A Partnership For Change

What a great day for a PREP class at the Middlesex County Police Training Center. Thank you to Mardi Ekmekjian at Wireless World NJ (Verizon) at New Milford, NJ for providing those in attendance with a great lunch and speaking to them about first responder discounts too!

We are thrilled to announce our Fall/Winter schedule for DATA!

Our upcoming DATA (Domestic Abuse Training & Awareness) classes are now open for registration.

Join us to strengthen your knowledge, build confidence, and gain practical tools for supporting teens experiencing dating abuse or exposure to domestic violence at home.

If you are a school counselor, nurse, health teacher, or school administrator in New Jersey, we invite you to join us!
New Jersey School Counselors Association, Association of Student Assistance Professionals of NJ

A big thank you to the Cranford Police Department for welcoming our Training Specialist, Susan Gleason, to present our Teen Dating Abuse training to their officers. We appreciate their commitment to increasing awareness, strengthening responses, and supporting young people affected by unhealthy and abusive relationships. Together, we can help create safer communities for teens.

What a fantastic year at Lyndhurst High School as we prepared and certified our newest PowerBack Peer Leaders!

These dedicated students are now equipped to provide support, education, and resources to their fellow students who may be experiencing unhealthy or abusive relationships. Their commitment to helping others create a safer and more supportive school community is truly inspiring.

Congratulations to all of our newly certified PowerBack Peer Leaders—we are so proud of you and the positive impact you will make!

A life likely saved through this Mahwah PD officer’s understanding of domestic violence and diligent response.

Our PREP classes teach officers the dynamics of domestic violence and appropriate response. Our next class for law enforcement in Bergen County (BCLPSI) is Tuesday, May 19th from 10:00AM-1:00PM. If you are a LEO, Asst. Prosecutor or Victim Witness Advocate, register now for Insight to Batterer Behavior by emailing us at [email protected].
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=122203535366389271&id=61561678140627 #

𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗢: 𝗠𝗮𝗵𝘄𝗮𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗚𝘂𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗺’𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲

𝐁𝐲 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨 (𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬)

𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗜𝗧 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧: A Mahwah police officer is being hailed a hero for taking care to return a domestic violence victim home from headquarters -- and finding her accused assailant armed with a loaded gun outside her house.

Jason Tyler Butler, 26, of the Catskills town of Wurtsboro, NY, was arrested without incident by Officer Joseph Alvarez with a little help from his colleagues, Mahwah Police Capt. Michael Blondin said.

Butler had fled the scene when officers initially responded to an emergency call at the woman’s home last Thursday (May 7th), the captain told Independent Online News.

Butler had assaulted her twice recently, the woman told them – getting her in a choke hold both times, restricting her breathing and blood flow.

Complaints charging Butler with aggravated assault were filed, Blondin said today (Mon., May 11th).

The woman also went to police headquarters and obtained a restraining order, he said.

Given what had just happened, Officer Alvarez wasn't taking any chances, the captain said. For her safety he escorted her home after she was done.

The officer found Butler parked outside her house, Blondin said.

Backups arrived instantly and Butler was quickly seized.

In his car they discovered a loaded handgun, along with crack and drug paraphernalia under the center console, the captain said.

Butler – who’s listed in criminal records as a U.S.-born American citizen – was already awaiting trial on domestic violence aggravated assault charges out of Harrington Park last Aug. 22, 2025, records show.

Mahwah police charged him with aggravated assault, simple assault and multiple weapons charges, including possessing a fi***rm while committing a drug crime.

Authorities declined comment on a report from a reliable source that Butler was stopped from trying to hang himself while in custody.

He has remained held in the custody of Bergen County sheriff's officers at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus since last week’s arrest in Mahwah.

He’ll have a first appearance in Central Judicial Processing Court in Hackensack once he’s cleared psychologically.

Are you a school counselor, nurse, or physical education teacher with questions about teen dating abuse or children who are exposed to domestic violence at home? If so, then join us for this free Q&A session with APFC, Co-founder, Allison Bressler. Drawing on her 26 years of experience, she will answer any questions you have about these issues. Email us at [email protected] to reserve your spot.


New Jersey School Counselors Association

Our PowerBack team had a great time participating in at William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City last week. Denim Day promotes awareness of sexual assault and solidarity with victims.

Thank you Union High School for all of your wonderful support and knowing the importance of teaching our youth about dating violence.

PowerBack spent an awesome day at Union High School talking to the students about healthy dating, how to help a friend who might be in an abusive relationship, and so many more important topics. We are so grateful to for having us and to the hundreds of students who stopped by our table! 💜