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POMPTON LAKES - $1,000 donated to buy flashlights
(by Leslie Scott - Staff Writer - March 19, 2008)
POMPTON LAKES - Local police officers will find their night vision greatly improved with a set of new flashlights.
Residents Tim and Michelle Drag donated over $1,000 worth of new flashlight equipment to the Police Department.
Acting Chief William Smith and Lt. David Struyk said they were both surprised when the Drags called and asked how they could help.
“I was truly surprised. I was a little shocked that they wanted to do it. I know we’ve had some bad press in the past, and it was a really good news for me that someone would do this,” said Struyk.
Tim explained, “We don’t have much time to donate so we figured we should try and make a donation of some goods for the betterment of the town.”
Struyk said he talked with the acting chief and a few of the department members and they all agreed they could use some new flashlights.
The ones the department previously used were more than 15 years old and the department was looking to replace them anyway.
The new flashlights are state of the art and cost $130 apiece. The Drags purchased eight, one for each vehicle, including replacement bulbs and special attachments so the officers can use the light when they have to direct traffic at night.
The new flashlights are rechargeable and more rugged, and they’re made with LED lights.
“They are a lot brighter than your average flashlight and they last a lot longer so it is kind of the new thing for the Police Department to get these new LED lights,” the lieutenant said.
The overhead lights on the newer police cars now have LED lights, Struyk said.
“People can see them better,” he said.
Although Michelle grew up in the borough, together the Drags have lived in Pompton for the past two years. Tim, who grew up in nearby Pompton Plains, a section of Pequannock, said he thinks the borough is great except for the taxes.
“We wanted to give them something they really needed that would make the town a safer and better place to live,” said Tim.
The chief and the lieutenant were happy they decided to donate the flashlights.
“It was an incredible thing for him to do,” said Smith.
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