To the Editor:

We would like to make everyone in Bayonne aware of a very important matter.

We recently had the misfortune of a break-in at our home in downtown Bayonne. Upon entering her downstairs apartment, my daughter sensed something was amiss and then heard footsteps above her, its occupants typically not home at that hour. She dialed 911 from her cell phone and was surprisingly answered by a dispatcher from Staten Island, who luckily and quickly connected the call to Bayonne’s Police Department. Their response was swift and thorough, which led to the apprehension and arrest of the burglar who was still in the upstairs apartment. He had pretty much ransacked each level of the house by then, but fortunately all items he had gathered together never left the premises and were safely returned.

The police officers who responded were outstanding. They were professional, efficient, and empathetic. We did not have the opportunity to get all their names, but we do want to commend Officer Ryan and Officer Zack for their concern and proficiency.

Our concern is for the citizens of Bayonne who may need to use their cell phones to make an emergency 911 call! Apparently, the nearest cell phone towers transmit the calls out of Bayonne to surrounding community emergency call centers, which in an emergency can translate into precious minutes lost! We strongly encourage everyone in Bayonne to familiarize themselves with the main numbers to the Police Department and Fire Department if you use a cell phone exclusively. Your life, your loved ones, or your property may someday depend on it!

THE GRZYMKOS