Lower Township Cops Debut HERO-themed Patrol Vehicle

Cops in Lower Township have a spiffy new patrol vehicle that will remind you of the importance of always having a designated driver.

Lower Township Police Chief William Mastriana has unveiled a new vehicle dedicated to the John R. Elliot HERO Campaign.

In a Facebook post, Mastriana said, "During these trying times of the COVID19 pandemic it’s great that such a positive and impactful campaign continues."

In an effort to promote the HERO Campaign's sober and designated driver program, the new SUV features the group's familiar slogan, "Be a HERO. Be a designated Driver."

In addition, the SUV also pays tribute to Lower Township Police Officer David. C. Douglass, who passed away in 1994, and Captain Martin R. Biersbach, who lost his life last December 15.

The HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers was founded in 2000 shortly after Navy Ensign John R. Elliott of Egg Harbor Township was killed in a head-on collision with a drunk driver just two months after graduating the U.S. Naval Academy. Over the past two decades, the HERO Campaign has grown into a high-profile anti-drunk driving movement. A poll conducted by Stockton University found that there has been a 20 percent reduction in alcohol-related fatalities and incidents in New Jersey over the past ten years thanks to the organization's efforts.