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Every holiday season for 17 years, Union County Sheriff’s Officers have set up their “Tree of Hope” in the courthouse seeking donations of toys and clothing for needy children throughout the county. Each year the response has been overwhelming.

The “Tree of Hope” was first planted in 1997 when officers encountered children in the courts who were going to experience a less than happy holiday season. The children the officers encountered were homeless or living in shelters, were victims of domestic violence or medically fragile. Their parents or guardians did not have the financial ability to provide holiday gifts.

Every year since the “Tree of Hope” committee have erected a tree in the Union County Courthouse featuring paper ornaments. Volunteers make the ornaments and write a particular gift on each one.

“These caring officers do a tremendous job in helping these children,” acting Sheriff Joseph Cryan said. “It is important not to forget those kids who are less fortunate.”

Monetary donations to help provide additional gifts are also being sought.

Contributions of money (tax-deductible), toys and clothing can be sent to: Union County Sheriff’s Officers Tree of Hope, Union County Courthouse, 2 Broad Street, Elizabeth, N.J., 07207. For more information, call the “Tree of Hope” hotline at 908-629-2158.

Some fresh detective work on a fugitive cold case by the Union County Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit led to the arrest of a suspect wanted for more than 15 years, acting Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan announced today.

Esmelyn Bronfield, formerly of Plainfield, had been wanted since being charged in Union County with first degree aggravated sexual assault in May 1999. Based on new information from Sgt. Darryl Warner of the Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit he was arrested last week by local police in Manchester, New Hampshire, according to the acting Sheriff.

“Thanks to the outstanding detective work by Sgt. Darryl Warner and the Fugitive Unit a very dangerous individual has been captured,” acting Sheriff Cryan said. “This arrest once again proves that our office doesn’t stop looking for fugitives.”

While revisiting the case, Sgt. Warner conducted a wide online search for the whereabouts of Bronfield. Several new leads suggested the suspect was in Manchester, NH.

Working with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and the Manchester Police Department, Sgt. Warner was able to confirm Bronfield’s identity and location.

Bronfield, 45, was taken into custody without incident by Manchester police in the early morning of Thursday, October 9.

He was booked into the local jail as a fugitive of justice and is awaiting extradition back to New Jersey.

“This arrest also highlights the importance of law enforcement agencies working together,” acting Sheriff Cryan said. “We truly appreciate the assistance of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Manchester Police Department in finding and arresting this suspect.”

Acting Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan would like to remind residents that September is National Preparedness Month, a time to make sure everyone is ready in the event of an emergency or weather-related disaster.

Sponsored by FEMA, National Preparedness Month aims to educate and encourage Americans to prepare for and be able to respond to all types of emergencies.

“This is a time to prepare yourself and your family for events like Hurricanes Irene and Sandy,” Acting Sheriff Cryan said. “Emergencies can happen unexpectedly and we all need to be ready for them.”

Everyone should have an emergency plan addressing all types of potential disaster scenarios. Discuss with family, friends and neighbors in advance about how you will contact each other, where you will meet and what you will do in different situations.

Make sure that you and your family are prepared for an a disaster by making an emergency kit to ensure you can go for at least three days without electricity, water service, access to a supermarket or other local services.

Emergency kits should include at least a three to five day supply of non-perishable food and water, prescription medications, baby supplies and any additional items for special medical needs. Your kit should also include important phone numbers for doctors as well as car cell-phone chargers.

A battery-operated radio, flash lights, extra batteries as well as non-electric items likes can openers should also be included in the kit.

The needs of pets should also be taken into consideration when planning and making an emergency kit.

Staying informed and being aware of news updates is vital during a crisis.

“It is incredibly important to know what is happening before, during and after an emergency,” said Acting Sheriff Cryan. “Awareness can save lives.”

In the event of an emergency, everyone is urged to tune in, log-on, ‘like’ or ‘follow’ state, county, local and federal agencies on social media for credible disaster-relation information such as alerts and warnings, situational updates and where to find help. Emergency management officials suggest everyone should sign up for phone, e-mail and text alerts.

In New Jersey, hurricane season runs through November so following the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center regarding storm predictions and forecasts is essential.

Residents interested in volunteering to help their community in the event of an emergency should consider attending Community Emergency Response Team training. Information about CERT training can be found on the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management website atwww.state.nj.us/njoem/citizen/cert or call 1-877-237-8411.

For more information about being prepared for an emergency visit www.ready.nj.gov.

Acting Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan announced today the capture of a longtime fugitive wanted by the Sheriff’s Office since 2008.

Sheriff’s Officers arrested Charles Riccio in the early hours Thursday morning in East Rutherford.

Riccio, 37, had been on the run since failing to appear for an arraignment 6 years ago after he was charged with computer theft by access in Elizabeth. He is accused of manipulating purchase receipts while he was the store manage at Value Furniture Mattress Warehouse during 2007 and 2008 and pocketing $36,000 in cash payments.

Sheriff’s Officers located Riccio by acting on a tip he had recently returned to New Jersey from Las Vegas. He was taken into custody without incident.

Acting Sheriff Cryan noted that Riccio has other New Jersey warrants in Hudson and Ocean Counties. He was booked into the Union County Jail without bail.

The Acting Sheriff credited Officers Richard Hugelmeyer and George Gyure and Sgt. Carlo Caparruva with making the arrest.

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders would like to invite members of the community to honor the memory of the 60 Union County residents who perished in the 9/11 attacks by visiting the Union County September 11th Memorial next Thursday, Sept. 11th from the morning hours until 9 p.m. at Echo Lake Park in Mountainside.

Members of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and Union County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with other law enforcement members throughout the County will provide a uniformed Honor Guard standing watch at the memorial and the public will be able to light candles in memory of those lost in the attacks.

“The Union County September 11th Memorial serves as a place of reverence for those who tragically perished and where we can bring the community together in a reflective setting to mark this day,” said Freeholder Chairman Christopher Hudak.

The Union County memorial honors those lost in the attacks using design elements that include two girders from the World Trade Center arranged within a five sided area representing the Pentagon, and an Eternal Flame representing those who died in Pennsylvania. The Flame also honors members of the Armed Services and emergency responders.

In addition to these elements, the names of the 60 deceased Union County residents are etched into the memorial.

Dedicated on Sept. 13, 2003 the memorial was constructed through private donations including in-kind work by labor unions and materials at cost.

The Freeholder Board worked with residents of Cranford, Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Linden, Mountainside, Rahway, Scotch Plains, Summit, Union and Westfield in planning and building the Memorial.

It is located near the Springfield Avenue entrance of Echo Lake Park on the border of Mountainside and Springfield.

For additional information on the Union County September 11th Memorial, or information on visitation hours, contact the Union County Office of Public Information at 877-424-1234 or visit online atucnj.org/9-11-memorial

By Joseph Cryan

As we pause on the sad anniversary marking the horrific events on September 11, 2001, we remember the innocent victims and the heroes who perished that day.

We remember these fallen Americans and honor them in different ways. Some will pay a respectful, somber visit to lower Manhattan. Other people will attend a service in their home towns at a local memorial dedicated to those who died in the terror attacks. And for some it will be a quiet day of prayer and reflection.

September 11th is a National Day of Service and Remembrance. On the anniversary of the attacks, Americans should unite in service in the same remarkable way that so many came together following the attacks.

This is time and opportunity to volunteer in our communities and support and honor veterans, soldiers, military families and first responders.

Donating blood is a perfect example of service, giving back and pitching in just as thousands of Americans did in the days and weeks after the terror attacks.

Also, don’t forget our first responders. Many made the ultimate sacrifice that day and today all our firefighters, police officers and emergency service workers continue to strive to keep us safe. This includes the members of our armed forces. They deserve our thanks and support.

This September 11th reach out and be active in your community in honor of those Americans we lost that day and remember their families and the people who work to protect us every day.

We must never forget.

Joseph Cryan is the Acting Union County Sheriff.

More than 100 teens recently graduated from the Union County Sheriff’s Youth Academy, a program designed to familiarize young people with the role of a police officer. Also, it operates similar to an actual police academy for teens interested in law enforcement.

“The Youth Academy aims to teach our kids about law enforcement and it is a great first step for those interested in the field,” Acting Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan said. “And from what I heard from these fine young women and men, we succeeded in all of our goals in this program.”

Acting Sheriff Cryan also thanked the officers from the various law enforcement agencies that participated in the program including, but not limited to, the Elizabeth Police Department, the New Jersey State Police, the Union County Police Department and the Union County Corrections.

“Along with all the effort from our Sheriff’s Officers, I’m grateful to all in law enforcement who supported this effort,” said Acting Sheriff Cryan.

Participants in the Youth Academy received hands-on experience in a wide variety of emergency services and law enforcement functions and training.  In addition, youths have the opportunity to learn respect for law enforcement through positive interaction during their time in the program.

“Showing them the human element of law enforcement helps our young people connect with officers in a way they never thought they could,” the Acting Sheriff added.

The Sheriff’s Youth Academy is not a ‘boot camp’ for troubled youth. In order to enroll in the program, the youngsters must have a minimum GPA of 2.70 (B- average), letters of reference and write an essay explaining why the student would like to attend the Youth Academy.

During the two-week program, the teens engaged in a physical training regime twice a day while attending lectures on subjects such as crime scene investigations, K-9 and motor vehicle stops. They also received visits from representatives from the U.S. Army, New Jersey State Police and the F.B.I, the Kenilworth Police Department and the Kean University Police Department.

The Youth Academy also involved class trips to the Union County SWAT Range, the Union County Jail, the Elizabeth Police Department and the Union County Police Department.

Union County Freeholders Vernell Wright and Bruce Bergen congratulate newly sworn-in Undersheriff Michael Frank of the Union County Sheriff’s Office during a ceremony in Elizabeth. Undersheriff Frank is a 27-year veteran of the UCSO who most recently served as a captain in the Administrative Division. As Undersheriff, he will oversee the Courts Division, the Complex Division, UCSO Security Guards and the Identification Bureau/Crime Scene Unit. (Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)

As summer vacations come to an end and students return to school throughout the county, Acting Union County Sheriff Joseph Cryan would like to remind residents to take extra care when driving as the roads become busier.

Drivers will again be sharing the streets with school buses and children walking and bicycling to and from school.

“Driving safely requires a person’s constant attention to the road and to everyone and everything outside of the car,” Acting Sheriff Cryan said. “A lack of attention or a distraction could be deadly.”

School buses will again be part of the morning commute and on the streets each afternoon. It is important to obey the law for the safety of children when buses are picking up or dropping off students.

School buses use yellow flashing lights to alert motorists that they are preparing to stop. Red flashing lights and an extended stop sign arm are signals to motorists that the bus is stopped and children are getting on or off the bus. Traffic in both directions is required to stop when the red lights are flashing on the bus.

Also, drivers should never pass a school bus. It is illegal and could have tragic consequences.

Children are unpredictable and often take risks, ignore hazards or fail to look both ways when crossing the street.

“Drivers need to be alert at all times. Don’t talk on a cell phone while driving and, more importantly, never text while behind the wheel,” the Acting Sheriff said. “Red lights are not a time to check emails or texts. A distracted driver can lead to accidents at any time, even coming out of a stop.”

Parents of teenagers who drive to school need to reinforce the rules of the road with the young drivers, especially about never texting while driving. They should set a good example with their own good driving habits. Teens learn to drive by watching their parents.

Texting while driving is not the only hazard when it comes to digital devices. Distracted walking can also be dangerous. Students should not text and walk, especially when crossing or walking in the street. Parents with children who walk to school need to remind their kids about the basics of pedestrian safety.

“If everyone, drivers and students, keep aware of their surroundings and pay attention, the new school year can be a safer one,” Acting Sheriff Cryan added.

For more back-to-school safety information, visit the National Safety Council website atwww.nsc.org/safety_home/SafetyObservances/Pages/BackToSchoolSafety.