May 22, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 3 Ho-Ho-Kus Sean Leonard to serve as district’s first SRO by Jennifer Crusco Ho-Ho-Kus borough officials have confirmed that Police Officer Sean Leonard will become the Ho-Ho-Kus Public School’s first school resource officer. Leonard is already familiar to many of the students at the school, where he runs the annual Junior ‘Taste of Ho-Ho-Kus’ set Police Academy along with Police Officers M Mosca and Anthony Balestrieri and Sergeant Christopher Minchin. The move toward naming an SRO became a salient issue following the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting in December of 2012. However, Leonard’s duties at the borough’s K-8 school will include more than security. A sample curriculum for the SRO lists multiple responsibilities. That list includes establishing and maintaining a professional relationship with school officials and assisting school officials with preventing and investigating school truancies. The SRO will also be responsible for crime prevention, and will be responsible for documenting and investigating all offenses and criminal acts that occur on school property. He will work in concert with the Ho-HoKus Police Department Juvenile Bureau and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office regarding bias incidents, abuse, assault, and any other serious offense that affects the student body. He will also serve on various committees, and will work to ensure that students (continued on page 6) Ho-Ho-Kus Police Officer Sean Leonard, who will serve as the school district’s first resource officer. Ho-Ho-Kus Chamber of Commerce members Jane Sadat-Ketabchi, Steve Sager, Joe Roland, Michael Zeale, Margaret Carullo, Debbie Lovett, and Kelly Velasquez getting the borough ready for Taste of Ho-Ho-Kus. (Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Steccato.) Tickets for the Ho-Ho-Kus Chamber of Commerce’s Taste of Ho-Ho-Kus’ are on sale now at the following locations: Haviland Photography, 22 Sheridan Avenue; OBH Car Wash, 208 East Franklin Turnpike; Ho-Ho-Kus Flowers & Gifts, 9 Sheridan Avenue; and the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern, 1 East Franklin Turnpike. The event, set for Wednesday, June 5 from 6:30 to 9 p.m., offers attendees an opportunity to sample signature dishes from many borough restaurants, and get reacquainted with local business owners. Free parking will be available at the HoHo-Kus Train Station on First Street. Proceeds will support borough volunteer organizations, the Chamber’s scholarship, and the borough’s holiday decorations. Tickets are $20 per person and $35 per couple. Only 300 tickets will be sold.