It had been 24 years since former Long Branch resident Jose Lopez had seen his family. The 61-year-old, who was homeless at the time, was found by NJ Transit police in Secaucus Junction Station in early August. The officers who found him sent him on a train to Newark Penn Station, where he met with NJ Transit Police Crisis Outreach Officer Sean Pfeifer.
As a Crisis Outreach Officer, Pfeifer works with social service organizations and the judicial system, to connect homeless and at-risk people to healthcare, housing, veterans, rehabilitation, and other resources. His role is to bridge the gap between law enforcement and community social services.
Pfeifer left dozens of phone messages during a search for Lopez’s family, with limited information at his disposal. After two days, Pfeifer received word from one of Lopez’s daughters. Lopez was given a haircut, shave, and new clothes before his daughters arrived at Newark Penn Station to meet him. Lopez headed off to Bradley Beach to reconnect with his daughters and meet several grandchildren for the first time.
“New Jersey Transit Police genuinely care for the people in the communities we serve.” — Kevin Corbett
“Officer Pfeifer went above and beyond the call of duty to help this man and reunite him with his family, and we see this type of dedicated service every day from our New Jersey Transit Police,” NJ Transit President Kevin Corbett said. “As Officer Pfeifer demonstrated, New Jersey Transit Police do so much more in addition to protecting our customers and employees. They genuinely care for the people in the communities we serve.”
Lopez is currently working with the PATH Program sponsored by the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris County to find permanent housing. Through that organization, he’ll receive outreach, intensive case management, healthcare services, and eventual housing.
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