By: Najla Alexander
Middlesex County officials announced that on Monday, June 3, Middlesex County leadership and members of the Police Benevolent Association Local 214 and Superior Officers Associations Local 214 presented to the Bristol-Meyers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital a $9,000 check, the highest ever raised in this annual event.
Officials say the donation resulted from a fundraising effort through the annual Middlesex County Police Charity Softball tournament, which took place on May 4, 2024.
Teams from various police departments participated, authorities say.
According to officials, the game has raised approximately $33,860 over the past five years.
There were a total of 10 teams that participated in the 2024 Middlesex County Police Charity Softball Tournament, officials said:
-Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office
-Middlesex County Department of Corrections
-Carteret Police Department
-NJ Transit Police Department
-Hudson County Department of Corrections/Office of the Sherriff
-Newark Police Department
-Other teams were non-law enforcement
Officials stated present at the event were County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios, County Administrator John Pulomena, County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone, Captain Wayne Canastra, Lieutenant Colin Feneis, Lieutenant Michael Connelly, and Lieutenant Joseph Celentano.
As well as Bristol-Meyers Squibb Children’s Hospital personnel. Detectives Olivia Ankudowicz, Ken Barnes, James Barnes, Michelle Coppola, Michael Griffith, Dan Gzemski, Ryan Kirsh, Luke Kitto, and Shadi Zaiton were also in attendance, officials said.