SOUTH RIVER–With thick gloves, teamwork and a ton of muscle, officers from the South River Police Department helped pull a 93,000-pound airplane to fundraise for the Special Olympics New Jersey.
“The Special Olympics New Jersey annual Plane Pull event is established to raise money to donate to the Special Olympics and the annual New Jersey Law Enforcement Torch Run events, which also donates its proceeds to the Special Olympics,” South River Sgt. Edwin Yorek said.
Along with officers and employees from the East Brunswick Police Department, Spotswood Police Department and Brunswick Memorial Home, six officers from the South River Police Department competed in the United Airlines Plane Pull on Sept. 29 at Newark Liberty International Airport’s tarmac.
Yorek said team members pulled the United Airlines Boeing 737 airplane 12 feet in the fastest time with the lowest amount of combined team weight.
With a team comprised of 20 people, Yorek said that Sgt. Jonathan Minacapelli, Officer Mario Pinto, Officer Wesley Sanches, Officer Eddie Dumas, Officer Sean Sullivan and Officer Kenny Nale helped pull the plane with their teammates.
Yorek said this was the first time the borough’s police department has participated in the Special Olympics New Jersey Plane Pull event.
“The South River Police Department team came in second place overall and second place for the lowest combined team member weight to pull,” Yorek said.
More than $150,000 was raised for the athletes by the more than 50 participating teams at the event, according to police.
For more information, visit www.sonj.org/about/mission/.
Contact Vashti Harris at vharris@newspapermediagroup.com.
