The Borough of Sea Girt 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.

A Ford Explorer from the department’s fleet was recently wrapped with the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign’s bright blue and yellow logo and life-saving slogan, “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.” The HERO Campaign’s vehicle wrap program is expanding through a grant from the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety (NJDHTS).

The Sea Girt HERO SUV is now a “rolling billboard” for the HERO Campaign to promote the use and important role of designated drivers in preventing drunk and impaired driving. The Campaign is named in memory of Navy Ensign John R. Elliott of Egg Harbor Township, who was killed in a collision with a drunk driver near Woodstown in July 2000.

“We are grateful to Sea Girt’s Police Department and Chief Justin Macko and Mayor Donald Fetzer for participating in our HERO Patrol Car Program,” said Bill Elliott, John’s father. “The HERO cruisers have been well received all over the New Jersey area by both the police and the entire community.”

“Our partnership with the HERO Campaign is an important reminder for motorists to always have a safe ride home whenever they consume alcoholic beverages,” said Police Chief Macko. “We are also excited that the Sea Girt Police Department is the first department in Monmouth County to partner with the HERO Campaign in its HERO Patrol Vehicle Program.”

“Our community is pleased to support this campaign, which in turn will save lives,” said Mayor Donald Fetzer. “The wrap serves as a reminder to have a plan for a designated driver to get everyone home safely after enjoying what Sea Girt has to offer. The vehicle will be highly visible around town, at area schools, and at special events.”

Sea Girt is the 13th city to adopt the HERO Campaign with a DUI prevention vehicle. Atlantic City, Evesham Township, Linwood, Lower Township, Middle Township, North Wildwood, Ocean City, Longport, Sea Isle City, Pleasantville, Ventnor, and Vineland also have HERO cruisers currently in service. New police vehicle wraps will soon be unveiled in Margate and Somers Point; in Egg Harbor Township a new EMS Humvee is also on the road with the new HERO wrap.

Sea Girt’s HERO SUV, like the other police vehicles in the HERO fleet, 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 Sea Girt HERO vehicle will take place on Friday, May 26, 2023.

The HERO Campaign is now saving lives throughout New Jersey and several neighboring states, including Pennsylvania and Delaware, through its partnerships with law enforcement; schools and colleges; federal and state highway safety organizations; the licensed beverage industry; and professional sports teams. Since its inception in 2000, the HERO Campaign has grown into a major movement to prevent impaired driving that has received national recognition and awards. It has also helped to reduce alcohol-related fatalities and incidents, including a 20 percent reduction in DUI fatalities in New Jersey and other states over the past decade. For more information visit HEROcampaign.org or call 609-626-3880.

 The Sea Girt Police Department’s newly wrapped HERO SUV includes the logo for the John R. Elliott HERO Campaign and its slogan, “Be a HERO. Be a Designated Driver.” Part of a 13-car fleet of HERO Campaign patrol vehicles being used by police departments throughout southern New Jersey. The Sea Girt HERO SUV wrap was funded by a grant from the N.J. Division of Highway Traffic Safety.