Police & Fire Top Stories
By SHARAYA “RAE” COLLINS
May 10, 2026
WEST ORANGE, NJ — Local officials are taking a multi-layered approach to public safety in West Orange, rolling out new programs and policies aimed at strengthening community trust, protecting pedestrians, and enhancing transparency in policing.Recent efforts led by the West Orange Police Department ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – A fire on Clarken Avenue Wednesday afternoon resulted in the death of one occupant of the residence.Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and West Orange Fire Chief Anthony Vecchio announced that an investigation is underway into the fatal fire at 108 Clarken Ave. that ...
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — A fire broke out in downtown South Orange at the corner of Vose and East South Orange Avenue around 3 p.m. on Saturday.Mayor Sheena Collum ordered the closure of Springfield Avenue, and all traffic to be rerouted around the area so as not to impede access for the various fire ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – Mayor Susan McCartney presided over a swearing in ceremony for two West Orange Fire Department promotions at Town Hall on February 24th. West Orange Fire Chief Anthony Vecchio made brief remarks and offered high praise as he introduced the promotees. Captain Gary Braus Jr. was ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – Department of Public Works crews are still working on clearing the large amount of snow that fell during the blizzard. Because parked cars are making the job more difficult throughout the narrower streets in West Orange, Essex County is allowing West Orange residents to use ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – Due to the extreme snow totals expected with this winter storm, Essex County has granted West Orange residents temporary parking in Parking Deck #3, located at the South Mountain Reservation Complex.Parking Deck #3 is in the rear of the Richard J. Codey Arena, not the deck visible ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – With Essex County now included in the areas under a blizzard warning for Sunday into Monday, the township has issued the following weather statement on Saturday afternoon:Due to the expected snowstorm beginning on Sunday afternoon, please be advised of the following:Garbage and ...
FAIRFIELD, NJ – A suspect from Paterson is the subject of a manhunt after Fairfield police issued a notice seeking the public's help in determining his whereabouts after an assault incident.Jheyson Condori-Campos, 31, is wanted on weapons related charges stemming from an incident that occurred on ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – There was a water main break in the area of 772 Northfield Ave. on Tuesday morning.All Northfield Avenue eastbound lanes were closed at Old Short Hills Road. Essex County DPW and New Jersey American Water Company were responding. One westbound lane remained open. The roadway ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – Pleasant Valley Way was shut down late Thursday morning because of a water main break.The road was closed from Mt. Pleasant Avenue to Old Indian Road.The break is in front of 1155 Pleasant Valley Way. New Jersey American Water was at the scene assessing the damage. The Essex ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – A shelter-in-place order was implemented at West Orange High School on Wednesday morning after multiple students reported concerns to school administration that a student may have been in possession of a weapon or a weapon accessory. The student in question was located and ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – A fire at a Westwood Drive residence early Friday morning claimed one life.Essex County Prosecutor Theodore N. Stephens II and West Orange Fire Department Chief Anthony Vecchio announced today that an investigation is underway into the house fire that killed a woman.The fire broke ...
NEWARK, N.J. – According to a press release from the United States Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey, Senior Counsel Philip Lamparello announced that a West Orange man pleaded guilty to a three-count Information based on his online enticement and exploitation of minors. Nabeen Leigh ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – Ana Millan grew up on Virginia Avenue, and her parents, Mario and Patty, still reside there. Ana was surprised and upset when Patty told her that there was an ICE raid on the street between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9.Patty said that during high school pick-up hours, ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – The township of West Orange is rescinding its overnight parking ordinance for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Years. People can park their cars on the street in West Orange from 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. from 6 p.m. Dec. 12 to 6 a.m. Jan. 5.
WEST ORANGE, NJ – During the November 24 council meeting, Captain Patrick Matullo introduced himself to attendees. He shared, “Prior to my promotion to captain, I was in charge of the Traffic Bureau for eight and a half years. I worked out of the Valley Road Sub Station down there, so I basically ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – During the recent town council meeting, Ezra McClendon and several of his neighbors spoke about needing parking permits, which was a topic during the last town council meeting. McClendon stated, “There's a lack of respect for anything below Rollinson. It's almost like anything ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – According to the West Orange Police Department, “Incidents of alleged bomb threats at Washington and Gregory Schools were received this morning as well in other voting locations around the state. Both West Orange locations were investigated and subsequently cleared by WOPD around ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – Monday, October 20, weather permitting, the Township of West Orange will begin roadway improvements on Rooney Circle. The first phase is sidewalk and curb work and will take approximately two weeks. The streets will then be milled and resurfaced. Business owners will be notified ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ — Three of four women accused of human trafficking a teenage girl in Essex County have been arrested – including a West Orange resident. Authorities are searching for the fourth, according to authorities. The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office (ECPO) said that the 17-year-old victim ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – Joseph Fagan, Township Information Officer, shared the West Orange Fire Department's statement about a house fire that began in the attic earlier today, leaving the house uninhabitable. “The West Orange Fire Department (WOFD) was operating at a structure fire in a 2.5-story ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – During last week’s town council meeting, Jackie Parisi reported that cars are speeding dangerously near the new senior apartment complex at 46 Mt. Pleasant. She shared that she’s a teacher and was home during the summer, which enabled her to witness buses and trucks careening down ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – The West Orange Police Department is requesting the public's assistance with locating a missing person. On September 5, at approximately 12:55 p.m., Mr. Shamir Brown (age 24), walked away from his residence near Valley Road and Central Avenue (Orange border). Mr. Brown was last ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – The West Orange Police Department has asked residents to contact them if they see the teen in the photo above. He is non-verbal and autistic. The unidentified male walked away from a disability facility located on Main Street in West Orange. He was last seen at approximatively ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – The West Orange Police Department is requesting assistance with locating a missing female who suffers from memory loss. Jestina Banks-Freeman, walked away from her residence earlier this morning at approximately midnight. Her home is near the Harrison Avenue section of West Orange ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – A man called the West Orange Police Department around 2:37 a.m. on Sunday morning and reported that he had been shot. Emergency Dispatch took him to Cooper Barnabas Medical Center.According to West Orange Information Officer Joe Fagan, the victim was able to speak but refused to ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – West Orange Police reported that 280 East is currently shutdown due to flooding. Delays are expected around West Orange on all major roadways. Please report current road conditions that you experience in the comments to advise others about travel situations.
WEST ORANGE, NJ – According to the West Orange Police Department (WOPD), on July 19 at approximately 1:09 am, their units responded to 446 Main Street to a reported motor vehicle crash, involving an NJ Transit bus into the building at 446 Main Street, Oak Tree Nail Salon. “Minor injuries were ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – The West Orange Police Department is requesting the public's assistance with locating a missing person. According to police, Cairo Johnson (aged 24), left his residence (Harrison Avenue area, near the Montclair border) on June 12, 2025, at approximately 1:00 p.m. “He was last seen ...
WEST ORANGE, NJ – The West Orange Police Department recently concluded its "West Orange Older Adult Safety Academy." According to Officer Karen Mango, “[This class] brings older adults together to learn about prevalent crimes such as fraud, identity theft and other current threats. Participants ...