On September 12, 2018, the NJNEOA provided the community with its first “Understanding Addiction” Community Forum at Royal Albert’s Palace in Woodbridge. This was the first time that the NJNEOA took the Understanding Addiction training previously only available for Law Enforcement and tweaked it so that we could provide it to the Community. The event was well attended by the community. The feedback from the community was positive with many attendees asking for when and where our next open event will be held.

This event would not have been possible without our speakers. A special thanks to Vance Johnson from Futures of Palm Beach and former NFL wide receiver, S/A Timothy McMahon DEA, Sgt. Danielle Lo Russo from Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, Michele Schreffler-Perez from City of Angels – Recovery Coach Specialist, Richard Lo Russo from City of Angels – Recovery Coach Specialist, AAG Veronica Allende - Director of the Division of Criminal Justice and Prosecutor Andrew Carey from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. Also, the NJNEOA Board of Directors that helped set up and run the event, especially Albert Jasani our Chairman of Civilian Advisory Board and Civilian Awards Committee Chair for graciously hosting our event and making it possible to provide to everyone.

In October, the NJNEOA will be hosting the Northern Narcotics Training Seminar on October 16, 2018. This training is at the Kenilworth Veteran’s Center. The topic for this training will focus on “High Level Interdiction and Concealed Compartments”. The speaker for this training is one of the NJNEOA’s Vice President Brad Gilmore from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.

In November, the NJNEOA will be hosting the “November Narcotics Training Seminar” from November 7th to November 9th. The training is at the Middlesex County Fire Academy. The topic for this training will focus on “Commercial Motor Vehicle Interdiction & Concealment”. This training is presented by the “Drug Interdiction Assistance Program”. The focus is on the development and distribution of criminal interdiction techniques to rapidly identify in transit Commercial Vehicles and drivers engaged in criminal activity.

I hope everyone can attend our upcoming Cigar Night Fundraiser on October 11, 2018 at the Casino St. Charles in Perth Amboy. This event is 4 hours of open bar, dinner, cigars and music. This event is very popular, and it is always great to see so many of our NJNEOA members, law enforcement officers, friends and family at the event. I hope to see you all at the event. If you need tickets, please contact a Board of Director, go on the website or contact Vice President Mabner Terron at 732-324-3823.

I encourage anyone that wants to be involved, provide feedback or to suggest a training to contact me directly on my cell phone at 732-585-8436 or email me at president@njneoa.org.