Police Department Community Action Response Team
The Hopewell Township Police Department Community Action Response Team (C.A.R.T.) encompasses several distinct responsibilities. These are community policing, traffic safety, special needs and services and administrative duties. The Community Policing facet of the unit addresses specific ongoing non-criminal issues in the community. These issues could be related to neighbor disputes, traffic issues or requests from civic or educational organizations. The goal is to address any potential problem while it is still in the nuisance stage in an attempt to prevent it from escalating into a more serious or even a criminal problem. This may be accomplished by direct intervention by an officer to open a productive dialog between the people involved. It may also include a referral to the Hopewell Township Community Dispute Resolution Committee or to another appropriate agency.
The Traffic Safety responsibility of the unit is aimed toward targeted enforcement of known problem areas, heavy truck enforcement, investigation of serious injury and fatal crashes as well as working with the state, county and municipal traffic engineers to improve the design of local problem roadways. The unit also conducts traffic surveys to obtain statistics for traffic engineering and oversees the school crossing guards. Child safety seat inspection and instillation services are provided to township residents by the four (4) certified child safety seat technicians in the unit.
The special needs and services component involves several pieces of equipment: two (2) variable message / radar trailers, one (1) radar trailer, a portable radar board, the department incident command unit / mobile communication & management facility, quad all terrain vehicle and an emergency generator trailer. The portable radar board, radar trailer and both variable message / radar trailers are deployed by the unit to various locations throughout the township and Hopewell Borough to help educate and alert drivers to their speeds and driving habits. The Variable message trailers are also utilized for emergencies and special events to advise motorists of special conditions and traffic patterns. The incident command unit is deployed during major events and emergencies to allow the department command staff the ability to better manage an incident. The all terrain quad is used in the limited access areas of the township for the search and rescue of lost and injured persons. The vehicle can be equipped with a trailer and stretcher to assist in the deployment of equipment and removal of people. The generator trailer is used to provide lighting and electrical power in the event of power failure or at the scene of a crash or remote crime scene where it is required to perform a rescue or investigation.
The C.A.R.T. Unit consists of the following personnel:
Sgt Michael Cseremsak is the unit commander. Sgt Cseremsak oversees the operation of the Unit on a daily basis. Sgt Cseremsak is also the department training officer and he coordinates all training programs as well as provides instruction in several areas.
P/O Chris Kascik is the administrative assistant to the sergeant. Officer Kascik has been trained as a Motor Vehicle Crash Investigator by staff from Northwestern University. Officer Kascik also coordinates all the commercial vehicle enforcement.
P/O Michael Sherman maintains the department’s in-car video equipment and videotapes. Officer Sherman also coordinates matters with both the Hopewell Township Municipal Court and the Hopewell Borough Municipal Court. He has been trained as a motor vehicle crash investigator by staff from Northwestern University.
P/O William Springer is a child safety seat technician and coordinates large-scale safety seat events. Officer Springer has been trained as a Motor Vehicle Crash Investigator by staff from Northwestern University.
P/O Chris Miller is the newest member of the unit. Officer Miller has been trained as a motor vehicle crash investigator by staff from Northwestern University. Officer Miller is also a child safety seat technician.