Hazlet PD Officer Gets Award From New Jersey Attorney General

HAZLET, NJ — An officer from the Hazlet Police Department was recognized for her work in the state-wide 2021 Excellence in Policing Awards.

Patrolwoman Charleigh Logothetis got the Outstanding Youth Engagement Award for implementing an initiative to promote stronger police-youth engagement.

Logothetis pioneered the Hazlet Police Department's Inaugural Special Needs Open House in October 2021.

"The chief of police approached me last year when we were making our 2020 annual report and setting goals for 2021," she said in a video presenting the winners. "His son is on the autism spectrum and he's never seen an open house happen anywhere else."

The point of the event was to build a positive relationship between people with special needs and the police.

"You just learn so much about the people that are living in your community and how much of an effect you can have no matter how old they are — just treating them kindly and with respect," Logothetis said. "While I was very busy during the day interacting with everyone and making sure things go smoothly, I believe it very successful and I'm looking forward to hosting another one."

The event was hosted in partnership with Tender Touch Occupational Therapy, Speech Star, POAC Autism Services, The Monmouth Couty Sheriff's Office and the Monmouth County Special Needs Registry.

Here is the list of awards and winners:

• Detective Joseph Seals Valor Award - Borough of Carteret Police Department.
• Detective Pablo Santiago Resiliency Award - Lt. William Walsh of the Voorhees Township Police Department and the Multi-Agency Police Peer Support (MAPPS) team.
• Attorney General’s Community Outreach Award - Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office
• Outstanding Community Partnership Award - West Orange Police Department
• Police Chaplain of the Year - Pastor John R. Taylor of Friendship Baptist Church in Trenton, who is Chief Chaplain of the New Jersey State Police

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