'Truly A Group Effort To Assist Every Resident:' Manchester Police Chief

MANCHESTER, NJ -- Manchester Police Chief Lisa Parker is praising the efforts of the township’s first responders and public works personnel in the wake of last weekend’s blizzard for the long hours worked assisting residents.

“Whether paid or volunteer, first responders are never off duty,” Parker said. “This is especially true during states of emergency such as this past weekend’s storm. Many first responders, from the firefighters, first aiders, deputy OEM coordinator, to police officers all pulled extra duty; some even camped out at their respective headquarters waiting for calls from the public.”

The police department’s Communications Section -- its dispatchers -- answered hundreds of calls for service, from first aid calls to disabled or stuck vehicles to residents reporting storm-related damage ”and everything in between,” Parker said.

“Many do not realize that behind the scenes, the unseen first, first responders are prepared and standing by for calls coming in from the public for assistance,” she said.

Manchester’s Public Safety Telecommunicators, led by Supervisor Dom del Pino, camped out at Police Headquarters during the storm, some for the entire weekend, she said, sleeping on cots.

“We are an important part of the emergency response system and you cannot have someone fail to show for work because the roads are impassable,” del Pino said. “For this reason, we encouraged our team to stay at police headquarters instead of risking dangerous driving conditions,” del Pino said.

Manchester Public Works assisted police, fire and medical personnel by clearing roads and shoveling so that stretchers and other emergency equipment could reach residents. Manchester’s three fire departments also assisted first aiders by shoveling and clearing snow, she said.

“This was truly a group effort by all to assist every resident who was in need,” Parker said.

(Photo left to right: Telecommunicators Jessica Francis, Deputy OEM Coordinator Mark Pellecchia, Jasmine Vaccaro, Communications Supervisor Domiano del Pino, Tyler Riker. Credit Manchester Police)