BY HILLARY VIDERS
SPECIAL TO NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD – Wednesday, July 19 was a day that the high school students of Yeshiva Ohr Simcha of Englewood will probably never forget. It was on that day that their basketball team had a surprise visit from members of the Englewood Police Department, who were up and ready for a hoops challenge.
Moshe, one of the 12th grade students, explained, “Throughout this whole week, we were told that we were going to play against a surprise team and we were all excited, but we never dreamed that it would be the Englewood Police Department.”
At 12:45 p.m., the Yeshiva students from grades 9-12 were transported on a bus to the City Sports center on Route 4, where the Englewood Police had gathered their team on the basketball court to welcome them.
Detective Michael Chapman coached the Englewood Police Department team that consisted of Officers Brett Devenney, Dylan Donegan, Al Tucker, Chris Formisano, Andrew Chytrak, Devyn Gillespie and Detective Sgt. Chris Kedersha. Cheering from the sidelines were Detective Lt. Tom Greeley, Captain of the Patrol Division Gregory Halstead and Chief Lawrence Suffern.
The Yeshiva team was coached by Rabbi Menachem Strassfeld, a teacher in Yeshiva Ohr Simcha, and his brother Rabbi Yeshiea Strassfeld. Dozens of the Yeshiva team’s schoolmates were excitedly rooting and waving throughout the match.
Throughout all four quarters, the action was fierce. Although the Englewood officers outsized the students in size and brawn, the Yeshiva team had some excellent shooters and fast runners and they had the advantage of having practiced together on a regular basis. Although all the Englewood officers were extremely athletic, they had never played together as a team.
As a result, the Yeshiva students won by a score of 46-37, amidst booming cheers and applause.
Everyone had a great time, and there was no shortage of hearty congratulations. The two teams shook each other’s hands and posed for photos.
The basketball challenge was the idea of retired Englewood Police Officer Anthony Wilson, a longtime friend of Strassfeld. Wilson contacted Greeley, who coordinated the event with the Yeshiva school.
“We all had a great time and I think our officers were surprised and impressed at how well the Yeshiva students played,” said Greeley. “They are an excellent team.”
Suffern agreed with how successful the event was.
“It was a wonderful game. The young members of the Yeshiva school were excited to play against the Englewood Police Department and they were able to beat us,” he said. “We’ll have to go for a rematch.”
Plans for a rematch are already in the works.
After the game, the Englewood Police were invited to a barbecue back at the Yeshiva school. The rabbis presented Chief Suffern with a plaque that had a shofar (a ram’s horn blown on the Jewish New Year) on it and the inscription: “dedication and sacrifice in ensuring our safety and the safety of the community.”
The basketball challenge with the Englewood Yeshiva high school was another example of the outreach initiatives that the Englewood Police Department holds throughout the year.
On Aug. 1, the department will be hosting its second annual National Night Out, which brings together several hundred residents and visitors. It is a premier venue for the police to greet and engage local families and show them all the services that they provide.
Other programs this year were the “Chief for a Day,” the Junior Police Academy and numerous breakfasts and special presentations for residents. Most of the Englewood Police officers attend these events on a voluntary basis.
As such, with its numerous programs and dedicated officers, the Englewood Police Department sets the bar in Bergen County law enforcement very high for its ongoing commitment to the enjoyment and safety of the community.
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