East Brunswick Students Give Helping Hand To State Police

This post was submitted by Joseph Bakes, Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School

Two Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School sophomores have made a contribution to the New Jersey State Police that will assist them in disabling suspected bombs.

Guided by their machine tool technology teacher Ron Bodnar, Dan Rachkelyuk of South River and Vince Pellicane of New Brunswick fabricated parts for two of the State Police Bomb Squad’s robotic bomb-disposal platforms. The aluminum attachment tool holds an arm used to place explosives next to a suspected bomb or suspicious item that is to be detonated.

The parts were fabricated in the machine shop on the MCVTS East Brunswick Campus.

The original piece on the platforms was made of wood “and it didn’t hold up because of the torque,” Bodnar explained. “They wanted us to make something that would be more feasible for them to use. We made them four pieces. It’s something they use all the time.”

Detective Sgt. Jim Varick of the Bomb Squad sketched the part that was needed and was very pleased with the result.

“Parts for the highly customized tools we use in the Bomb Squad are nearly impossible to obtain. We are grateful for the skills and equipment that the East Brunswick Tech machine shop used on our behalf,” Varick said. “They have done a service for all the people we help protect.”

“The students took the time to provide an outstanding final product that rivaled any commercially produced tool on the market,” Varick wrote in a letter to MCVTS Superintendent of Schools Brian J. Loughlin. “The tools they made are durable, functional and of a high professional standard.”

Varick said he would look forward to working with MCVTS students in the future.

As for the students, they enjoyed the project, which took several months to complete.

“I thought it was cool,” said Vince.

“It was very interesting,” Dan added.

Both students said they would welcome an opportunity to see their parts in action.

Bodnar, whose students have become tool makers, mechanics, machinists, designers and engineers, is retiring at the end of the school year after more than 30 years in the district.

The Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School District, the first full-time county vocational school district in the nation, is celebrating its centennial during the 2014-2015 school year. It has seven schools on five campuses, in East Brunswick, Edison, Piscataway, Perth Amboy and Woodbridge.

Photo courtesy Middlesex County Vocational and Technical School District; East Brunswick Tech sophomores Vince Pellicane of New Brunswick, left, and Dan Rachkelyuk of South River were guided by their teacher Ron Bodnar, center, in making parts for the State Police Bomb Squad.