Cranford Police Department 2011 Annual Report - Cranford.com

2011 In Review
Cranford Police Department 2011 Events
Police Handle Calls for an
Earthquake, Bear, and Coyote
Though the last part of 2011 was dominated by
the recovery efforts from the worst flood in
Cranford history, July and August also accounted
for some new call types.
On July 19th we received calls from the Garwood
and Westfield Police Departments reporting that
they had been tracking a bear in their
jurisdictions near our border. The bear
eventually wondered into Cranford and was
followed by our officers. The
bear eventually ended up
resting in an oak tree at the
corner of Orchard Street and
Estelle Place. The New Jersey
D i v i s i o n o f W i l d l i f e
Management responded and
assisted in securing the bear
utilizing tranquilizers. After
catching the falling bear in a
net, it was determined to be a
one year old bear cub weighing
approximately 160 pounds.
The Wildlife officers then transported the bear
to Morris County to be released.
After several coyote sightings over the summer,
on August 5th police received a call from a
Mitchell Place resident stating a coyote was lying
in the street. Upon arrival police units found a
sick coyote and contacted the New Jersey
Division of Wildlife Management and was told
the best way to handle a sick coyote was to put
it down. A member of our Firearms Unit
dispatched the animal with a single shot and it’s
remains were safely disposed of.
On August 23rd at about 1:51 p.m. Central
Communications at Police Headquarters began
receiving calls from residents concerned they
felt an earthquake. It was determined that
Cranford was feeling the affects of a 5.9
magnitude earthquake with an epicenter 44
miles northwest of Richmond, Virginia. Other
than a few alarm activations there were no
damages or problems in town due to the quake.
Photos show the bear and net used to catch him.
Cranford Police Department—2011 Annual Report 59