Mahoney named man of the year
Paying tribute to a police officer who has had a distinguished career, the Bayonne Police Emerald Society has named James “Moe” Mahoney as its man of the year.
This is an annual tribute that is part of the society’s Half Way to St. Patrick’s Day festivities.
Mahoney has received numerous commendations, departmental awards, and letters of appreciation from the community.
Mahoney founded an all-law-enforcement motorcycle club called the Hired Guns MC, and as its president was instrumental in raising funds for the families of officers hurt or killed in the line of duty. He also helped raise funds for soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan through the Wounded Warrior Project.
Sworn in as a police officer in 1988, Mahoney was appointed to the narcotics division in 1990, where he earned a reputation as a hard-working, no-nonsense officer. After a brief return to patrol duty, he was assigned to Community Oriented Policing in 1995 where he excelled, making a name for himself as someone who helped maintain order in one of the toughest areas of the city.
He developed the Safe Haven program providing safe places for kids to go after school, while at the same time, he developed a good relationship with the senior-citizen community regularly attending meetings of East 21st Street seniors, often helping them take trips.
Mahoney also became one of the founding members of the Cops in Schools program, and during his stint there disarmed a student carrying a handgun at the risk of getting shot. He was honored by the NJ State PBA as a result and received the State Valor Award. He went on to teach the anti-drug program, DARE.
Eventually, he returned to the narcotics unit and again displayed his abilities in what turned out to be a violent pursuit in which his car got rammed, and then on foot, he eventually arrested his suspect.
Mahoney will be honored on Saturday, Oct. 19 at an event held at St. Andrews School at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and include a fish or chicken dinner, wine, soda, and entertainment by the Bantry Boys and the Essex Emeralds Pipe and Drum Band.
For more information, call Jim Donovan at (201) 248-6922. For other advanced ticket sales call John Balance at (201) 376-1829.
Bayonne attorney indicted on forgery charge
Peter Cresci, former business administrator and assistant city attorney, was indicted on July 9 by a state Superior Court for allegedly forging the signature of a client to gain access to $25,000.
Cresci, 46, of Bayonne, has a private practice that deals with a number of local clients, and he has been charged with allegedly forging the signature of a client to gain access to money that was part of a settlement. He allegedly never told his client that he had taken the money.
The case has resulted in some changes of procedure in the city, requiring people working to settle tax-appeal cases to appear in person at the settlement hearing.
A statement from his attorney was not available by press time.
Hudson County towns share $271 grant
The Hudson County Board of Freeholders authorized the acceptance of a $271,842 grant from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.
The 2013 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant is administered through the United States Department of Justice. It permits local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime. It is based on the municipalities own particular needs and conditions.
The following Hudson County municipalities are eligible to receive funding:
City of Bayonne $16,515
City of Hoboken $15,614
City of Jersey City $184,397
Township of North Bergen $10,009
City of Union City $27,424
Town of West New York $17,883
This program spans a period of 48 months during which the federal government is expected to provide a total of $271,842 without requiring matching funds from the County.
“The Hudson County Board of Freeholders is committed to providing the necessary resources to assist police agencies in the municipalities of Hudson County,” says Freeholder Chairman Anthony L. Romano.
The grant is named for a police officer in New York, and the funds go through each prosecutor’s office to be used for law-enforcement purposes . Hoboken will dedicate its money for the purchase of radios, officials said.