Chaos Erupts at 'Lavish Effect' Pool Party, Mayor Calls it 'Absolute Embarrassment'

Picture this: a late summer evening in New Milford, meant for relaxation and enjoyment, took a rather unexpected and decidedly chaotic turn last Sunday, August 30, 2026. What began as a 'Lavish Effect Pool Party' at the New Milford Swim Club spiraled completely out of control, ultimately requiring a massive police presence and leaving the town's mayor absolutely fuming.

It was around 10 p.m. when authorities first responded to the scene, located at the New Milford Swim Club, a privately run organization that, quite importantly, leases property directly from the Borough. Reports flooded in of fights breaking out amongst attendees, transforming what was presumably meant to be a fun social gathering into something much more alarming. It quickly became clear that this wasn't an incident that local police could handle alone.

Indeed, the situation escalated to such a degree that police departments from neighboring towns – River Edge, Oradell, Bergenfield, Dumont, and Teaneck – were called in for backup. Even the Bergen County Sheriff's Department joined the fray, demonstrating just how serious the situation was perceived to be. While thankfully no weapons were found, and perhaps more importantly, no one sustained serious injuries or was arrested during the fracas, the sheer scale of the police response paints a vivid picture of the disorder.

What's truly galling, it seems, is the fact that this entire spectacle unfolded without the Borough's blessing, or even their knowledge. New Milford Borough officials confirmed they had absolutely no hand in authorizing the event. And, perhaps even more concerning, the New Milford Swim Club itself failed to inform either the Borough or the Police Department about the party beforehand. An Eventbrite page for the so-called 'Lavish Effect' bash had listed 112 attendees, hinting at the potential for a large crowd, which clearly wasn't adequately managed.

Understandably, New Milford Mayor Michael Putrino did not mince words when addressing the incident. He unequivocally branded the whole affair an "absolute embarrassment" – not just for the town itself, but for its hardworking residents and the very members of the swim club who cherish their local facility. One can almost hear the frustration and disappointment in his voice, reflecting the community's sentiment. The investigation into precisely what transpired and how such an unauthorized, unruly event was permitted to occur is, of course, ongoing.