As we continue our Berkeley Heights’ Women of the Week (WoW) series, the Berkeley Heights Diversity Council is pleased to continue to showcase women who are driving change, blazing trails and nurturing society. We hope you have enjoyed the WoW series where we have featured Beth Ferris Sales and Komal Naik. This week, we are excited to feature Jeanne-Marie Mocarski as the third woman for our series. Please read about Berkeley Heights Police Department's first female officer who inspires us through connecting with children, helping children with needs and her charity efforts.
JEANNE-MARIE MOCARSKI
Born: Rahway, NJ
Raised: Rahway, NJ
Resides: Long Hill Township, NJ
Works: Berkeley Heights, NJ
Jeanne-Marie Mocarski began her career in Law Enforcement as a police dispatcher for the Berkeley Heights Police Department. In 2002, she graduated from the John H. Stamler Police Academy and was the Berkeley Heights Police Department's first female officer. She loves serving the Berkeley Heights community and enjoys connecting with the children; with the support of the members of the Berkeley Heights PBA Local 144, she initiated and organized the Trunk or Treat and Police Santa events for the children in our community.
Jeanne-Marie has a special interest in assisting children with special needs and their families. She is a member of Law Enforcement United New Jersey, a 100 percent volunteer driven organization that raises funds for the children of fallen police officers and the Officer Down Memorial Page. Their mission is to honor the fallen and remember the survivors. Each May, Law Enforcement United NJ hosts the annual Road to Hope Memorial Bicycle Ride from Atlantic City, NJ to Washington D.C. She has participated as a bicycle rider and support team member for the past 5 years in honor of Officer Matthew Melchionda (Watchung Police Department) who was killed in the line of duty on March 8, 2006.
Outside of work, she loves spending time with her three children and enjoys volunteering in their schools. Jeanne-Marie is active, participating in many charity activities and extra-curricular activities including her daughter's love for dance at Pure Movement Dance Center in Berkeley Heights.
How about how long they have lived or worked in Berkeley Heights?
I worked in Berkeley Heights for over 17 years.
What inspires you?
My three children inspire me.
If you were to provide one word about yourself, what would it be and why did you choose this word?
Compassionate. I am considerate of other people’s feelings and I am sensitive to the needs of others.
What is your favorite song and why?
Amazing Grace because it inspires hope. I especially love to hear it played on bagpipes.
What do you do for a living? Why did you go into your profession?
I am a police officer and chose this profession because it is unique and allows me to help people in many different ways. I have the ability to affect the outcome of every call for service simply based on what I do.
What key skills do you need in order to do what you do?
Patience, communication, resilience.
What is one fun fact that you would like to share?
I rescued two dogs and have a love for pit bulls.
Who is one woman everyone should know about?
Officer Mary Ann Collura:
Officer Collura was the first female police officer in Fair Lawn, NJ. She had a passion for community policing and loved the children of her community. On April 17, 2003, Officer Collura responded to back up a Clifton officer following a motor vehicle pursuit when the suspect opened fire on the officers, striking Officer Collura and the Clifton officer. Officer Collura was shot four times and succumbed to her injuries. Officer Collura made the ultimate sacrifice and will never be forgotten.
Set your goals high. Work hard and believe in yourself and you can be whatever you want. ~ Officer Mary Ann Collura
Who was your female role model growing up and why?
My mother, Jacqueline Fagan, was my role model growing up. She was a stay-at-home mother to my brother and me and had the unbelievable ability to juggle all of our needs, activities, her volunteer positions in our schools and church and sat on the Board of Education. When my brother and I entered high school, she began to pursue her dream of becoming a schoolteacher. She attended Kean University, graduating with honors and went on to earn her Master’s Degree all while remaining just as involved in our busy lives.
How can you set an example for young women?
I believe it is very important to be visible and involved with children and young women in our community. I enjoy attending Girl Scout meetings, career days, community events such as Trunk or Treat and Police Santa, and stopping to visit children I see while on patrol in our community.