Barnegat Students To Police: Thanks For Keeping Us Safe

Barnegat police officers were everywhere in town when escaped fugitive Arthur Buckel was spotted in the CVS store earlier this month,

They were even posted in the district schools to make sure students were never in any danger.

The students at the Lillian M. Dunfee School honored the officers recently at a Law Enforcement Ceremony. Each student made thank you cards for the officers for keeping them safe during that tense time, according to the Barnegat Police Department's Facebook page.

"Chief Drexler and all of our officers wish to express our sincere gratitude for the recognition given to all us today at the Lillian M. Dunfee School Law Enforcement Ceremony," the post states. "Every student made and presented us with thank you cards for keeping them safe after the escaped prisoner incident. Please check back throughout the day for pictures of officers from oncoming shifts reading some of the many cards during shift briefings. Thank you to all the students, Principal Makela and all of the school faculty!""

Buckel, 38, who had been at Bayside State Prison after sentencing on a burglary conviction, is the same man convicted of slapping a 10-month-old Barnegat girl to death on Labor Day weekend in 1995, Hudson County court officials and the state Department of Corrections confirmed Wednesday afternoon.

Photo credit: Barnegat Police Department (Pictured from left to right are Principal Kathy Makela, Superintendent Karen Wood, Sgt. Gary Larussa, Ptl. Brett Taylor, Sgt. Jeffrey Ryan and Chief Arthur Drexler).