The Jewish community of southern New Jersey hosted the 18th Law Enforcement Appreciation Program to honor law enforcement in the region. Since 1996, the Law Enforcement Appreciation Program has thanked law enforcement officers serving South Jersey for their efforts to protect residents from bias-motivated criminal activity. This event was co-hosted by ADL (“the Anti-Defamation League”), the Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern New Jersey (“JCRC”) and the South Jersey Men’s Club (“SJMC”).
“ADL is proud to co-sponsor this program as a small token of our appreciation for the critical work of law enforcement in South Jersey,” said Jeremy Bannett, ADL Associate Regional Director. “Law enforcement officers stand on the front lines against hate every day. As the largest nongovernmental trainer of law enforcement in the nation, ADL recognizes the sacrifice and dedication of our men and women in uniform. We are pleased to have this opportunity to thank law enforcement for keeping our citizens safe from hate.”
“We salute those who put others before self when defending our institutions, neighborhoods, and people,” said Paula Joffe, JCRC Executive Director. “JCRC works closely with the law enforcement community, especially when dealing with heinous acts of anti-Semitism. We stand with the proud men and women of the law enforcement community. This Appreciation Breakfast is just a small measure of the respect and gratitude we have for them.”
“South Jersey Men’s Club has organized the Law Enforcement Appreciation Program since the beginning, and we are proud to see that the event has become a fixture of the South Jersey community,” said Michael Perloff, Program Chair and Past President of SJMC. “The Jewish community is deeply appreciative for our local law enforcement heroes, and this event is our way of saying, ‘Thanks for all you do.’”
The Law Enforcement Appreciation Program honors law enforcement personnel who have distinguished themselves by promoting multicultural understanding, cooperation and harmony. This year, the program recognized special honoree Sheriff Jean Stanfield of Burlington County, along with Chief Andy Davis of the Clayton Police Department, Prosecutor Charles Fiore of Gloucester County, Captain Brian McKendry of the Gloucester Township Police Department and Sergeant Sharon Grate-Hameen of the Camden County Office of the Sheriffs.
This year’s program was sponsored by the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, the Police Chiefs’ Associations of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem Counties, Jewish War Veterans and Shomrim of Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley.
