Kenilworth Police credit surplus military vehicles for storm rescues, chief urges expansion of program

The Kenilworth Police Department told the council that surplus military vehicles helped officers reach and assist residents during severe July storms that caused borough flooding.

Councilman Finestrella, reporting for the Department of Public Safety, said the department responded to 1,139 calls for service and 210 9-1-1 calls in July, issued 210 traffic summonses and made 11 arrests. He said officers and firefighters worked alongside Department of Public Works crews during the storms.

Finestrella said stationary cameras provided 73 “hot list” alerts in the month and highlighted that vehicles acquired at no cost through a surplus program allowed officers to move through flooded roadways, block inundated streets and assist residents. He called the vehicles “crucial” during the flood response and said he hoped the borough would continue to participate in the program to acquire additional vehicles.

The council did not take immediate formal action on expanding the vehicle program during the meeting. Finestrella also noted the police department completed 97 hours of training and recorded overtime and call-out statistics for July; the department reported zero occupational injury days for the month.