Locals lend a hand

South Brunswick sent six police officers and 15 first-aid workers to aid New York City.

By: Brian Shappell
   South Brunswick sent six police officers and 15 first-aid workers as part of a region-wide cavalry to aid New York City in the wake of the massive terrorist attack Tuesday.
   At about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, two sergeants and four patrolman left the South Brunswick Police Department headquarters and joined up with police officers from throughout Middlesex County.
   "The county Office of Emergency Management asked for help so we agreed to send the officers with the county contingent," Chief of Police Michael Paquette said.
   The officers’ names were not released Wednesday, because they had just returned. Chief Paquette said they were not ready to speak with the media about what they saw during more than a day of hard duty.
   Though the officers’ original assignment was to protect the outer barriers of the affected area, they soon were sifting through debris at the World Trade Center with other rescue workers, looking for survivors. Chief Paquette said the six policemen were digging in the rubble from 2 a.m. to approximately 4 p.m. Wednesday.
   "They’ve been deeply affected by it," he said. "They’re exhausted.
   "None of them have ever seen something like they saw there. It was inconceivable the extent of damage there was."
   The officers returned to the station covered in soot.
   A total of 15 volunteer EMTs from the Kendall Park First Aid & Rescue Squad and the Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad and five ambulances also were dispatched to lower Manhattan, said township Office of Emergency Management Coordinator Jim Dwyer.
   "When you talk about the gravity of the situation, these people should never be forgotten for their efforts," he said.
   The members from the Kendall Park First Aid & Rescue Squad were Ray Weis, Tom Cooper, Jay Cooper, Jim Cooper, Paul Lenzi, Melissa Arouh, Scott Weis, Jim McCallum and Mike Crawford. Monmouth Junction First Aid Squad representatives were Jim Lackey, Harry Krotowski, Cindy DiMonda, Chris Olson, Bernadette Vasile and Mike Ransom.
   EMTs sent to lower Manhattan assisted in the medical treatment of many affected by the war zone conditions left behind after the collapse.
   Mr. Dwyer said the front crew assisted in aiding at least two firemen and one New York City police officer.
   Other EMTs from Kendall Park, Kingston and Monmouth Junction squads remained available to cover emergencies within the township, enabling these volunteers to assist to the north, said Mr. Dwyer.
   "Everybody that volunteered, whether they went to the front line in New York, the staging area or stayed behind in the township, came through when needed."