Chiefs' bocce tournament a big success
Fuhndraiser for in-service officer training
Photos
By Joseph Picard
SPARTA — Over 100 people from throughout Sussex County came to the Mohawk House in Sparta last Thursday, to play and watch bocce, quaff beers and other beverages, eat delicious foods and support the county Association of Police Chiefs.
“The turnout is beyond expectations,” said Byram Police Chief Peter Zabita. “Everybody is having a good time. And it’s all for a good cause.”
The cause is the chiefs’ association’s continued financial support for countywide in-service training programs for police officers. These programs provide officers with state-of-the art instruction in significant areas like responding to an active shooter or coordinating a full security response across several municipalities, or training in properly administering lie detector tests, or participating in the county’s CLEAR program to combat opiate abuse.
“Law enforcement is not static,” said Sussex County Prosecutor Francis Koch. “Methods of law enforcement are ever evolving and the need for continued education by officers cannot be stressed highly enough. Training in new ways of dealing with domestic violence, for example, or how to handle those with mental disabilities, and many other areas. And this is a small county, so it’s very useful for our officers to train together. They learn about each other and learn how to work together. This is crucial for times when we must provide mutual aid.”
First Hope Bank donated $1,000 to the cause and provided a trophy for the winners of the largely impromptu bocce tournament.
“We could not be more honored to support the police chiefs of Sussex County with a small token of our appreciation for all that they do for the people of the county,” said Don Somma, president and CEO of First Hope Bank.
According to Andover Township Police Chief Eric Danielson, one of the prime organizers of the event, the bocce tournament was won by the team of State Police Lt. John Widovic, State Police Det. Matt McCurry, Aaron Fitt and Nicholas Brandon.
“They each received a $100 gift certificate to J. Thomas Jewelers in Sparta, who sponsored the gifts,” Danielson said.
Another major sponsor was the Mohawk House, which provided the venue, the bocce courts, the food and the drink.
“It has always been my goal to support and help the community,” said Steve Scro, owner of the Mohawk House. “This kind of event does that.”
“The event went over very well,” Danielson said. “There were about 125 attendees to the first annual Bocce & Brew. The weather was picture perfect.”
Danielson added that the winning bocce team gets to keep the trophy for a year, but will have to defend it next year.
“So, yes, we will do it again next year,” he said. “We are looking forward to next year already.”
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Photo of the tournament winners...
SPARTA — Over 100 people from throughout Sussex County came to the Mohawk House in Sparta last Thursday, to play and watch bocce, quaff beers and other beverages, eat delicious foods and support the county Association of Police Chiefs.
“The turnout is beyond expectations,” said Byram Police Chief Peter Zabita. “Everybody is having a good time. And it’s all for a good cause.”
The cause is the chiefs’ association’s continued financial support for countywide in-service training programs for police officers. These programs provide officers with state-of-the art instruction in significant areas like responding to an active shooter or coordinating a full security response across several municipalities, or training in properly administering lie detector tests, or participating in the county’s CLEAR program to combat opiate abuse.
“Law enforcement is not static,” said Sussex County Prosecutor Francis Koch. “Methods of law enforcement are ever evolving and the need for continued education by officers cannot be stressed highly enough. Training in new ways of dealing with domestic violence, for example, or how to handle those with mental disabilities, and many other areas. And this is a small county, so it’s very useful for our officers to train together. They learn about each other and learn how to work together. This is crucial for times when we must provide mutual aid.”
First Hope Bank donated $1,000 to the cause and provided a trophy for the winners of the largely impromptu bocce tournament.
“We could not be more honored to support the police chiefs of Sussex County with a small token of our appreciation for all that they do for the people of the county,” said Don Somma, president and CEO of First Hope Bank.
According to Andover Township Police Chief Eric Danielson, one of the prime organizers of the event, the bocce tournament was won by the team of State Police Lt. John Widovic, State Police Det. Matt McCurry, Aaron Fitt and Nicholas Brandon.
“They each received a $100 gift certificate to J. Thomas Jewelers in Sparta, who sponsored the gifts,” Danielson said.
Another major sponsor was the Mohawk House, which provided the venue, the bocce courts, the food and the drink.
“It has always been my goal to support and help the community,” said Steve Scro, owner of the Mohawk House. “This kind of event does that.”
“The event went over very well,” Danielson said. “There were about 125 attendees to the first annual Bocce & Brew. The weather was picture perfect.”
Danielson added that the winning bocce team gets to keep the trophy for a year, but will have to defend it next year.
“So, yes, we will do it again next year,” he said. “We are looking forward to next year already.”
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Photo of the tournament winners...
