In 2021, Eric Crafton received The Senate and General Assembly Joint Legislative Resolution signed by Senator Schepisi, Assemblyman Auth, and Assemblywoman DeFuccio for his outstanding work in Veteran Haven North with the New Jersey National Guard during the COVID-19 pandemic. That same year Eric also received a Resolution from the Bergen County Board of Commissioners for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bergen County has designated May 4th as ‘Eric Crafton Day’ for his meticulous and outstanding work during the COVID-19 pandemic including serving as the media spokesperson for The Bergen County Vaccination Mega Site at the Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment Complex.

Eric prides himself on his ability to connect with all members of his community, especially those facing crises. This stems from his humble roots growing up with a single mom & sister. He learned early on the impact that crime has on victims when his grandmother was the victim of a violent robbery. Sadly, the perpetrator was never caught and his grandmother never fully recovered from her injuries. Even with injuries, his grandmother never stopped loving the community she lived in and this made a big impression on Eric. Seeing the effects of crime on his family, Eric entered law enforcement with a special eye on the mental health of both crime perpetrators and their victims. 

Serving in the Army National Guard added a new layer of urgency to Eric’s mission to serve his community and advocate for mental health services. As a decorated soldier and Certified Crisis Interventionist, Eric recognizes the struggle of active military re-entering civilian life. He has spent the past decade creating a network of physicians and mental health professionals to assist veterans and their families with the VA claims process. In 2024, Eric officially launched the New Jersey Veteran Support Alliance.