Fairfield (NJ) The Fairfield Police Department hosted two community meetings on March 14, 2023. Both were very well attended. Special attendees included Senator Kristin Corrado, Essex County Prosecutor Theodore M. Stephens II, Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, Homeland Security Special Agent in Charge Ricky Patel, Essex County Chief of Detectives Mitchell G. McGuire III, Township Administrator James Gasparini, Mayor William Galese as well as members of the town council.
Chief Manna introduced his Executive Staff and all other officers who were in attendance. He also spoke about bail reform, which included directing guests to sign a petition prior to leaving requesting the reform of bail reform. To sign the petition and learn more about this initiative, click on this link: https://safestreetsnj.com/.
Lieutenant Frank Tracey thoroughly educated attendees on home burglaries, car thefts, catalytic converter thefts, scams, frauds, thefts, and home defense.
In addition, the Fairfield Police unveiled its new mobile app called Atlas One, becoming the first police department in New Jersey to use this app, which is used nationwide.
Atlas One is a location-based public safety network that sends alerts to your smartphone. The free mobile application also gives the public unprecedented access to services, all at their fingertips. Users can access links to social media, our website, press releases, accident reports, alarm registrations, firearms application information and more. Also available are quick buttons to call the main phone line, the detective bureau, as well as to send an email right to us.
The app allows Fairfield PD to send geo-fenced push notification alerts when a public safety issue occurs nearby a user’s current location, or places residents care about, such as their home, school, or office. Alerts are interactive, and can include text, photos, videos, documents, and even voice recordings. Users can also explore nearby incidents, events, places, and interactive guides.
Atlas One was built to offer residents unprecedented access to real-time information. Users can be comfortable sharing their location with Atlas One knowing their data is safe. Location access simply allows the application to notify you if an emergency is occurring nearby. Users can still be notified if alerts occur nearby favorite places, even if they choose not to share their location.
By downloading this app, you also have the availability of following other police departments throughout the country. If you are in another state with a department who also uses the Atlas One app, you will have the ability to follow that department and receive real-time notifications from those departments just like you would ours.
Download Atlas One on the App Store or Google Play store. Once downloaded, you must create a free account. Then search for Fairfield PD and follow us.
The Fairfield Police Department also announced its partnership with “Ariya’s Wish” a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises awareness and funds for Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy (INAD) research. INAD is a rare, inherited disorder of the body's nervous system. It affects axons, the part of a neuron (nerve cell) that carries messages from the brain to other parts of the body. INAD causes loss of vision, muscular control, and mental skills. It starts to present in children between the ages of 6 months to 3 years. This disease is so rare that it is estimated only 150 children worldwide are affected by it.
Fairfield resident, 8-year-old Ariya Panwala, was diagnosed with INAD at age 2. She was just 14 months old when the first symptoms of the disease appeared. After her diagnosis, Ariya’s parents, Leena, and Anil, learned that not much was known about the disease and that little funding was dedicated to researching it. In response, they founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to raise funds for critical research that could lead to a treatment for INAD and other PLA2G6-related neurodegenerative (PLAN) disorders.
All Fairfield officers are wearing Ariya’s Wish buttons to show their support. Additionally, magnets have been affixed to Fairfield police cars all in an effort to raise awareness to this debilitating disease. For more information on Ariya’s Wish, go to: www.ariyaswish.org.
Attendees were sent home with packets containing other valuable information that was not covered in the meeting. If you would like a packet there are still some available, it can also be sent to you digitally by requesting one. Email us at police@fairfieldnj.org.
