SHAMONG NJ Sept 18 2018  — The Lenape Board of Education publicly recognized four security personnel at its Sept. 12 meeting, whose response led to the arrest of an individual who tried to enter Cherokee High School on the first day of school but had no connection to the institution.

“The safety and security of our students and staff are always a paramount priority for our school and our entire district, so we wanted to recognize and thank our security staff and the Evesham Township Police Department for their immediate reaction to the situation,” said Cherokee Principal Donna Charlesworth.

Fidel Medina Jr., 29, of Hamilton Township, Mercer County, was barred entry to the building after a brief conversation with security assistant Ben Kozarski, who met the man outside of the school security vestibule.

Medina was attempting to pick up an 18-year-old student who did not attend the school. Bruce LaCarte, another security assistant, recognized Medina as someone who was previously removed from the property after trespassing.

After being escorted a safe distance from the main entrance, they met with school resource officers Jammie Clements and Bob Hansbury from the Evesham Township Police Department.

The department initiated an investigation, which led Medina’s arrest and removal. Police charged him with defiant trespass and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Police said they seized a stun gun, pepper spray, rope and other “suspicious materials” from the Medina’s vehicle, including undisclosed items from his home.

“This situation highlights that we have the right people in place to do the job right to keep our district’s schools safe,” said Lenape Superintendent Carol Birnbohm.

Birnbohm added that the district’s ongoing efforts to strengthen school security include the construction of security vestibules at each school, installation and upgrades of security technology, and continued implementation of school access and security protocols.

Lenape Board of Education Vice President Barry J. Fitzgerald and board member Bonnie J. Olt, both representing Evesham Township, formally recognized Kozarski, LaCarte, Clements and Hansbury on behalf of the entire district at the meeting.

Both Kozarski and LaCarte are beginning their sixth years at Cherokee High School. Kozarski is a former detective at the Pennsauken Police Department, who retired after 29 years of service. LaCarte also retired after nearly three decades with the Evesham Township Police Department.

Clements is embarking on her fourth year as a Cherokee school resource officer with 18 years with the Evesham Township Police Department. Hansbury is beginning his third year as a Cherokee school resource officer with 14 years with the same department.

Birnbohm and Department of Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet also praised the security personnel on Twitter. Daryl J. Minus-Vincent, executive county superintendent, and Charles Muller, county business administrator, recently joined Birnbohm to learn more about Lenape’s security technology, team and protocols
Burlington County Times

Share this post: on Twitter on Facebook