HOWELL — Patrolman Riaz Motani had originally planned to hold Howell’s community safety day on June 6.

The events had been arranged. Major sponsor Chick-Fil-A had volunteered the restaurant and its parking area for the program.

Motani started his day early at a law enforcement mass casualty drill held at the Freehold Raceway Mall in Freehold Township. He worked side-by-side with New Jersey State Police Trooper Marc Castellano.

About mid-morning, the two men took a break.

“Marc said he was going to lunch,” Motani said, and that was the last he saw of the young state trooper.

Castellano, 29, of Howell, died later that day. The state trooper was taking part in a police search on Interstate 195 in Howell and was on foot when he was struck and fatally injured by a passing motorist.

The community safety day was quickly cancelled. Chick-Fil-A instead donated half of its proceeds from the day to the two young children Castellano left behind.

Motani later decided to hold the community safety event on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“We had a large population of fallen people,” he said. “Let’s memorialize the people who died on 9/11. That should be our focus.”

The community safety day will be held rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 11 at Chick-Fil-A, 4881 Route 9 north, in the Lanes Mill Marketplace.

The Howell Police Department’s traffic safety unit will conduct free child safety seat inspections. Members of the department’s community service bureau will provide free child identification kits, including a photograph and fingerprints, Motani said.

“It helps us to help them,” he said.

A New Jersey State Police helicopter will land at the site at 11 a.m. and remain there for the rest of the event so visitors can get an up-close view.

Also slated to participate are fire trucks from the Southard Fire Department, a “smoke house” demonstration by the Howell Township Fire Bureau, a SCUBA truck from the Howell Office of Emergency Management, new police vehicles and a DWI crash car, he said.

“This way the public will get a feel for what is going on with law enforcement and the fire department,” Motani said. “It’s more on a personal level.”

Chick-Fil-A will be offering discounts on a number of items, along with a “free food” spin wheel. The event will also feature clowns, face painting, cotton candy, an appearance by McGruff the Crime Dog, a drawing contest for children and live music.

Target and Lowe’s will be selling items for children at the event, the officer said.