Plaza Renamed in Honor of Patrolman

A portion of Springfield Avenue was officially renamed yesterday after a Cranford Police officer who died from injuries sustained in a 1975 car pursuit. The street, which lies across from Cranford Police Headquarters, is now Patrolman Robert F. Hand Plaza.

Nicknamed 'the senator' by co-workers due to his popularity and his habit of greeting dozens of people daily on the job, patrolman Hand is remembered by those who knew him as a personable and open-minded police officer. 

"He had the gift of gab," Mike Cavalla said, a retired sergeant who worked with Hand for around 10 years. "He was a great guy, he was a people person, he was open to everybody. And he was a tough cop."

More than 100  people -- many of them family, friends and police officers -- gathered on the police headquarters lawn to watch the dedication ceremony take place.

Family members pulled a cord attached to a red, white and blue curtain draped over a traffic light post, revealing his name printed on a new street sign.

"I'm blown away, I'm speechless, frankly. It's such an honor to have my father's name outside the headquarters that he loved so much," Peggy Cleveland said, his daughter.

She added that when the family held the funeral 35 years ago, hundreds of police officers attended to pay respects. "I've seen so many police officers in my life," she said. "Some of them came from as far as Cape May."

Before unveiling the sign, an honor guard ceremony was performed by police officers. At a podium, speakers also elaborated on Hand, praising his personable character and his activity in the Police Brotherhood Association, of which he was president.

Speakers also included Union County Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski, who presented to Police Chief Eric Mason the resolution passed by the freeholders in the spring which authorized the new street name.

"I feel very honored to be here in my hometown of Cranford, to honor this outstanding member of the police force," she said.