance to the Law". The Scotch Plains Police Department was officially formed on July 20th, 1900, with the swearing in of a Chief and two sworn officers. The early years of our department revolved around busting illegal stills and chicken thievery. The first established municipal building was built in 1920. It stood in the parking lot of the current municipal building. The old Police Headquarters housed not only the Police Department but also the Fire Department and in 1937, the newly formed First Aid Squad Ambulance. As the years went by and the population grew, the Police Department grew from the original three officers to eight in 1933, then to twelve in 1954, twenty-one in 1962, to our current staffing of forty-nine sworn officers that we have today. Our department has been on the cutting edge of technology since the early Patrol cars of the 1950's to the modern cars of today. The Scotch Plains Police Department has quickly expanded from a three man department in a largely agricultural community to a modern Department serving a very busy, residential township. Currently we have forty-nine officers, broken down into the Patrol, Investigative and Support Services Divisions that serve over 24,000 people. Throughout the long history of the Scotch Plains Police Department, we have had only one, in the line of duty deaths. In 1921, our Chief, Florence O'Sullivan, lost control of his motorcycle and was killed. While the times have changed dramatically, we still serve the community in much the same was as we did 116 years ago.
Mission Statement
“To deliver effective police services through the deployment of dedicated, ethical officers who are provided with sufficient guidance and discipline, and to balance the responsibility of protection and enforcement with the limits necessarily placed upon policing in a free society.”
Currently the Department currently has (48) sworn law enforcement officers and (4) civilian personnel and has several divisions that handle the wide variety of services it provides.
Accreditation
The Scotch Plains Police Department has achieved the: Police Agency Re-Accreditation Status, from the NJ State Association of
Chiefs of Police as of October 10, 2019. The hearing was scheduled for March 19, but was delayed due o the Covid-19 pandemic. (The certification ceremony will take place after the outbreak is
over). We are very proud of this honor and look forward to receiving our certificate soon.
Only about one-third of the law enforcement departments in the State of New Jersey have achieved the status of accreditation, which gets renewed every three
years.
Body Cameras
The Scotch Plains Police Department has deployed body-worn cameras to its patrol officers. The public should be aware that anything said to an officer equipped with a Body Worn Camera (BWC) could be recorded.
The audio and video of the police-civilian encounter will be accessible for future law enforcement use in accordance with the provisions of the State Attorney General Directive 2015-1 regarding the use of BWCs.