Caldwell Police Foundation Seeks Community Support

Caldwell residents may have found a letter in their mailboxes from the Caldwell Police Foundation last month and wondered, is this a new thing? The answer is “yes.”

The Caldwell Police Foundation was formed recently as a way to provide needed funds for the Caldwell Police Department outside the municipal budget.

“The Caldwell Police Department does not have all the equipment, programs and services that are available to other police departments,” begins the letter from foundation President Russell Bleeker.

The goal, Bleeker said, is to provide local police with items that might not be affordable to the borough in light of the state’s imposed caps on municipal budgets. 

Although he lives in Passaic County, Bleeker said it is important for him as the owner of Gelotti’s ice cream in the borough that the local police be well-trained and equipped.

“For me as a business owner if my community is safe more people will travel to it,” he said.

Other board members of the foundation include Dennis Mamchur, Vice President; Donald Allen, Secretary; and Jack Taylor, Treasurer. Trustees are Michael Conway and William Sullivan. Sgt. Michael Geary serves as the liaison with the Caldwell Police.

Bleeker said the board will ultimately decide with input from the police liaison what items to fund.

Caldwell Councilman Tom O’Donnell encouraged residents at a recent council meeting to donate to both the Caldwell Police Foundation and the Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department's annual fund drive. O’Donnell said he personally wrote $100 checks to both non-profits.

“All it takes is 200 other people to do a similar gesture,” O’Donnell said, adding, “Please make a donation, it’s certainly appreciated. 

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Caldwell Police Foundation, send a check to “Caldwell Police Foundation,” P.O. Box 188, Caldwell, NJ 07006. If you have questions, call 973-403-9968.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department’s Annual Fund Drive, send a check to “Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department,” P.O. Box 4, Caldwell, NJ 07006.