TOMS RIVER – Instead of serving a summons, police officers were serving food at the annual Vest-A-Cop fundraiser.
Families came from all around to the downtown area where they ate outside. Officers took orders back to the local restaurants and served as wait staff. It’s a way for people to interact with the police in a fun, relaxing way as well as raise money to buy protective vests.
Besides food, there were a number of family-centered activities like face painting and a dunk tank. Washington Street was closed down and vendor tables lined both sides.
This used to be hosted by the Pizza Hut on Route 37 but it moved down here three years ago, said Officer Kyle Lamar, who organized the event. Now in its 34th year, he said that approximately 70 volunteers from the department signed up.
They expected to bring in around $50,000 for the lifesaving vests, he said. This included sponsors as well as raffles, sales of shirts, and a portion of meals.
The department is switching over to different vests. He explained that normally they are worn under uniforms. These new ones will be outside them and cost between $1,000-$1,500 depending on the vendor. They have a five-year lifespan.
The first Vest-A-Cop was organized by Kelly Conklin, who ran it for a number of years before retiring.
“When it started, there were 12 of us waiting tables,” Conklin said. Now it has grown to be a huge, annual fest that hundreds of people look forward to.
“It became a thing to do every year – we go to Vest-A-Cop. Now, of course, it’s been taken to a whole new level,” he said.
He noted the support of other groups, such as the county that leant a stage and the Sheriff’s Department having an identification booth for kids.
It was Chief Peter Sundack’s first public event as leader of the department. “We deeply appreciate the community support at Vest-A-Cop events,” he said, noting that people of all backgrounds and cultures came out for the evening.
Vest-A-Cop also served as National Night Out, where the community and police officers are encouraged to interact in a laid-back fair-like atmosphere to create positive relationships. It’s held in many towns across the country.
Local schools raised money as well, officials said. A $1 donation from kids allowed them to wear pajamas to school for one day at Washington Street Elementary, for example. East Dover Elementary Principal Matthew Gray dyed his hair blue, keeping a promise to kids who raised money. These were just two of the many schools that contributed to a good cause.
