Community leaders, law enforcement officials and families gathered Tuesday night as Shomrim of Lakewood hosted a Member Appreciation Event recognizing the volunteers and partner agencies involved in local public safety efforts.
The event honored nearly 100 trained volunteers who provide a range of services across the greater Lakewood area, including overnight patrols, emergency response and security at large public events.
Shomrim operates multiple specialized divisions, such as dispatch, first response, aviation and drone units, search and rescue, surveillance, traffic and event coordination, crime prevention and violence intervention.
Shomrim leadership opened the program by thanking volunteers and their families for their ongoing commitment. Rabbi Hillel Eisenberg addressed attendees, speaking about the responsibility and value of community service.
Law enforcement officials from several agencies also participated in the program. Gregory Meyer, chief of the Lakewood Police Department, highlighted Shomrim’s role in joint operations and its coordination with police, citing instances in which collaboration contributed to crime prevention and arrests.
Additional remarks were delivered by Sam Ellenbogen, Ray Coles, Sean Kilcommons, Michael Mastronordy, and Casey Long. Speakers emphasized the significance of a 24-hour volunteer organization and described Shomrim as an integral partner in local and countywide public safety efforts.
The program also included a stand-up performance by comedian Ami Kozak and the presentation of appreciation awards to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lakewood Police Department.
A video presentation reviewed Shomrim’s activities in 2025, including security operations at major events, expanded use of drone and surveillance technology and routine nightly patrols.
During the event, Shomrim announced the launch of a new internal operations application aimed at improving dispatch efficiency, response times, coordination and data security. Officials said public-facing features of the platform are expected to be introduced in the future.
Organizers said the event was intended to recognize volunteers and reinforce collaboration between Shomrim, law enforcement and municipal officials, underscoring the organization’s ongoing role in community safety.
