In July a young boy took his sister’s bike without her permission, and when he left it unattended, it disappeared.
The boy went on to the Guttenberg Police Station and told them about the missing bike. Because he was a juvenile, the police visited his house and soon met a crying little girl, said Police Officer Rafael Martinez.
The nature of the crime wasn’t unusual in the least, but what the police officers did next surprised 9-year-old Judith Ortiz.
Her neighbor Marcello Gomez said that when the police went out to search for the bike, Judith prayed that they would find it. When the officers showed up empty-handed, she “went to sleep crying” and prayed all night, said Gomez.
“Thank you so much for your very kind heart.” – Judith Ortiz
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Martinez, along with Sgt. James D’Amore and police officers Mark DePew, James Hosie and Laura Sorto pooled their money and decided to replace Ortiz’s bike. The officers are a part of the E Squad.
“I basically went back to the police station [that day and the] little girl’s face was stuck in my head, so I said ‘lets chip in together’ and bought her a bicycle next day,” said Martinez.
Reads letter
Ortiz was astonished that someone, let alone police officers, would do something like that for her. She decided to write a letter to thank them.
At the Guttenberg Council Meeting on Aug. 24, she read it to some of the officers who had bought her the bike.
She said that she didn’t know how nice police officers were. Gomez said it moved the whole family.
“I was surprised and happy when you bought me a new [bike],” said Ortiz. “Thank you so much for your very kind heart. I will always have you in mind, mind and spirit.”
A different burglary
Public Safety Director Michael Caliguiro said that the police officers usually had dealt with house and car burglaries, but that the case of the stolen bike touched their hearts.
“We’re very fortunate in this town to have a very hard-working police department,” said Mayor Gerald Drasheff. “This is something that touched them indirectly and they reached into their pockets.”
The officers who purchased the bike were named officers of the month at the meeting.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.
Mayor celebrates birthday at council meeting
After the Aug. 24 council meeting, Guttenberg Mayor Gerald Drasheff was given a surprise birthday party.
Before cutting cake, several resolutions were passed including a $22,000 tax refund for Post Management, Corp. for 2007. The business, which is located on 68th Street in Guttenberg, filed a tax appeal against the municipality in the Tax Court of New Jersey. Drasheff said that the town’s tax consultants recommended that they settle out of court.
The town also cancelled all bids for the future waterfront park on River Road because the State Department of Environmental Protection has not yet approved the project.
Public Safety Director Michael Caliguiro was appointed the town administrator and Marisa Perry was hired as an assistant clerk to the courts. – TT