By linda denicola
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — The Township Committee presented its police awards for 2002 to 18 officers and two civilians on May 13.
Officer William Holohan received three awards — Star of Life, Gallantry Star and Distinguished Police Duty.
The Star of Life was awarded to Holohan for responding to a 911 call on July 26 that a child had fallen into a swimming pool and was not breathing. Holohan is credited with using his skills to save the child’s life.
Officer James Burdge also received the Star of Life award for using his lifesaving skills to revive the child.
In addition, Holohan won the Gallantry Star for capturing suspects during the execution of a search warrant on Oct. 2. He won the award along with fellow officers Joseph Cicero and Michael Denham who found 11 bags of cocaine during a motor vehicle stop. Believing more criminal activity was involved, the officers were able to obtain a search warrant for motel rooms in Colts Neck.
While at the motel, Holohan observed the occupants of the room returning and he along with Sgt. Andrew Maroney prevented further criminal activity and destruction of evidence by arresting them. Subsequent to the execution of the warrant, more than $17,000 in cash, 2.5 ounces of cocaine, a loaded 9-millimeter handgun, a bulletproof vest and two vehicles were seized.
Maroney also won the Gallantry Star for his part in the arrests. All of the officers involved were credited with showing "distinguished bravery in the arrest of several persons who posed a major threat to the welfare of the community as well as other officers," the certificate states.
Holohan’s Distinguished Police Duty award was for an incident that occurred on March 26, 2002, when he responded to a customer dispute at a Route 9 gas station along with Gary Wolfe, who also won a Distinguished Police Duty award. The customer had actually just committed robbery and assault on two store attendants.
When the officers arrived at the scene, a 6-foot-2-inch tall, 250-pound male was out of control and charged Holohan. The officer used pepper spray on the suspect, but in doing so he was also temporarily blinded.
Despite being visually incapacitated, Holohan knocked the subject off-balance so that he and Wolfe were able to bring the subject to the ground and take him into custody.
Officer Barry Brikowski won the Life Saving Award for saving an elderly woman who was trapped in a house fire on Nov. 23. "After being informed that an elderly woman was still in the residence, Officer Brikowski risked his own personal safety by entering the residence, locating the elderly female and carrying her to safety," the award states.
In addition, several officers were awarded the Excellent Police Duty certificate.
On March 3, 2002, Officer Jack Mandala arrived at the scene of a smoke-filled house and saw the homeowner attempting to re-enter. "Without any additional equipment [or] breathing apparatus, Mandala entered the home and physically removed the homeowner. He also returned to the house to retrieve some of the victim’s personal property," his award states.
On May 8, 2002, Officer Daniel Valentine, while on patrol, observed an individual in a vehicle who matched the description of a wanted person. Valentine apprehended the subject who was wanted on numerous criminal warrants, including aggravated assault with a bat.
On Aug. 5, Officer Richard Leidy responded to a report of a motor vehicle theft. Leidy interviewed several witnesses and coordinated his actions with several other police agencies, resulting in an arrest that led to the recovery of the victim’s property as well as charges against the accused in other jurisdictions. He was awarded the Excellent Police Duty award.
Unit citations were awarded to officers Lawrence Loos, William Hankins, Francis Boutote, Thomas McGowan, William Gallo, Earl Cain and Daniel Pasquinucci for their actions on May 15, 2002.
According to the citation, the officers responded to an alarm activation at a commercial business on Route 9 and discovered the front glass door had been shattered and a cash register was missing. "Working in harmony through radio communications and excellent teamwork, officers were able to locate a subject emerging from a nearby neighborhood," the award states.
The officers apprehended the subject and uncovered evidence as well as the cash register to link the subject to the crime. In the course of the investigation, two other burglaries were discovered. A full confession was secured, solving multiple burglaries in surrounding towns.
In addition, Jeff Stiles and Craig Lukeman were presented with Civilian Service awards. Stiles, a telecommunications officer, was instrumental in coordinating the investigation that led to the apprehension of the burglar in the Route 9 case.
On Oct. 10, Lukeman provided information and eyewitness verification to the police department that led to two subjects being taken into custody and charged with arson.
In other business, the committee passed a resolution reapppointing two Class I special officers. The duties of the special officers, Michael R. Simms, of Howell, and Matthew Yurcisin, of Freehold, will be limited to crowd control, traffic control and enforcement of regulations and special duties assigned by the chief of police until the end of 2003.