State honors O.B. cop for work with children
DARE officer's job helping kids stay drug- and alcohol-free
BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer

SCOTT FRIEDMAN Old Bridge Police Officer Mike Korygoski helps Greg Chepovetsky, 10, of Old Bridge, as he tries walking while wearing "fatal vision" goggles that simulate the effects of alcohol consumption, during Old Bridge's recent Safety Awareness Day.

OLD BRIDGE — A local police officer recently earned the honor of being the state's DARE Officer of the Year.

Patrolman Michael Korygoski of the Old Bridge Police Department was recognized for his service at a meeting of the Township Council on Monday night. Officials said the officer is well respected by his peers in the department and by the residents in the community.

"He sets the bar and he's a good example for DARE officers in this department," Patrolman Edward Jarusiewicz said.

Korygoski, 47, a native of South River, said he was surprised by the recognition, which comes from the New Jersey DARE Officers Association and was initially announced in April at an annual training conference in Atlantic City.

"Every year at the state DARE officer training conference, they have this award — the Educator of the Year and the DARE Officer of the Year," Korygoski said. "I was surprised. I walked into the ballroom and I saw my family there, so I knew something was up."

Korygoski graduated from South River High School in 1979 and then from Wagner College in Staten Island, N.Y. He has been with the Old Bridge police force for 24 years and he has been a DARE officer for the past 18 years.

"I'm the DARE coordinator, and we have two officers that have part-time roles in the program — Officer [Pat] D'Onofrio and Officer [Kevin] Reck," Korygoski said.

Old Bridge Police Chief Thomas H. Collow noted that Korygoski is often asked to train new DARE officers.

DARE, or Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is designed to teach schoolchildren how to resist peer pressure and stay away from drugs, gangs and violence. The program was founded in Los Angeles in 1983 and is used in 75 percent of school districts across the nation, as well as 43 countries, according to DARE's official website.

"There's so much I enjoy about it," Korygoski said. "Our mission obviously is to equip kids with tools that will enable them to resist those bad influences that are out there. Especially rewarding for me is when I hear from former DARE students. … It's nice to know that you are making a difference. You cannot actively measure the impact you have on kids, but we do have a great impact."

Korygoski said a former student who participated in the DARE program 12 years ago wrote to him, relaying the news that he graduated with honors while studying criminal justice. The 22-year-old Rutgers University graduate was inspired by Korygoski to pursue a career in law enforcement, and he spoke to Southwood Elementary School students for the DARE program on May 29.

"I made such an impression on him that he actually interviewed me for one of his internship projects on a juvenile delinquency topic," Korygoski said. "I asked him to guest speak on our DARE graduations. He showed the fifth-graders that you can avoid negative influences. He's a perfect example. You make the right choices in your life, you set up goals in your mind, and he's achieving them."

Korygoski divides his time between the 12 elementary schools and two parochial schools in Old Bridge. One of the schools Korygoski regularly visits is Virgil Grissom Elementary School, where Principal Joseph Sgalia described Korygoski as an individual who the students respect and listen to.

"He's extremely dedicated to the kids and to helping them have a drug-free, alcohol free life, to help them make the right choices," Sgalia said. "He'll bend over backwards for the kids. He'll help them in any way. He'll educate them so that they have the necessary tools to make the right choices … He's really an important person to our school community."

Collow noted the significance of the DARE program to police, since it helps establish ties between the police department, the school district and the community at large. He said that police also reach out to the community by having a Student Resource Officer for the schools, as a summer youth camp and police academy for children.

"We have one of the largest school districts in the state of New Jersey, and we have maintained a great relationship with the schools," Collow said. "… Our relationship with our schools is a direct reflection on Mike Korygoski and the relationship that he not only established with the schools, but with the police department. It works both ways. Mike is truly a great representative for our police department."

Part of Korygoski's success has been his willingness to work with such civic organizations as the Old Bridge Municipal Alliance, as well as the boys' and girls' scout troops, Collow said. He described Korygoski as a hard worker and an asset to the police department.

"We can't say enough about Mike," Collow said. "That relationship he builds early on with his contacts and for most of those students in the elementary schools, that's their first contact with the police, is that DARE instruction. I'm a firm believer in DARE. Not only is it helpful … to teach kids about substance abuse, peer pressure and those elements, but also a key component is that contact and the introduction between the young kids and the police department.Mike does such a good job cultivating that relationship." Korygoski thanked several people and organizations in the community for their support of the DARE program, including the Old Bridge Municipal Alliance and its coordinator, Karen Tortorici. He also thanked Amboy National Bank, the Classic Knights Car Club, Old Bridge Elks Club, James McDivitt Elementary School Principal Laurie Colletti, Old Bridge Director of Elementary Education Donna Kibbler and Superintendent of Schools Simon Bosco.

Korygoski said the Old Bridge Police Department recently received an award for teaching the DARE program for 20 years. Patrolman Paul Salonis started the program in Old Bridge. Korygoski said it serves an important role in the school community.

"It shows the kids that police are there to help you," Korygoski said. "It humanizes the police. The kids can begin to relate to officers as people, and they see another role besides strictly enforcing. It's a helping role. DARE opened up the lines of communication between our police department and the kids."