Police & Fire

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — The state associations representing South Orange police officers and fire fighters have issued a joint statement today denouncing the intention of the South Orange Board of Trustees — and Village President Sheena Collum in specific — to freeze their pay for the next two budget years.

“The Village President of South Orange, Sheena C. Collum has again ...

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — A South Orange Police Officer has been administratively charged following a Use of Force Incident on Jan. 22; SOPD is seeking his removal.

The officer arrested a suspect the vicinity of the South Orange Train Station on Sloan Street at 12:05 a.m. that day; suspects are always innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The camera recording the incident ...

EAST ORANGE, NJ — Acting Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens, II, and East Orange Public Safety Director Dominick Saldida announced today that Tevin Molentiel, 28, and Tamika Dorsey, 36, both of East Orange, have been charged with multiple child abuse offenses following an investigation by the Special Victims Unit of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.

The victim, a ...

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — A pedestrian has died after being struck by a Coach USA bus, operated under contract to NJ Transit, in downtown South Orange.

The incident happened shortly after 1:30 p.m. today, at the corner of South Orange Avenue and Valley Street. The bus involved in the incident is operated by Coach USA, and the driver is employed by that company. The ...

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Although full Police Week ceremonies are among the numerous events canceled by coronavirus quarantine, the South Orange Police Department participated in a moment of silence today for New Jersey police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty and were added to the Police Memorial Wall in Washington, DC. 

“During Police Week, it’s ...

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Maplewood Fire Department provided an All Hands response to reports of a smoke condition coming out of Maplewood Deli and Subs, located at 1628 Springfield Avenue shortly before 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 10. Upon arrival, it was discovered the business was closed and no one was in attendance.

To enable the firefighters to gain entry and attend to the source ...

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — When the South Orange Fire Department received a generous gift of medical masks to supplement their personal protective equipment, they turned around and shared the wealth. After all, the masks are worth their weight in gold right now.

Dr. Kaixuan Liu of Atlantic Spine Center donated 4,500 masks to SOFD. And in turn, the department divided them nearly equally between ...

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — With a sense of urgency as the community faces mounting losses in the public and private sectors during the coronavirus crisis, the South Orange Board of Trustees are working toward presenting a budget for a public hearing in May. And they are asking the union-represented employees of the Village for a “shared sacrifice” to get there.

“Right now, in ...

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — At approximately 2:30 this afternoon, during the start of the heavy windstorm and potential of lighting and hail, a large tree came down together with primary and secondary wires at 475 Irvington Avenue.

The South Orange Fire and Police Departments are on scene and have closed the road in both directions. PSE&G had been notified of the situation will shut of the ...

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — When an ambulance is called for in South Orange, no bill is sent out. That's because the South Orange Rescue Squad is staffed by voluntary EMT's who have not slowed down during the coronavirus crisis. 

“How lucky we are to have such dedicated and hard-working members,” said SORS Captain Sean Cass. “We’re all ...