A Rolling Reminder to Be Safe: Ocean City Police Unveil
HERO Campaign-Themed Patrol Car
The Ocean City Police Department and the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign have teamed up to promote designated driving in a unique way — on one of the city’s patrol cars. City and police officials joined the HERO Campaign today to unveil the Crown Victoria cruiser, which is the first law enforcement vehicle anywhere to feature HERO Campaign signage aimed at preventing drinking and driving. Similar HERO Campaign-themed police cruisers will be unveiled by Atlantic City and Evesham Township police departments in the coming weeks.
The police cruiser will now be a rolling reminder of the campaign’s signature message, “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver,” and its trademark HERO logo. When not on patrol, the cruiser will be displayed at community events, on the Ocean City Boardwalk and at local schools to educate students and the public about the importance of responsibility and the dangers of drinking and driving.
The HERO wrap was donated by Jane French of Ocean City, a longtime volunteer and supporter of the HERO Campaign.
“We thought this would be a great way to support the HERO Campaign and its life-saving message,” said Ocean City Police Chief Jay Prettyman. “It’s also a meaningful way to promote the longstanding relationship between the resort and the HERO Campaign as together we seek to keep America’s Greatest Family Resort a safe community for everyone.”
“Drunk driving is the most preventable crime in America,” HERO Campaign chairman and co-founder Bill Elliott said. “This new HERO police car will be a constant reminder — to residents and visitors alike — about the importance of having safe and sober designated drivers whenever good times include alcoholic beverages.”
The HERO Campaign is a non-profit organization dedicated to impaired driving by promoting the use of safe and sober designated drivers in memory of Navy Ensign John R. Elliott, of Egg Harbor Township, who was killed in a collision with a drunk driver in July 2000.
For more information, go to herocampaign.org.
About the HERO Campaign:
The HERO Campaign was established by the family of Navy Ensign John R. Elliott of Egg Harbor Township, NJ, who was killed in a July 2000 collision with a drunk driver two months after graduating from the United States Naval Academy. The Campaign is now saving lives in seven states in partnership with law enforcement; schools and colleges; federal and state highway safety organizations; the licensed beverage industry; professional sports teams including the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Football Giants, the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution; Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby; and Keeneland Race Course, home of the 2015 Breeder’s Cup. Since its inception in 2000, the HERO Campaign has grown into a major movement to prevent impaired driving that has received national recognition and awards. It has also helped to reduce alcohol-related fatalities and incidents, including a 35 percent reduction in DUI fatalities in New Jersey and other states over the past decade. For more information visit HEROcampaign.org or call 609-626-3880.
