ASBURY PARK PRESS

APP.COM $1.50

Veteran walks for

PTSD awareness

FRIDAY 06.03.16

Local police officer, two other vets will trek from Holmdel
veterans memorial to Washington, D.C., in three days

beachedition
YOUR WEEKEND GUIDE DOWN THE SHORE

Rock n Roll
in Red Bank
Landmark RiverFest festival returns this weekend with live
music, food vendors and craft beer along the banks of the
Navesink.

PHOTOS BY THOMAS P. COSTELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Navy veteran Mike Dowens sets out Thursday on a walk from the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial in
Holmdel to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., to raise awareness about PTSD.

ALEXANDRIA CAROLAN ASBURY PARK PRESS

I picked this memorial to start off with.

Michael Dowens kept his post-traumatic

stress disorder a secret for 10 years after the
military medically discharged the Navy veteran
for asthma he developed overseas.
Dowens, now a Holmdel police officer,
thought he was suffering in silence.
But he couldnt stop the shame he felt, or the
guilt that he was safe at home when so many of
his fellow servicemen and women were still in
danger.
When Dowens failed to conquer the problem
on his own and saw the damage PTSD inflicted
on his family, he chose to get help.
Now, Dowens is hoping to help other afflicted
veterans by walking 237 miles nonstop over
three days to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness and money to combat PTSD.
(PTSD) is something that needs to be addressed, the 37-year-old patrolman said
Wednesday. Its something that so many men
and women suffer from, and theres not that
much help for them to get.
So shortly after sunrise Thursday, Dowens
and two other fellow veterans took their first
step in their crusade against PTSD. Around 50
people made up of friends, family and police
from Monmouth and Ocean counties gathered
while Dowens and two other veterans, National
Guard member Brian Zarnowski of Mayville
and a veteran who wished not to be identified,

MICHAEL DOWENS, HOLMDEL OFFICER AND NAVY VETERAN

See VETERANS, Page 8A

Dowens gets a high-five from his son Greyson, 2, held

by his wife, Christine, before setting out.

I just want to bridge the gap between the

veterans of the Vietnam War and the veterans
of Afghanistan and Iraq because were all on
the same team. I have their back just as much
as they have mine, and thats the reason why

Lawsuit claims Ocean County is corrupt

ERIK LARSEN @ERIK_LARSEN

TOMS RIVER - Aides to Gov. Chris Christie, fearing political blowback, attempted to shut down a criminal investigation into Ocean County Freeholder Director Jack Kellys daughter ahead of the 2013 election, according to a lawsuit filed by a detective in the
Prosecutors Office.
Detective Steven Mecka, who investigated theft
claims against Dawn Marie Kelly, daughter of the
freeholder, said Little Egg Harbor Township Committeeman Ray Gormley told him he was visited by two
aides to the governor who urged Gormley to use his
influence to shut down the investigation because it
would look bad if matters were ever exposed to the
public especially before an election, according to the
suit.

Mecka, 41, makes the allegations in a civil lawsuit

in state Superior Court in which he outlines what he
purports to be widespread official corruption in
state, county and local government in Ocean County
including in the Prosecutors Office over the past
decade. Most of the claims are set forth broadly and
lack specific details. A notable exception: allegations
surrounding the powerful freeholder and his daughter.
Mecka said he has suffered adverse employment
actions as a result of his inquiries into official wrongdoing and resistance to making improper inquiries.
He claims he was passed over for promotion to sergeant and subjected to arbitrary disciplinary action.
The 21-page lawsuit is a serpentine collection of alSee COUNTY, Page 23A

Turn back
time at
Allaire

Antiques
in Ocean
Grove

State park will host Civil

War encampment and
old-fashioned baseball.

Collectibles and keepsakes

for sale at Giant Spring Flea
Market.

Catch a
ballgame
Lakewood BlueClaws host
Hickory Crawdads tonight
and Saturday.

All this and more inside! 2A

Shore Regional senior swimmer Helen Grossman won the 100

butterfly at the Monmouth County meet and broke her own
Shore Conference meet record from 2014.
Join Grossman and Giants quarterback Eli Manning on June
13 at the Jersey Shore Sports Awards. Student-athletes being
honored and others wishing to attend must RSVP by June 8.
Info: on.app.com/sportsawardstickets.

Autopsy report reveals toxic

level of painkiller Fentanyl
in Princes bloodstream. 1B

ADVICE
CLASSIFIED
COMICS
LOCAL
LOTTERIES

Jersey Alive!
4D
Jersey Alive!
3A
2A

OBITUARIES
OPINION
SPORTS
WEATHER
YOUR MONEY

21A
24A
1C
12C
20A

VOLUME 137
NUMBER 133
SINCE 1879