PP Nov 2015 Vol 7 Issue 6 Pages:Layout 2
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PREVENTIONPRESS Printed by the Howell Municipal Alliance • 2015 • Volume 7 • Issue 6 The Howell Alliance: Building a stronger community for a better tomorrow through prevention, education, and awareness. IN THE NEWS On the Back: Holiday Fun, Holiday Danger: Stay Safe This Season Meet Howell Township’s New Chief of Police, Andrew Kudrick, Jr. In July, Chief Andrew Kudrick, Jr. well-equipped and have a civilian- assumed leadership of the Howell run safety fund to raise money and Township Police Department, taking buy equipment for extras. This the torch from retiring Chief Ronald greatly helps provide what we need Carter. Chief Kudrick, a lifelong to keep our schools and officers Howell resident, worked his way up safe.” through the ranks of the department, starting as a police cadet at age 16 Howell’s police officers are proactive before becoming a 9-1-1 dispatcher, and visible throughout the community, a police officer, and department addressing and heading off potential leader in multiple capacities. During issues before problems arise. The his decades with the Howell Howell Police Department also has a Township Police Department, Chief dedicated crime suppression unit with Kudrick has worked in just about highly trained, experienced officers every department and at every level. focused primarily on narcotics and “I have been with the Howell police overdose death investigations. Howell force for over 21 years, and I still has several major highways such as have the same passion for serving Route 9 and I-195 running through, my community today as I did when I linking it to many cities known to have first started out,” comments Chief large drug distribution networks. Local Kudrick. “Like many of our officers, I live in Howell with dealers and users visit these cities to obtain drugs at a my family. I was raised in Howell and went through the lower price, which they then sell back here at more than Howell schools. As community members ourselves, double the price. we have a strong and vested interest in keeping Howell safe.” “Howell doesn’t have a significantly high crime rate, in part due to our police standards and stringent motor Chief Kudrick and the Howell Police Department have vehicle enforcement, which control crime,” says Chief four main areas of focus when it comes to protecting Kudrick. “Traffic enforcement keeps drugs and crime the Howell community: executing comprehensive off the streets while preventing further crimes due to a traffic and motor vehicle enforcement; stopping drug- fear of being caught. Proudly, Howell has led related crimes; securing safe schools; and maintaining Monmouth County many years with drunk driving community connection and education. Chief Kudrick arrests. When it comes to crime, drunk driving, and shares, “Howell police officers receive training that is drugs, our message is clear: Stay out of Howell. We’ve top in the state. In fact, we have been asked many directly heard drug dealers during investigations say times to train other police departments. We are also there is no way they will go into Howell.” Article continued on page 2 Page 1 COVER STORY CONTINUED Meet Howell Township’s New Chief of Police, Andrew Kudrick The Howell Police Department and Chief Kudrick work the start. People need to reach out to us for help closely with the schools, board of education, governing immediately, before the consequences are out of body, township management, and the Howell Alliance to control.” make sure all areas of concern are being addressed, consistently following best practices and updating policies Many Howell community members follow “Howell and procedures as the town’s demographics change. They Township Police 911 Communications” on Facebook, also value solid relationships with citizens and keeping the where Chief Kudrick himself posts updates on community educated about drug and alcohol abuse incidents, crime, and arrests throughout Howell. It is prevention and current drug and crime trends. just one way he maintains open, interactive communication with community members. “I am School resource officers are important when it comes to open and honest about what goes on here and how students developing a rapport with the police at an early I run the department. I feel citizens have a right to age. Students regularly communicating with a resource know what’s happening in their community and how officer builds trust and respect for law enforcement, which we are addressing it. I also like to hear their feedback encourages kids to share what they see and experience. and opinions,” states Chief Kudrick. “It is my personal Chief Kudrick and his department are currently joining mission to have our community members go to sleep forces with Howell Township Public Schools to bring more at night knowing their community is served and resource officers to the Howell schools, which previously protected by the finest police department.” had to be reduced due to budget cuts. This will be done through the newly-created Special Law Enforcement Chief Kudrick warns parents to be aware and that Officers Class III (SLEO III) state program. drug and alcohol abuse can happen to any kid, without exemption: “Parents must know the avenues “We all need to be connected and on the same page. It to take and remain educated on what to look out for. gives a full picture of our town, provides avenues for They need to reach out to us at the first sign of education and outreach, and tells us how we can all work something going wrong. We aren’t looking to open together to achieve each other’s missions,” comments Chief an investigation, but rather to help prevent the Kudrick. “We can’t do it on our own, and if there is an situation from getting worse. Call our police addiction, arrest, or any other negative police interaction, department, crime suppression unit, or juvenile then there has been a failure somewhere. Warning signs detectives, or send me a private inbox Facebook were missed, but hopefully not ignored. Parents and message. Everything is kept confidential, and we will community members need to be educated and aware, to help in whatever way we can, getting the proper remain cognizant of what is going on, so that when resources through the Howell Alliance and something unusual happens, we can address it, right from community outreach services.” Page 2 IN OUR COMMUNITY Initial Signs of Substance Use in Adolescents: Typical Teenage Behavior…or Time to Worry? Raising teenagers can be unbelievably difficult; Psychological with the increase in technology and decrease in Warning Signs of interpersonal interactions of today, it is becoming Drug Use: even harder. One of the most frequent struggles • Unexplained parents face is trying to understand whether their changes in child is exhibiting “typical adolescent behavior” or personality and if there may be something else contributing to the attitude academic and social issues they are noticing. • Sudden mood swings or changes In an effort to help parents in mood (hyper, identify when they need to agitated, giddy, reach out for additional lethargic, support, this article identi- unmotivated, fies the most common “spaced out,” early warning signs of anxious, or paranoid) substance abuse. Having • Increased irritability and anger (especially one, two, or three of these when asking the teen about his or her life) signs does not mean that your teen is using sub- Physical Warning Signs of Drug Use: stances; however, the • Blood shot eyes or dilated pupils more times that you can • Change in appetite or sleeping pattern say “yes” to these indica- • Decreased attention to appearance or tions, the more likely it is personal hygiene that additional evaluation and intervention is needed. If you find that many of these warning signs are true for your teenager, the first step is to have him Frequent Behavioral Warning Signs of or her evaluated by a professional who Drug Use: specializes in substance use to determine if use • Change in academic performance (dropping is occurring, and if so, what substance and how grades, attendance, and interest in frequently. There are many trained, professional schoolwork or grades) resources in your school and community to assist • Change in group of friends (hanging with with this process. Don’t be afraid to reach out to kids you don’t know; disassociating with the your teen’s school, his or her doctor, or a licensed usual group) local therapist to ask for help. The sooner you • Change in interests (dropping out of hobbies, intervene, the better the potential outcome will be sports, school activities, and clubs) for your child. • Change in obeying the rules (getting into trouble, not abiding by curfews, receiving Information provided by Dara Gasior, PsyD, detention) Director, High Focus Centers of Freehold, NJ • Change in spending (asking for more money, not explaining where money was spent) Page 3 Holiday Fun, Holiday Danger: Stay Safe This Season December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month Drunk driving accidents and • A blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or more fatal crashes rise during the is driving under the influence. holiday season as family and friends gather to • Driving under the influence of socialize and celebrate. A narcotics, marijuana, and light-hearted and fun certain prescription drugs is occasion can quickly turn just as dangerous—and into a lifetime of heartache deadly—as driving drunk. over one simple decision to get behind the wheel while • The night before Thanksgiving intoxicated. Designating a non-drinking driver, taking public is called “Black Wednesday” transportation, hitching a ride home with a sober friend, or or “Blackout Wednesday” hiring a cab or car service are choices you can make to stay because it is one of the most safe this holiday season, whether heading a distance or just popular nights for binge around the corner.