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FRIDAY 04.01.16

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Lost WWII medals found in Manalapan

HISTORY FINDS
ITS WAY HOME

NJT horrified
after ISIS leak
is traced to
uniform vendor
MIKE DAVIS @BYMIKEDAVIS

NEWARK - NJ Transit police officers are horrified that a pro-ISIS group obtained personal information from 55 agency police officers by hacking a uniform vendor and singled them out for attack, the
union president said Thursday.
Our members have been individually targeted for
lone wolf attacks at their homes by an international
terrorist organization, Policemens Benevolent Association Local 304 President Charles Phillips said.
Phillips said the pro-ISIS group, identified as the
Caliphate Cyber Army, apparently hacked a secure
online order site run by Action Uniform, an outside
vendor based in Egg Harbor that has a $449,000 contract with NJ Transit to provide public safety uniforms.
The group then leaked personal information for police officers in a 39-page document this month, with
threatening messages.
While we patrol against terrorist attacks every
day we work, we are horrified that we are now bringing this threat home to our families, Phillips said,
adding the sole assurance we have received is that
ISIS has targeted other police organizations in the
See THREAT, Page 6A

PHOTOS BY DOUG HOOD/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Audra Thomas of Union Beach (right) was using her metal detector in Thompson Grove Park when she found World War II
medals belonging to Manalapan resident Jea Santovascos late father. Thomas returned them to her in the park Saturday.

KAREN YI @KAREN_YI

he two strangers embraced like old friends. And for a moment, they said, it felt
like time stood still. Ten years and 16 miles separated the two women. Audra
Thomas, 49, is a technology worker by day and bass player by night; Jea Santovasco, 59, a mother and real estate appraiser. But on Saturday, they met for the
first time at Thompson Grove Park in Manalapan, joined by an unexpected find:

Thomas chance discovery of World War II medals belonging to Santovascos late father.Oh my
god, this is beautiful, Santovasco said when she saw the medals, cleaned up and displayed in a
glass case. I cant believe I have these back. Santovasco said a family member broke into her
Manalapan home more than two years ago and swiped her jewelry and the medals. Shes been
searching for them ever since.

See MEDALS, Page 7A

ERIK LARSEN/STAFF PHOTO

Ocean County Republican Chairman George R. Gilmore

addresses Wednesday nights nominating convention.

No presidential
endorsement
from Ocean GOP
ERIK LARSEN @ERIK_LARSEN

TOMS RIVER - The most influential county Republican organization in New Jersey is staying out of its
partys contentious presidential primary season at
least officially.
The Ocean County Republican Organization held
its nominating convention on Wednesday night and
followed through on a proposal to make no one happy
and perhaps more importantly for its own political
interest no one mad.
While many in the leadership of the county GOP
cannot stomach the image of Donald Trump as its national standard bearer in the fall, county Republican
Chairman George R. Gilmore noted Wednesday that
Trump would be likely to carry Ocean County if New
Jerseys Republican primary were held today.
According to the conservative The Save Jersey
The World War II medals belonging to Sal Santovasco, who served in the U.S. Army, were stolen and later found in Thompson
Grove Park in Manalapan. Saturday, they were returned to his daughter. Visit APP.com for a video and photo gallery.

COUNTDOWN

7 DAYS

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Grateful for the

music, band?
Fans of the Grateful Dead: Head to the Paramount Theatre
on Saturday, April 9, to see two films, a musical performance and discussion. Visit APMFF.com for details.

Path to the Republican nomination this year could run

through the Virgin Islands. 1B

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VOLUME 137
NUMBER 79
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See ENDORSE, Page 6A