Jersey City Police Officer Cora Kerton has become more than a local presence with her work as a Community Relations Officer.
Kerton, 38, is a nominee for the 2009 All-Star Contest on the long-running crime show “America’s Most Wanted.” The contest started in February and runs until April 12.
A police officer for the past six years, Kerton is one of 99 nominees for whom the public can vote once a day by going to www.amw.com. The nominee who receives the most votes each week will be announced on an episode of “America’s Most Wanted,” which broadcasts locally on Channel 5 at 9 p.m. Saturday nights.
The weekly finalist with the most votes at the end of the contest will win $10,000 and a weekend trip in May to the NASCAR SPRINT Cup Series All-Star Race in Concord, North Carolina.
“It’s what I do all the time.” – Cora Kerton
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Kerton says she is still “surprised and excited” about being chosen as a nominee, and she was modest.
“It wasn’t a big deal to me, I was asked to check in on her and I did,” Kerton said. “It’s what I do all the time.”
But it was a big deal to Jerome Colwell, who works for the city’s Department of Health and Human Services. Colwell was the person who asked Kerton to check in on the senior citizen, and was responsible for nominating Kerton for the contest.
“Our police officers do so many things in the community that doesn’t get noticed by the media,” Colwell said. “Cora is one of them.”
Police Director Samuel Jefferson said he was “proud” of Kerton being chosen for the contest.
The Police Department website (www.njjcpd.org) also has a link to the contest website.
America’s most helpful
When Cora Kerton first met 76-year-old Mary Jackson in November, it was to give her tips on how to secure her apartment in a six-family home near the corner of Grant Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive, where Jackson lived alone.
“Her apartment was an easy target as there were eight windows and two doors that led into the apartment,” Kerton said.
And there was the fact that Jackson was legally blind, making it easier for robbers to prey on her.
Soon Kerton became a part of Jackson’s life, to the point where Kerton helped Jackson find a safe, new home in a senior citizen building in downtown Jersey City.
And she continues to stay in touch and help Jackson.
“All seniors want is, nine times of 10, for people to know that they exist,” Kerton said.
Kerton said that helping Jackson also reminds her of when she faced a difficult time in her life and someone was there to help her. Kerton did not offer specifics on that situation.
However, Kerton recalled the effort of someone else that started her on a life in law enforcement.
Before she was Cora the police officer, she was Cora the homemaker, taking care of two daughters. But when her ex-husband was considering a career in law enforcement, he found he did not have the qualifications but saw that his wife did.
“He told me to sign up, but at first I was hesitant,” Kerton said. “Then I took the state exam and scored very high.”
The University of Maryland graduate, who was looking at a career in advertising, went instead to work in the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Jersey City Police Department.
And now Kerton has achieved a higher profile than she expected.
“I was at Jersey City’s Black History Month event last month, and they are mentioning all the great figures and then my name is mentioned,” Kerton said. “I just started tearing up because I didn’t expect it, and no way can compare to those people. I am just doing my job.”
Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonrreporter.com.