Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.
Every Saturday, the South Jersey Times cheers those who make our area a better place in which to live and jeers those whose actions merit derision.
CHEERS: To Rowan University a cappella group Profecy A Cappella for sharing an important message in song. The group is one of 14 semi-finalists selected in the "Til it Happens to You: Sing for Survivors" contest. The Lady Gaga song, Til it Happens to You, was featured in the documentary The Hunting Ground, a film about sexual assault on college campuses. The song and film inspired the contest, which drew nationwide submissions from groups performing their own renditions of Gaga's song. Kudos to Prophecy for shining a light on this subject locally and representing us on the national stage. The deadline to vote for your favorite rendition was Friday and the top-three vote getters will be judged by an elite panel.
JEERS: To a disturbing case that is not an isolated incident. A Mantua Township man is accused of stealing more than $75,000 from his grandmother's bank account. The case was investigated by the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office Elder Protection Unit, which has been busy lately. The unit has investigated more than 20 suspected cases of physical and financial abuse of elderly county residents in the last year. The unit was formed in April 2015 to focus on an issue that often goes unreported. No one wants to turn in a family member or admit they are a victim of abuse, and older residents may be more easily intimidated into silence. We applaud the officers pursuing these disturbing cases.
CHEERS to such things as free lunch. After traveling to Maryland to attend funeral services for a plainclothes detective shot during an incident at a police station, four Cherry Hill police officers sat down for lunch in Baltimore. A family from nearby Lindenwold happened to be at the same eatery and on their way out told the Cherry Hill officers to be safe and have a good day. The family also paid for the bill -- unbeknownst to the police officers. We don't know what it's like to be a cop and we can't pretend to. We can, however, imagine that a kind note and unnecessary gesture such as proving there are such things as free lunch must go a long way to those who wear a bullet-proof vest and handgun to work every day.
JEERS: To not valuing human life. A woman who Bridgeton police say had a suspended license allegedly struck a man with a pickup truck and then fled the scene last week. Thankfully, the public helped cops with important tips and they arrested a Bridgeton woman and a city man who owned the truck she was driving. Both were charged. The victim, while critically injured in the incident, is reportedly now recovering.
CHEERS: To a distinguished career in law enforcement. After 28 years as a member of the Salem Police Department, Sgt. Douglas Hogate Sr. retired last week. As Hogate signed off for the final time, the call was received by his son, Doug Hogate Jr., who works at the Salem County 911 center where Salem officers receive their dispatches from. The unique farewell was captured on video. Over his career, Hogate has seen many changes, not only in technology, but in the dangers on the streets. We wish Sgt. Hogate well in his retirement.
JEERS to sins of the fathers. When will it end? Claims of sexual misconduct against two Diocese of Camden priests dating back to the 1950s and 1960s were recently settled for an undisclosed financial amount. The two late priests were among 16 men named Monday by attorney Mitchell Garabedian, who has represented scores of sexual abuse victims and was portrayed in the 2015 film "Spotlight" about the scandal within the Boston Archdiocese. The Catholic church has made great strides in cleaning up and clearing house and the Camden diocese is clearly committed to making the victims whole again. When will it end though? If an allegation from 1966 is only being settled now, how many more hide ashamed in the shadows?
If you know of someone or something you would like to nominate for a cheer or a jeer, please send the information to sjletters@njadvancemedia.com