Kids play cops, pull over car in Roxbury

ROXBURY - If you’re caught by a police officer talking on your cell phone or not wearing your seatbelt while driving a car, chances are you’re going to get a ticket.

But there’s always the possibility you’ll be pulled over by someone like James and Thomas DeChristofano, who may let you off with a warning.

That what the two young brothers did Wednesday afternoon when they joined patrol officers Nicole Sorgie and Sean Gaffey for a ride along.

“Here are our options,” Gaffey said to James, 8, when the two returned to the patrol vehicle after pulling over a car and taking the driver’s information. “We can write them a ticket or we can cut them a break. What do you think?”

James gave it a few moments of thought before deciding a warning was the way to go, as did Thomas, 6.

James and Thomas were selected for the ride along after they donated food to the Roxbury Police Food Drive, an effort by the department to help the township’s food pantry prior to the holidays.

“It’s been a goal of the department to improve our community relations this year,” Chief James Simonetti said. “When we heard from the social services director that the pantry was low on food we came to a consensus that we needed to help.”

The drive began in October and ran up to Thanksgiving. Officers personally thanked children when they stopped by headquarters to donate food throughout the drive. Any child who brought at least two items with them was deemed a “Fighting Hunger Hero,” and got their picture taken with a police officer. Many of the photos have been posted on the Roxbury Police Facebook page, which have generated hundreds of shares and likes.

“It was a way to develop relationships with the community and policeman, as people got to see a side of the police department that’s rarely seen,” Simonetti said. “It took off like wildfire, starting with a few kids, then a school bus, and a whole classroom donating.”

Simonetti said the event was a great success, and the pantry now has enough food to make it through the next month. More than 40 shopping carts full of items and a $500 donation from the Roxbury PBA were ultimately collected.

“It also gave officers an opportunity to interact with the youth, which is crucial in today’s climate. We want to let them know we’re approachable and here to help them,” Simonetti said. “We have some great people in town and they’re going to be our partners to continue to make this a great community and culture, to keep crime out of Roxbury.”

The children, about 60 in all, were also entered in a raffle to be invited back to the station for a full tour and a ride along.

The DeChristofano siblings were randomly selected as the winners following the holiday and returned, along with parents Mike and Nadia, Wednesday afternoon for the special tour.

“They knew we were going to the police station but they didn’t know why,” Mike DeChristofano said. “I couldn’t believe we won. Well, my kids won. And they’re so happy.”

“Both of them love anything to do with the police,” Nadia DeChristofano said.

When they arrived, Chief Simonetti thanked the them again for donating the food and gave the boys police hats, sweaters, and badges. He explained what his police officer did, from patrolmen to detectives, though James was already up to speed.

“Yeah, we know, we watch ‘Cops,’” he said.

After the introductions, it was time for the boys to get to work.

“Want to pull a car over?” department spokesperson Jennifer Dillard said.

“I’ll try,” James said.

In November, police officers pulled over a Jefferson Elementary School bus to say “thank you” for contributing to the drive, and this time they were the ones being pulled over. Plain clothes officers were the ones who were issued warnings by the DeChristofano siblings Wednesday.

Their partners for the day thought they did a good job.

“We had an awesome time together,” Gaffney said. “They’re good kids.”

“It was a lot of fun,” Sorgie said.

The DeChristofanos were later given a copy of the traffic stop, video and audio from the patrol car dash cams for them to take home. They were also given other goodies, including coupons for ice cream down the road at Cliff’s and a Roxbury Police knitted blanket.

After the traffic stop, the family was given a full tour of the facility, from the lunch room and gym to interrogation rooms and the jail.

“This is where we put the bad guys,” Simonetti said.

“Do you have any right now?” James said.

“No, not now,” Simonetti assured him.

It was a memorable afternoon for James and Thomas, though they both agree the best part was working a quick shift as Roxbury patrolmen.

“My favorite part was being in the police car and stopping the guys,” James said. “I let them go because I just wanted to be nice. They get three warnings and then it’s time.”

Thomas was very matter-of-fact when explaining why he had to pull over the car.

“He didn’t have his seatbelt on and the driver was on the phone,” Thomas said.

Both boys said they had a blast and James said he wants to be a police officer when he grows up, after serving in the military. Thomas isn’t sure what he wants to do yet, but he has plenty of time to decide.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-66366;mizzo@GannettNJ.com