Cherry Hill Sun

Tag: leadership

  • Hundreds inspired to walk ‘with a purpose’

    Voorhees native Dr. Jatin Mehta (left), the walkathon’s local organizer, with Cherry Hill Mayor Dave Fleisher.

    More than 500 walkers gathered at Cooper River Park on June 8 for the annual BAPS Charities Walkathon, an event organized by a Voorhees native.

    The walkathon is one of more than 1,000 events organized by BAPS Charities across North America that draw more than 40,000 participants annually. BAPS is a volunteer-driven, international nonprofit that engages in health awareness, education, humanitarian relief, environmental protection and community empowerment.

    The walkathon was kicked off by Cherry Hill Mayor Dave Fleisher and Camden County Sheriff Chuck Billingham, whose presence organizers said “helps inspire hundreds to walk for a purpose.”

    Organizer Dr. Jatin Mehta reflected on the deeper meaning behind the effort.

    “The ‘spirit of service’ means doing something from the heart without expecting anything in return,” he noted of the day’s theme. “That’s exactly how BAPS volunteers approach their service.”

    What makes the Cherry Hill walk unique, Mehta added, is its strong regional support and inclusive nature.

    “We see participants and volunteers from Camden, Gloucester and Burlington counties,” he said. “It’s a real example of people coming together across communities.”

    The walkathon not only raises funds, but also cultivates empathy and understanding, especially among youth, according to Mehta.

    “Younger generations gain so much inspiration, not just from walking, but from volunteering, reaching out and truly engaging with the community,” he explained. “Events like this (the walkathon) foster teamwork, build compassion and help us understand one another better.”

    While the funds raised during the walkathon contribute to both local and global charitable causes – including disaster relief and environmental efforts – the heart of the effort is its ability to bring people together.

    As for the future of the campaign, Mehta is hopeful.

    “The ‘spirit of service’ is about promoting good, one person at a time,” he pointed out. “It grows through small acts and helps us build stronger communities for generations to come.”

    For more information about BAPS Charities and their work, visit www.bapscharities.org.

  • Police training on a ‘global scale’

    New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police
    Instructors from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police traveled to Budapest, Hungary, last June to teach its curriculum.

    The command and leadership academy of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) has become one of the nation’s premier law-enforcement leadership development courses. And now it wants to provide overseas training.

    Four instructors from the NJSACOP traveled to the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Budapest, Hungary, last June to teach its curriculum to command and supervisory officers from that country, Croatia, Slovenia and Slovakia. The 32 instructors included supervisory law-enforcement officers, investigators and other criminal justice officials, all of whom are required to share the knowledge gained with their colleagues, according to NJSACOP.

    The ILEA program is an initiative of the U.S. state department and the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) that is designed to enhance international cooperation and training for law enforcement around the world. ILEA facilities are located in regions worldwide, including Thailand and El Salvador, and New Mexico in the U.S.

    NJSACOP is known for its unique blend of theory and application designed to create future leaders in law enforcement. Federal officials have requested the agency deliver its Command and Leadership Academy program three more times in the upcoming months at ILEA locations in Budapest and Botswana, according to the press release.

    The NJSACOP training runs 104 hours over 13 weeks, but the June program was condensed to 72 rigorous hours in nine days of instruction to fit the ILEA program. The curriculum integrates behavioral-science theories and scenario-based learning to enhance education and skill development.

    NJSACOP emphasizes leadership as a science with logical thinking and critical methodology, along with police-oriented case studies. The course also encourages practical application of organizational theory within a law-enforcement context. Hundreds of law-enforcement supervisors have graduated from the program since the early 1990s, as it expanded from New Jersey into five area states.

    As the program expanded, Region 3 was added to serve Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and southern New Jersey. Region 4 was launched for Middlesex and Somerset counties. Region 5 comprises eastern Pennsylvania through an arrangement with the Chester County Sheriff’s Office. Academy students come from a wide variety of local, county, state and federal agencies including the FBI, the Federal Air Marshal Service and the U.S. Marshals Service.