The Ventnor Police Department has announced its partnership with a regional drunk driving prevention organization by unveiling a new HERO patrol vehicle to promote the use of safe and sober designated drivers.

The department’s Ford Explorer that had been Ventnor’s K9 vehicle was retrofitted for patrol use and now will be a “rolling billboard” for the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers. The HERO Campaign is named in memory of Navy Ensign John Elliott of Egg Harbor Township, who was killed in a collision with a drunk driver near Woodstown in July 2000. At that time, Ventnor Police Chief Joe Fussner was a rookie law enforcement officer whose parents lived next door to the Elliotts.

“I saw first-hand how that incident devasted their family and impacted that community,” Fussner recalled. “We are proud to partner with the HERO Campaign to put this community-policing vehicle on the road with its messaging aimed at putting a stop to drinking and driving. This eye-catching, colorful addition to our Ventnor Police Department fleet will help remind our city’s residents and visitors not to drink and drive, and to plan for a designated driver to get everyone home safely.”

The bright blue and yellow HERO Campaign logo and message – “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver” – are displayed on the car, making Ventnor the eleventh city to adopt the HERO Campaign with a DUI prevention vehicle. Atlantic City, Evesham Township, Linwood, Lower Township, Middle Township, Ocean City, Longport, Sea Isle City, Pleasantville, and Vineland also have HERO cruisers currently in service.

“We’d like to thank Fabietti, Hale, Hammerstedt & Powers, PA for sponsoring the Ventnor police vehicle wrap,” said HERO Campaign Chairman Bill Elliott, John’s father. “They’ve really stepped up to the plate in support of the HERO Campaign by sponsoring this vehicle wrap and another one to replace Linwood’s HERO police vehicle. We would never have been able to make the great strides in our mission to promote the use of designated drivers without the financial and volunteer support of businesses and individuals in our community.”

Ventnor’s HERO SUV will be highly visible in the community as officers drive it on traffic duty, to special events, and to area schools. An official dedication ceremony for the Ventnor HERO vehicle will take place on Thursday, May 26, 2022.