Harrison Police Host Pizza With A Cop @Riverbend District Wed. 8/27/25

The Harrison Police Department will host its next Pizza With A Cop event on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Pocket Park, located at 1200 South 5th Street in Harrison’s Riverbend District. The small green space, nestled between the Steelworks apartments and The Cobalt Lofts, sits diagonally across from the Wyldes Harrison and Vermella Harrison residential complexes.

This event marks the sixth Pizza With A Cop gathering of the year, organized by the department’s Community Policing Unit under the leadership of Police Chief Stanley Titterington and Police Director Nicholas Breiner. Attendees can enjoy complimentary pizza and refreshments while engaging in open conversation with local police officers.

A Summer of Engagement

The August 27th event follows a busy summer of community outreach:

• July 17 – Firehouse Playground at 7th Street and Wilhelm Street
• July 24 – Kingsland Courts, 740 William Street
• July 28 – 300 Somerset, between South Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard and South 3rd Street
• August 14 – Dey Street and Bergen Street

In addition, the department hosted a highly successful National Night Out on August 5 at Library Park on Harrison Avenue, drawing families, local organizations, and residents for an evening of activities and community spirit.

Community Policing in Action

“Pizza With A Cop” is more than just pizza—it reflects the principles of Community Policing, a strategy supported by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs. Community Policing emphasizes partnerships between officers and residents to identify and solve local concerns, enhance neighborhood safety, and improve quality of life.

Harrison has a long history of such initiatives. In the 1990s and 2000s, retired Deputy Chief Patrick Minutillo spearheaded programs that connected officers to the community, including Naturalization Drives to assist residents seeking U.S. citizenship. These events, often supported by the Harrison Fest Committee and the Centro Romeu Cascaes Portuguese American Community Center, provided practical help—from fingerprinting to application completion—while building trust between police and residents.

Continuing the Tradition

Chief Titterington has carried forward the legacy of former Chief David Strumolo, who first launched the Pizza With A Cop series four years ago. The program has evolved into a signature community-building effort, providing residents with an approachable and friendly setting to interact with law enforcement outside of emergency situations.

Events like these create stronger connections between officers and neighbors and that strengthens the entire town.”

An Invitation to Residents

Residents are encouraged to stop by the Riverbend District’s Pocket Park on August 27, 2025, share a slice of pizza, and meet the officers who serve their community daily.

The Riverbend District is a residential community located across from the decontaminated PSE&G property, where the EPA plans to construct a Toxic Sludge Plant & Debris facility.  Read why the EPA's plan is flawed and must be scrapped for a better plan in our article. Join your neighbors in raising awareness and the fight to stop the proposed Harrison toxic sludge plant.

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