Community Policing Key to Quelling Bad Behavior

By MADDY VITALE Rowdy teens showing up on bikes, being obnoxious and disrespectful, shoplifting, destroying or defacing property, underage drinking and testing out fake IDs at bars are some of the issues that shore communities are dealing with this summer. All the while, communities struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic and the uptick in cases. On Wednesday, state lawmakers and elected officials detailed the difficulties of dealing with all of the problems. During a meeting of the New Jersey License Beverage Association (NJLBA) held at the Oar House Pub in Sea Isle City, members and guest speakers discussed the issues arising this summer. The owner of the Oar House, James Bennett, the Cape May County director of the NJLBA, told the audience that it was an important meeting and thanked those in attendance for showing support to those working in the hospitality industry during such a challenging time. Among the speakers were Sea Isle City Mayor Leonard Desiderio, who is also the vice director of the Cape May County Commissioners, NJLBA President James Filler, NJLBA Executive Director Diane Weiss, Sen. Michael Testa, Assemblyman Antwan McClellan and Assemblyman Erik Simonsen. Testa, McClellan and Simonsen represent the First Legislative District, which includes the Cape May County shore communities. Desiderio, who owns Kix McNutley’s, a bar and restaurant in Sea Isle, said in his more than 40 years in the industry this is the “worst” summer he has seen when it comes to minors trying to use fake IDs to buy liquor. “This year has been something out of sight. The parents are trying to get the underage people in. We have had more problems. When they come with a fake ID, it is all on us to do our job. None of us want to serve underage people,” Desiderio noted. He continued, “We do not gain anything for serving anyone underage. Unfortunately, when they get in we are the ones who have the problems as soon as they enter our establishment.”

The mayor said that in some cases, parents have tried to bribe his Kix McNulty’s employees to let their teens in. “This year, the parents have been unbelievable in trying to get their (kids) in,” Desiderio explained. Desiderio thanked the lawmakers, law enforcement officers and Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffery Sutherland, the chief law enforcement officer of the county, for attending the meeting. Testa said that he, along with McClellan and Simonsen, “are a family that will be fighting for your industry.” “I look at some of the bar owners I have known and how they have had to innovate. You are able to survive and thrive during an era when others couldn’t survive. You are dealing with labor shortages in the hospitality industry,” Testa said, adding that he worked as a bartender years ago. He added, “We are here for you. We have fought many of the insane policies that have come out of Trenton since we have been elected. Your industry cannot afford another lockdown. We will be there for you.”

McClellan and Simonsen echoed Testa’s sentiments. They said that they understand the difficulties those in the hospitality industry are facing due to the pandemic and unruly teens. The lawmakers will go to Trenton and continue to fight for Cape May County. “We will work with you and whatever we can do, we will,” McClellan said. “You guys make sure this summer is nine times better than last summer and next summer it will be 10 times better than this summer. We will fight for you and work with the Prosecutor’s Office. We will continue to work for you. Cape May County is the best county for families in the state.” Simonson said he grew up in Cape May County and knows the importance of the industry. “I’ve been involved in the bars and restaurant industry,” Simonsen said. “I’ve worked in kitchens and bars before I was a musician. We are here in the Assembly and the Senate to help your businesses survive.” Among law enforcement representatives in attendance at the NJLBA meeting were Sea Isle Police Chief Tom McQuillen and Sea Isle Police Lt. Steve Conte, Cape May County Sheriff Robert Nolan, Undersheriff Steve Long.

Both Sea Isle and Ocean City Police Departments have stepped up their police presence on the Promenade, the Boardwalk, and downtowns to curb unruly behavior, underage drinking, and other disruptive behavior. During a City Council meeting on Tuesday, Desiderio outlined Sea Isle’s strategy to curb unruly teenage behavior. The measures include an increased police presence and having the beach entrances closed at 10 p.m. each night to prevent large groups from congregating. On Wednesday afternoon, Sea Isle Police Officers Edward Adams, 20, and Ryan Grant, 24, walked the length of the Promenade and greeted families, handing out Junior Police Badge stickers to kids and speaking with parents and guardians. It is an important part of both Sea Isle and Ocean City police departments’ push in community policing to help forge mutual respect and trust between officers and youth, police say. Adams and Grant also walked along the crowded beach to introduce themselves and speak with people. Families chatted with the officers as they walked along. Officials say collaboration between the communities is what it will take to quell the spate of recent unruly behavior and take charge and take back the shore communities for the residents and visitors.