Crime & Safety

GRPD's Social Media/History Project Profiled

NJ.com catches up with Det. James Calaski, whose Facebook posts detailing crimes a century ago have been very popular.

The Glen Rock Police Department's recent initiative to detail early 20th century life in a small agricultural town has led to a large spike in engagement with its residents.

Items posted on the department's Facebook page include the 1921 berry-picking shooting, a dramatic train heist, and even two men arrested for insulting women.

Social media guru Detective James Calaski is responsible for the posts, which he told NJ.com has led to a 3,000 percent increase "reach". The idea came partially from police work and partially from his ongoing work as a history student at William Paterson University, he told the news website.

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"You just look at the way Glen Rock was back in the 1920s. It was agricultural - you had people complaining about getting their chickens stolen," Calaski told NJ.com. "You also have a little bit of that Wild West going on."

Make sure to check out the article.

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