While enjoying their Chol Ha’moed outing at a Toms River park Friday afternoon, some Lakewood families were made to feel unwelcome by a couple of teens who sprayed anti-Semitic graffitiinside the park, sources tell TLS.
The Toms River Police Department received a call about the criminal mischief that occurred at the Riverwood Park playground where suspects spayed up the plastic playground with swastikas and other anti-Semitic graffiti.
But with the park’s employees unable to respond, Police Chief Michael Mastronardy decided to get involved himself.
The Chief got hold of the department’s graffiti removal product and immediately went down to the park to clean the graffiti off the playground – ensuring families from his neighboring town are always felt welcome in his parks.
“I would like to thank and commend Chief Mastronardy for doing what he did,” said Deputy Mayor Steven Langert upon hearing of this incident. “His actions demonstrate that he is a person that is sensitive and cares about everyone. This is the type of person that deserves our support as the next Sheriff of Ocean County.”
Later in the afternoon, the park’s department responded and finalized the clean up, Toms River Police tell TLS.
[TLS-WY/TLS-CCP – File Photo].
What a mentch
This kind of sensitivity, along with the ability to take action, is a big part of how people rise to positions of prominence.
Thank you, Chief.
No surprise @ all! Mike is known to all for his leadership & kindness. Mike for sheriff!!
TR is a wonderful and friendly town. I guess there are rotten apples everywhere. Thanks chief for showing the way!
Thank you chief! There’s always those good people amongst those that do bad to others.
That’s the kind of people we need in government. I wish he runs for higher office I would support someone like that in a heartbeat!
Wow! That is special! Thanx chief for your sensitivity.
Thanks chief!
As well as he should have, that’s his job!
Wow! What a chief! The people of TR are lucky to have him as there chief!!
Thats what a leader should do. Lead by example!..Great job Chief!. Good luck as Sheriff
He was nominated for OC Sheriff..HE is a good guy Helped a lot. He was the first to call and offer up his department to assist when Officer Matlosz was shot & killed
Great Job Chief
With such leadership It trickles down to the whole force you can tell when on accident scenes with his patrolmen what a great bunch of guys
Thanx, Chief, great job !! And, btw, its NOT his job to clean grafitti. I’m surprised no one got a pick of the hoods, what w/ all the camera phones & such out there.
really special thing you did, thanx so much, enjoy your holiday.
What a Great Chief Yes hes the one too offer assistance when Officer Matlotz was shot and killed great bunch of guys, THEY ALL ARE !!!!
Thanks Chief! You have my vote, not only because of this story but by the way you relate and assist Lakewood in general!
Chief for Sheriff!
This is just the typee of individual Chief Mastronardy is! And to those of you who think he did this because he is running for Sheriif, you can put that idea to bed. He has done acts like this several times in his career. This one just happened to get noticed.