S. Bruns. police union honors 18 of its own
SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Eighteen township police officers were recognized Friday night for service above and beyond the duty.
The third annual awards dinner of Policeman’s Benevolent Association Local No. 166, held at Good Time Charlie’s in Kingston, recognizes the outstanding performance of officers during the past year.
"To be recognized by your peers is a high honor," PBA President Martin Conte said.
Conte said that a peer panel of officers submits and reviews incidents during the year, then presents the awards to those officers who go above and beyond the call of duty.
Among those officers and members of the police auxiliary who were recognized, the union presented awards to six officers who were involved in a tense standoff in Kendall Park last December.
Patrolmen Scott Williams, Lenny Hibbits, Ken Drost and Dan Olsson and Sgts. Pat O’Brien and Ray Hayducka were honored for their handling of a suspect armed with a sword.
Three officers were awarded for their pursuit of two burglary suspects during which a police car was rammed.
Patrolmen John Avalone, Scott Reeves and Mike Rogers were recognized for handling the pursuit and preventing further danger to the public.
Patrolman Angelo Zecca and Sgt. Al Sondej were awarded for helping a family out of a burning home during an early morning fire.
Avalone was also recognized, along with Patrolman Mark Lorenc, for arresting three suspects following a motor vehicle stop.
One of the suspects assaulted the officers and tried to flee the stop.
Avalone also was honored together with patrolmen Lazlo Nyitrai and Jim Ryan and Sgt. Scott Hoover for their handling of a New York kidnapping suspect who came to South Brunswick armed with a gun. The suspect was taken into custody without incident.