On Friday, April 28, the Little Egg Harbor Police Department, along with Mayor Blaise Scibetta and Committeeman Ken Laney, welcomed the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign to their community. The LEHPD was presented with “Be a HERO” magnets that will be placed on all of the town’s patrol cars to encourage people to use designated drivers. HERO Campaign Chairman and founder Bill Elliott was joined in the ceremony by the family of Matt Uhl, a Little Egg Harbor native who was killed by a drunk driver in 2013.

Matt Uhl graduated from Pinelands Regional High School in 2009. He was a business major at Rowan University and the Treasurer of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. On April 12, 2013, a month before graduation, Matt was hit and killed by a drunken driver. “We are grateful and proud to have the Little Egg Harbor Police save lives in memory of our son,” said Al Uhl, Matt’s father. Bill Elliott, founder of the HERO Campaign, added his thanks to the LEHPD for supporting the campaign, named in honor of his own son, Navy Ensign John Elliott.

Little Egg Harbor Mayor Blaise Scibetta added, “Ken Laney and I were very happy to have attended the event and learn about what the HERO Campaign does with education and awareness. I strongly feel their hard work through community outreach will prevent future injuries and deaths from drunk drivers. It’s great to have this connection with the HERO Campaign and our community.”

Cpt. Hart of the Little Egg Harbor Police said, “LEHPD is proud to partner with the HERO Campaign to create a safer community for everyone.”

The John R. Elliott HERO Campaign is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to preventing drunk driving deaths and injuries by promoting the use of responsible designated drivers. The HERO Campaign was established by the family of Navy Ensign John R. Elliott of Egg Harbor Township, NJ, who was killed in a head-on collision with a drunk driver in July of 2000, two months after graduating from the United States Naval Academy.

The HERO Campaign is saving lives throughout New Jersey and surrounding states through partnerships with law enforcement, schools and colleges, and many other organizations. For more information about the Campaign and to take the HERO Pledge, visit herocampaign.org.

Committeeman Ken Laney, Al Uhl, Officer Grosso, Officer McKuhan, Caitlyn (Uhl) Smith, Dawn Uhl, and Mayor Blaise Scibetta.

Cpt. Hart, Al Uhl, Dawn Uhl, and Mayor Blaise Scibetta.