February 26, 2002

PROSECUTOR’S CITIZEN AWARD PRESENTED

Trenton, NJ — The East Trenton Community Council was recently presented with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office fourth annual Citizen Community Service Award.  Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto established the award to honor outstanding community involvement that enhances the quality of life for Mercer County residents.

Receiving the award on behalf of the council were Outreach Director Dave Ponton, Crime & Safety Chairman Joe Benedetto and Director of Habitat for Humanity Ralph Micelli. 

“It is impossible not to be impressed by the council’s dedication to helping the neighborhood residents,” Giaquinto said.  “This is one of the first community groups I had the pleasure of working with and its members have been steadfast in their efforts to improve the quality of life in Trenton.”  

The East Trenton Community Council was established in February 1998 to better the living conditions for the residents of East Trenton.  Over the last few years, it has opened its doors to civic groups, religious groups, and Alcoholics & Narcotics Anonymous.  It has been responsible for:

·        Establishing a food bank;  

·        Providing day care for children in a safe and comfortable learning environment;

·        Creating office jobs for residents at the community center so people can learn a skill for the workplace;

·        Forming a Crime & Safety Committee that has developed “hot spot” sheets to inform police about drug activity and established a neighborhood watch;

·        Conducting community safety walks to make police and prosecutors aware of neighborhood conditions; and

·        Organizing “Take Back the Street Nights” to reclaim the area from neighborhood drug dealers.

The East Trenton Community Council received the award during a ceremony held on February 8 that also honored detectives and agents from the prosecutor’s office.  Among those honored were Detectives Frank LaBelle and Veldon Harris of the Homicide Unit, who were presented with Distinguished Service Awards for consistently meritorious service, and Tom Eschelman, who received the Assistant Prosecutor Achievement Award for trying the most cases in a calendar year.  Detective Brit Olsen-Derrico of the Grand Jury Unit received the Achievement Award, Sergeant Bill Straniero was given the Merit Award, and The Central Jersey Fugitive Task Force was given the prosecutor’s Unit Citation Award.

Mercer County Prosecutor Daniel G. Giaquinto (far left) and First Assistant Prosecutor
Charles E. Waldron (far right) present the Citizen Community Service Award to East Trenton Community Council members Ralph Micelli, Joe Benedetto and Dave Ponton (center, left to right).