Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Tuesday, January 9, was a great success with our largest turnout yet! We had 75 law enforcement, representing 19 departments*, arrived in 45 cars that drove through our campus to be blessed with a drive-thru breakfast and more! Special excitement came as two state troopers arrived on horseback!
The Mayor of Piscataway, Brian Wahler, joined us as well.
With flashing lights and sirens, the cars pulled in to receive their appreciation gifts which included a Bible or devotional, a Chick-fil-A sandwich (donated by the Chic-fil-A of South Plainfield), a breakfast bag of goodies, and a cup of hot coffee/tea/hot chocolate served by our wonderful parent volunteers. They were thanked and cheered on by the administrative team, all our elementary students, Timothy the Tiger, and our cheerleaders! Students made handwritten notes and colored a beautiful banner to show their appreciation and encourage our law enforcement guests.
Students were especially excited to see some of their relatives in the line! Ten of our students have a parent or relative in law enforcement who came to be appreciated: Dunellen Police Department – Chief Dan Smith (Uncle), Edison Police Department – Al Dutka (retired, Catenaro Grandfather), Homeland Security – Christian Gordon – (Parent), Rutgers Police & Middlesex County Corrections Office – Jesus & Marlise Correa (Parents), NY Police Department – Richard and Sabrina (retired) & Detective Jennifer Hamilton & Lt. Pj Hamilton (Parents), Probation Officer – Monica Gilbert (Parent), Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office – Detective Sara Dugan (Aunt), Springfield Police Department – Officer Foster Ziegler (Parent), NJ State Police – Dwayne Phillips (Parent), Union City Police Department – Officer Sean O’Donnell (Uncle).
For the second year now, we offered the officers the opportunity to stop for prayer before leaving our campus. Pastor, Bill Page, board member and alumni parent, set up a booth and prayed with the officers.
Law Enforcement Day is a wonderful opportunity to show our appreciation to those who serve and sacrifice to protect us and to remind our students that we are to show respect and submit to governing authorities as God’s Word instructs us to do. We know from Romans 13:1 that all authority comes from God, and God has placed them in their positions of authority.
The TCS community is deeply grateful for every officer who serves to protect our school and our families in the towns where they reside. Our school will continue to pray for their protection.
*Dunellen Borough Police Department, Edison Township Police Department, Highland Park Police Department, Hillsborough Township Police Department, Homeland Security, Linden Police Department, Middlesex Prosecutor’s Office, Mayor of Piscataway, Piscataway Township Police Department, Rutgers University Police Department – RUPD, North Brunswick Police Department, New York Police Department, Plainfield Police Department, Scotch Plains Police Department, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, Springfield Police Department, New Jersey State Police, Union City Police Department, Union Township Police
