COMMUNITY POLICING EVENTS & SERVICES

The Raritan Borough Police Department takes pride in our community policing efforts and the services we provide. We host the following events and offer the following services:

D.A.R.E. to resist drugs and violence logo

DARE is a highly acclaimed program that gives kids the skills they need to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs, and violence. 

The Raritan Borough Police Department is committed to the health, safety and well-being of our children. We offer the DARE program to 5th grade students. 

National Night Out Logo

The Raritan Borough Police Department hosts National Night Out on the first Tuesday in August. National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie.

Leader of the Pack John Basilone Parade Essay Contest logo

The Raritan Borough Police Department sponsors an annual essay contest for 4th grade students at St. Anns School and John F. Kennedy School. A winner from each school is selected to ride along in the lead police cars during the John Basilone Parade.

Residents can register to call the Raritan Borough Police Department and leave a message letting us know they are okay, on a daily basis. If the department fails to receive a call/message, a police officer will respond and check on the resident’s well-being. Contact police headquarters to register.

The Raritan Borough Police Department has joined the New Jersey Attorney General’s “Project Medicine Drop” initiative, and has installed a permanent Project Medicine Drop Box at police headquarters.

Residents may visit the Raritan Borough Police Department at any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, to dispose of their unused, unwanted and expired prescription and over the counter medications.

Reminders:

  • Syringes and other sharp instruments will not be accepted.
  • It is recommended that labels with personal identifying information be removed from bottles.
  • Please ensure the cap is tightly sealed on liquid products to prevent leakage.

We offer vacation house checks as a complimentary service to the residents of the Borough. The Raritan Borough Police Department will conduct periodic checks of your residence while you are out of town. Contact police headquarters for details.

The Raritan Borough Police Department is committed to the safety of the children in our community. New Jersey Law mandates that all children under the age of 8 MUST be in an approved child seat. It is paramount to the safety of your child that a child seat be PROPERLY installed. The Raritan Borough Police Department currently has one (1) office with the National Child Passenger Safety Certification, trained to properly install your child safety seat free of charge. Contact Sergeant Benjamin Griffin at 908-725-6700 ext. 18 or griffin@raritanpd.org to schedule an appointment

Download Operation Blue Angel Application

Operation Blue Angel is a program offered by the Raritan Borough Police Department to assist residents who due to advanced age, mobility, or medical concerns may be unable to answer their door during an emergency.

The program is administered free of charge to any eligible resident.

Through Operation Blue Angel, a police department-owned lock box (similar to a realtor’s lock box) is installed on a door of the home. A key, supplied by the resident, is locked inside the box. In the event of an emergency, responding police officers are able to retrieve the key by using a confidential code allowing us to quickly enter the home without causing damage.

Applicants to Operation Blue Angel must meet certain criteria and agree to the following terms and conditions:

  • Must be 55 years of age or older or have a medical condition that is potentially incapacitating
  • Must either live alone, or be home alone on a frequent basis
  • Must provide a key (or keys) for an entry door to the home
  • Must grant the Raritan Borough Police Department permission to access and use the key in an emergency. A provided waiver form must be notarized and included with the application.
  • The Police Department maintains ownership of the lock box, and if a participant moves from the residence they must notify the Police Department so that the lock box may be retrieved.
  • For security purposes the resident will not be given the code to the lock box and may not request access to the lock box except in a medical emergency.

Please contact Detective Kathleen Sausa at 908-725-6700 ext. 19 or sausak@raritanpd.org if you meet the criteria and would like to participate in this free program.

Neighborhood Watch logo

Neighborhood Watch is a crime prevention program that enlists the active participation of residents in cooperation with law enforcement to reduce crime, solve problems, and improve the quality of life in your area.

Feel free to contact Raritan Police Headquarters, if you have any questions about our events and programs.

In October 2020 the Raritan Police Department was 1 of 7 agencies selected by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office to participate in their Breast Cancer Awareness initiative. The seven police vehicles were wrapped in pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

No Shave November logo

Every November, the Raritan Police Department participates in No Shave November. Members who elect to participate make a donation to a cancer organization that is selected by the Raritan Police Benevolent Association Local #82.

Officers posing with candy mustaches for No Shave November

The Raritan Borough Police Department hosts a “Chief for a Day” event.  An elementary school-aged student is selected to be the unofficial Chief of Police for a day.  The candidate is outfitted with an official “chief’s uniform” and accompanies officers throughout the day. Our Chief for a Day is exposed to daily operational duties, community policing, and special perks reserved only for the Chief of Police.