Ramsey Police Officer Tim Shoemaker named national D.A.R.E....
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HOME NEWS PUBLIC SAFETY OPINION THE GOOD LIFE SHOUT OUTS ABOUT US Ramsey Patrol Officer Timothy Shoemaker Home Shout Outs Ramsey Police Officer Tim Shoemaker named national D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year Ramsey Police Of/icer Tim Shoemaker named national D.A.R.E. Of/icer of the Year YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: It was only a matter of time before the country caught up to Ramsey Patrolman Timothy Shoemaker's commitment to kids and their families: He has been named the national D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year by the organization's national chapter. "Two years ago, Tim was named New Jersey DARE Officer of the Year," Ramsey Police Chief Bryan Gurney said. "At the time, I thought it can't get much better than that. With the amount of talented officers in our country, this is the ultimate honor for the Borough of Ramsey, the Ramsey Police Department and Tim and his family." Shoemaker, 35, isn't your ordinary cop: He has always been able "to see beyond" the rigors of patrol work, as he puts it, to the emotional needs of the entire community. The 15-year department veteran takes "protect and serve" to a different level, making it his life's work to so whatever he can to prevent others' lives from being destroyed -- by either substance abuse or circumstances. “To be recognized at this level is a truly humbling experience, particularly given the dedication that I know exists amongst my colleagues," Shoemaker told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. "I’ll admit that there’s also a bit of validation here," he confessed. "My vision for this assignment was unrealistically ambitious from the start. Still, I committed myself to it and have pursued it relentlessly. While there’s much work left to be done, I appreciate this as an opportunity to reflect upon the unique achievements that my team has made. “There is no doubt that we remain a country stubbornly burdened by the high costs of substance abuse. In this environment, it’s understandable that some of our community members have lost faith in DARE Officers like me. But I’ll never lose faith in them, and I’ll never stop fighting for their future.” Small wonder that Shoemaker is so highly regarded in so many circles. He also Public Safety Shout Outs MONDAY, 30 MAY 2011 17:21 JERRY DEMARCO Lawmakers look to make 'bath salts' illegal in New Jersey YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: New Jersey would become the fourth state to criminalize the manufacture, sale or possession of “bath salts” Civilian life savers honored by Pascack Valley PBA Local 206 YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: Among those who Ramsey Police Officer Tim Shoemaker named national D.A.R.E... http://www.cliffviewpilot.com/shout-outs/2412-ramsey-police-o... 1 of 3 6/23/11 5:00 PM
Transcript of Ramsey Police Officer Tim Shoemaker named national D.A.R.E....
HOME NEWS PUBLIC SAFETY OPINION THE GOOD LIFE SHOUT OUTS ABOUT US
Ramsey Patrol Officer Timothy Shoemaker
Home Shout Outs Ramsey Police Officer Tim Shoemaker named national D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year
Ramsey Police Of/icer Tim Shoemakernamed national D.A.R.E. Of/icer of the YearYOU READ IT HERE FIRST: It was only a matter of time before the countrycaught up to Ramsey Patrolman Timothy Shoemaker's commitment to kids andtheir families: He has been named the national D.A.R.E. Officer of the Year bythe organization's national chapter.
"Two years ago, Tim wasnamed New Jersey DAREOfficer of the Year,"Ramsey Police ChiefBryan Gurney said. "At thetime, I thought it can't getmuch better than that. Withthe amount of talentedofficers in our country, thisis the ultimate honor forthe Borough of Ramsey,the Ramsey PoliceDepartment and Tim andhis family."
Shoemaker, 35, isn't your ordinary cop: He has always been able "to see beyond"the rigors of patrol work, as he puts it, to the emotional needs of the entirecommunity. The 15-year department veteran takes "protect and serve" to adifferent level, making it his life's work to so whatever he can to prevent others'lives from being destroyed -- by either substance abuse or circumstances.
“To be recognized at this level is a truly humbling experience, particularly giventhe dedication that I know exists amongst my colleagues," Shoemaker toldCLIFFVIEW PILOT.
"I’ll admit that there’s also a bit of validation here," he confessed. "My vision forthis assignment was unrealistically ambitious from the start. Still, I committedmyself to it and have pursued it relentlessly. While there’s much work left to bedone, I appreciate this as an opportunity to reflect upon the unique achievementsthat my team has made.
“There is no doubt that we remain a country stubbornly burdened by the highcosts of substance abuse. In this environment, it’s understandable that some ofour community members have lost faith in DARE Officers like me. But I’ll neverlose faith in them, and I’ll never stop fighting for their future.”
Small wonder that Shoemaker is so highly regarded in so many circles. He also
Public Safety
Shout Outs
MONDAY, 30 MAY 2011 17:21 JERRY DEMARCO
Lawmakers look to make 'bath salts'illegal in New Jersey
YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: New Jersey wouldbecome the fourth state to criminalize themanufacture, sale or possession of “bath salts”
Civilian life savers honored byPascack Valley PBA Local 206
YOU READ IT HERE FIRST: Among those who
Ramsey Police Officer Tim Shoemaker named national D.A.R.E... http://www.cliffviewpilot.com/shout-outs/2412-ramsey-police-o...
1 of 3 6/23/11 5:00 PM
has an eye-popping resume.
A member of MENSA, he founded and is president of Mpowered Parent, talkingto parents and students nationwide about preventing substance abuse and relatedtopics.
The Summa Cum Laude graduate also operates TimothyShoemaker.com, whichoffers a host of helpful tools -- an accumulation of Shoemaker’s vast knowledgeand experience -- designed to help build the kind of self-esteem that makes itmuch easier for youngsters to avoid substance abuse.
Gurney called him "a one-man audio and video production team.”
Just last week, Shoemaker hosted this year's local “D.A.R.E. Idol” competition(yes, like "American Idol"), an event he created to give 10- to 12-year-oldyoungsters a turn in the spotlight, at Don Bosco Prep.
Like many, Shoemaker says, "I’ve seen tragedy, suffered frustration andshouldered cynics. I’ve endured, because like you, I know that the solution to ourproblems lies in strength, fortitude and optimism.
"Fortunately, I’ve also found that our most meaningful efforts are fun, rewardingand incredibly uplifting."
Shoemaker became an auxiliary officer on his 18th birthday. He helped develop asoftware program that gave FDU the ability to track incoming phone calls forpolice service. Once he became a full-fledged officer in Ramsey, he dove intoD.A.R.E.
Shoemaker has established and headed up fishing derbies, pool parties, skatenight and the annual kickoff dinner for the D.A.R.E. year, culminating in the“Idol” event.
What may distinguish him most is Shoemaker's insistence that D.A.R.E. is morethan an educational tool. He gets involved in the kids' lives, he helps them andtheir families -- he truly makes a difference.
As a result, the Ramsey D.A.R.E. program is one of the most successful around --with high levels of participation that have attracted outside funding.
Then there's the fringe benefit: more people working with police to prevent andsolve crime in town.
Shoemaker, who also teaches academy recruits at the Bergen County Institute ofLaw and Public Safety, has been honored by several organizations, includingMADD/End DWI and Bergen's own 200 Club. But, fitting with his personality, hecites a tree, accompanied by a plaque, at the Dater School in Ramsey, which wasput there in honor of his work with the youngsters there.
"Someday, when I’m long gone, strangers and friends alike, and maybe a fewdogs, will pass that plaque and remember the difference we’ve made here,” hesaid.
His chief has seen Shoemaker’s commitment day in and day out.
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"Tim's energy and tireless efforts to keep kids off of drugs and to resist violencecannot be questioned," Gurney said. The department "is extremely proud of Tim'saccomplishments."
The choice as the nation's top D.A.R.E. cop "was not as difficult as previousyears," wrote Charlie J. Parsons, the president and CEO of D.A.R.E. America inLos Angeles. "Officer Shoemaker clearly distinguished himself from a field ofdeserving candidates."
He will receive the prestigious award at the National D.A.R.E Conference inMemphis in late July.
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