Snowfall during the Jan. 4, 2018 blizzard. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
Toms River police are utilizing four wheel drive vehicles to navigate the township’s roadways through Thursday’s blizzard conditions, but even those vehicles are at risk of getting stuck on side streets, police spokesman Ralph Stocco said.
“As the storm intensifies numerous motorists have not heeded the warnings sent out,” Stocco said. “Our police officers are risking their own safety to respond to vehicles stuck in the snow, spin outs off of the road, and minor crashes. The vast majority of these drivers are not essential employees.”
“Some of the drivers reasons given to us when we reach them are that they were getting coffee, cigarettes, pet food and …just wanted to see how bad it was,” he continued. “Please do not risk your health, our officers, or potential needless damage to your vehicle.”
The goal, Stocco said, is to free up police officers to respond to medical and law enforcement calls rather than stuck vehicles or minor accidents.
“Tying up these officers unnecessarily could conceivably cost lives,” he said.
