Cumberland Sheriff, Bridgeton Police Dedicate Two HERO Campaign Patrol Cars

Two Ford Explorer cruisers wrapped in the blue-and-gold John R. Elliott HERO Campaign graphics were dedicated at the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office in Bridgeton, joining the statewide effort to prevent drunk and impaired driving. The vehicles carry the campaign slogan, “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver,” and are the 40th and 41st HERO patrol cars placed on New Jersey roads.

The public unveiling brought together the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, the Bridgeton Police Department, and representatives of the HERO Campaign as a high-visibility public-awareness initiative. Each wrapped cruiser also bears Ensign John R. Elliott’s name as a visible reminder; Elliott, a United States Naval Academy graduate, was killed in July 2000 after a collision with a drunk driver near Woodstown, New Jersey. Organizers say the patrol cars are meant to keep that memory at the forefront while encouraging residents to plan sober rides.

Cumberland County Sheriff Michael Donato publicly expressed pride in partnering with the HERO Campaign to prevent drunk driving throughout Cumberland County and across New Jersey. Bridgeton Police Chief James Battavio described the Bridgeton HERO cruiser as a traveling billboard that reminds motorists to choose a designated driver whenever they consume alcohol. A HERO Campaign social media post on January 9 welcomed the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Bridgeton Police Department into the campaign network and described the newly wrapped vehicles as high-visibility reminders.

The statewide wrap program was credited as funded by the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. Local leaders framed the initiative as a public-health and traffic-safety measure aimed at reducing preventable crashes and saving lives through sustained community messaging rather than increased enforcement alone.

For residents, the new cruisers serve as more than patrol vehicles; they are mobile public-education tools. High-visibility messaging can shift norms around drinking and driving, reinforce planning ahead, and support community efforts to keep roads safer for drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and families. The campaign’s presence in Cumberland County adds a visible partner to existing local prevention work and offers an entry point for conversations about safer ride options and designated-driver planning.

For historical context, a separate state program in 2005 provided Bridgeton with a different set of vehicles through a Department of Treasury agreement. At that time Acting Governor Richard J. Codey said, “I am pleased we were able to provide Mayor Pirolli and the City of Bridgeton with these police vehicles,” and added, “With an additional 10 patrol cars on the streets, we are giving the City of Bridgeton’s families greater peace of mind, high-visibility community policing, and a safer community.” Then-Bridgeton Chief of Police Jeffrey Wentz said, “The use of these cars will have a positive affect in this Department’s war against crime and will allow us to implement increased front line patrol units in our city,” and Mayor Pirolli said, “I thank Acting Governor Codey and Acting Commissioner Richman for their commitment to helping a city in need.”

The HERO dedication is a reminder that prevention messaging remains a key tool in local traffic safety work. Residents can expect to see the wrapped cruisers on county roads and at community events as the campaign continues; officials say the vehicles are intended to keep the conversation about sober driving visible and ongoing.