Hillside Police Receive Forfeiture Funds; Officer Assigned a Detective

 

 

 

(Above) Members of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and Hillside Detective Donald Wilkenfeld present

a check to Chief Robert Quinlan for the Hillside Police Department, also pictured are members of the Hillside Township Council.

(Below) Chief Robert Quinlan presents Officer Donald Wilkenfeld with a Hillside police detective's badge.

At a Hillside Township council meeting on May 19, 2009 agents of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service presented Chief Robert Quinlan with a check for $154,123.80 for use by the police department to further law enforcement objectives here in Hillside. The money represents forfeiture funds awarded to the IRS through the investigative work of Hillside Police Officer Donald Wilkenfeld.

A portion of the funds will be used to purchase three fully equipped patrol cars for the police department. "These vehicles are desperately needed and the township has been unable to allocate funds for this purpose," Chief Quinlan said. A priority review of other police department needs is underway.

Also, at this meeting Officer Wilkenfeld was assigned as a detective due to his outstanding work with the IRS. Detective Wilkenfeld is a 23 year veteran of the Hillside Police Department and has held varied assignments throughout his career. "I'm confident that [Detective Wilkenfeld's] work will continue to benefit the entire Hillside Police Department," said Chief Quinlan.

HPD SALUTES:

 HPD Salutes is a news column to recognize outstanding police work by Hillside police officers.

July 30, 2008 Our patrol officers received information from a resident that their car was stolen. While one of our units was still completing the stolen vehicle report another patrol unit observed the stolen vehicle at the intersection of Valley View Road and Conant Street. Officers Ronald Bartell and Allan Lu then attempted to stop the stolen vehicle. The driver, later identified as Samuel DeJesus, 35, of Newark, ignored the officers’ signal to stop and began attempting to elude them through streets in Hillside and into the City of Elizabeth. The pursuit of the vehicle was eventually terminated due to the highly dangerous driving of DeJesus. Moments later the officers reengaged the pursuit with the help of Elizabeth Police officers on Routes 1 & 9 North. As DeJesus attempted to exit the highway he lost control of his vehicle at the McClellan Street exit ramp and struck a guard rail. Officers Bartell and Lu then positioned their police vehicle to block DeJesus from continuing his attempt to escape. However, DeJesus then attempted to push the officers’ vehicle out of his way by accelerating forward and ramming the police car. When he was unsuccessful, he reversed a few feet and drove forward again ramming the police vehicle a second time. DeJesus was repeatedly ordered to put his hands up and take his foot off the accelerator by officers. Upon the arrival of backup officers DeJesus was removed from the vehicle and arrested. Further investigation revealed that DeJesus had stolen two other vehicles from Hillside residents.

DeJesus is held on $25,000 bail. He’s charged with Eluding, Burglary, Theft, Criminal Mischief, Possession of Burglary Tools, Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, Possession of a Weapon, and Possession of a weapon for an Unlawful Purpose. More charges will follow upon completion of the investigation of the other two vehicles stolen by DeJesus.

June 26, 2008 Officers received information that Union PD was in pursuit of a vehicle (later determined to be stolen) traveling on Route 22 East on its way into Hillside. Lt. Louis Rufino responded to the intersection of Route 22 East and the Hilldale Place exit ramp to provide assistance to the Union officers. As the subject eluding the Union Police approached Lt. Rufino's position he attempted to exit the highway, but lost control of the vehicle and struck Lt. Rufino's police vehicle who then pursued the vehicle. The subject continued driving on the exit ramp and entered the gas station at North Broad Street and Hillside Avenue where he struck another vehicle that was refueling. The impact broke the gas nozzle and sent the subjects vehicle spinning out of control and disabling it. Three subjects then fled on foot from the pursued vehicle over the fence of the gas station. Backup units and Union PD arrived seconds later to assist in the apprehension of the three subjects. Two of the subjects, Jamar Williams, 29, of East Orange and Jeffrey Saunders, 25, of Union were apprehended by Hillside Lt. Rufino and Det. Brian Wilson and Union officers. The third subject, Ernest Hill, 23, of Newark jumped through a closed window of a nearby Hillside business sustaining many lacerations from the glass. He then demanded that the employee inside the business sit down until the police left the area. Hill heard police knocking on the door and then took the employee's car keys and ran out the front door where he was apprehended by Hillside Det. Sean Young and Union Officer Stinner.

All three subjects are charged with Receiving Stolen Property, Resisting Arrest, and Possession of Burglar Tools. In addition, the driver of the stolen vehicle, Ernest Hill, is charged with numerous motor vehicle offenses.

 Click here or the button to the left to read more Hillside Salutes.

WANTED: Homicide Suspect

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