Police awards recognize valor, investigative skills

BY LINDA DeNICOLA Staff Writer

BY LINDA DeNICOLA
Staff Writer

Ocean Township Ocean Township OCEAN TOWNSHIP – Twenty officers and one civilian were honored at an Ocean Township Police Department awards ceremony held earlier this month.

Patrolman Cory R. Cole received the Ocean Township Police Humanitarian Award for his generous actions toward a young couple and their baby.

In December, Cole arrested a man for shoplifting at the Target store. During a conversation with the defendant, Cole became aware of the difficult financial times the man and his wife were having. Cole went beyond the call of duty to provide the family with cash from his own pocket to purchase needed car parts and food for their baby. Cole and his wife then collected clothing and other baby items for the young couple in an attempt to help them.

Officer John L. Piantanida was awarded two commendations, one for quick thinking and decisive action and another for actions that gave a victim and her family two more days of life and time together.

On the night of June 3, officers were dispatched to the area of Logan Road in response to a report of a man climbing over a residential fence.

As officers approached the suspect, he fled on foot toward the Colonial Terrace Golf Course. Piantanida requested assistance from a citizen in the form of a ride, and was able to position himself ahead of the suspect, whom he tackled and held until back-up arrived.

On Oct. 6, Piantanida responded to a report of an unconscious person. When he arrived, the victim was alert but had a seizure and passed out. He found she was not breathing and started CPR. The victim was transported to a hospital and lived for two days before passing away.

A number of officers were awarded Investigative Excellence Certificates for their skillful investigation and interviews.

On April 8, while working the quality-of-life detail in the Oakhurst section of the township, Sgt. Steven Peters observed suspicious activity near a motor vehicle that was parked on South Lincoln Avenue. He spoke to three young men near the vehicle and after a brief investigation, uncovered a large amount of marijuana and psycilocybin mushrooms in the vehicle and in the possession of the three suspects. His actions led to the execution of a search warrant for a house, recovery of more illegal drugs and cash along with the arrest of a drug dealer.

On June 20, officers Gerald P. Spanarkel, Trevor E. Dickerson and Sonia Henriques were on the scene where a 10-year-old boy was struck and seriously injured by a hit-and-run driver in the Twinbrook Apartment complex. The officers conducted an investigation at the scene and interviewed witnesses, leading to the arrest of the suspect.

Over a period of several months, Detective Charles Weinkofsky, officers Eduardo Segarra and Gregory Tongring conducted a narcotics investigation targeting a suspect who sold large quantities of drugs in the township and surrounding communities. After several detailed surveillances, they made an arrest on May 17 and recovered a quantity of illegal drugs. This arrest led them to a higher level dealer, whom they interviewed. The second suspect agreed to a search of his home and the officers recovered a large quantity of cocaine, putting a midlevel drug dealer out of business.

On July 1, Detective Kevin Faller conducted an investigation for the source of fictitious state drivers’ licenses that led to the arrest of the suspect, putting him out of business.

June 25, Detective Michael Clancy investigated an armed robbery of Seaview Shell Route 66. Using a partial license plate number and computer searches, Clancy was able to identify a suspect and an arrest of a violent offender.

Two officers won the Honorable Service Certificate and Blue Bar.

On Sept. 25, Officer William Crosta made a routine motor vehicle stop on Route 66 and during the course of his on-scene investigation, uncovered a knife and CDS paraphernalia leading to the arrest of two men. He also located several stolen credit cards and other stolen property in the vehicle. Crosta was able to link the two suspects to more than 20 burglaries ending an ongoing crime spree.

On June 8, one of the most heinous homicides in the history of Ocean Township took place in the Colonial Terrace section of the township.

A man had brutally murdered and dismembered his 31-year-old girlfriend and 88-year-old grandmother. The killer was arrested at the scene.

Early in the investigation, Detective Joseph J. Pangaro was assigned as lead detective and was able to elicit a confession from the suspect.

The Ocean Township Drug Interdiction Unit (DIU) was established to address the growing menace of illegal drugs in the community.

Since its inception, DIU has conducted numerous narcotics investigations and made over 450 drug arrests. Detective Sgt. Jeffrey Layton, Unit Commander and Detective Charles Weinkofsky have played an important role in DIU along with officers Eduardo Segarra, Gregory Tongring, Jeffrey Wilbert, William Crosta, Patrick Martin, detectives Joseph Pangaro, Kevin Faller and Shawn Murphy. All were commended for their actions in the ongoing battle against drugs in the community.

The Exceptional Service Certificate and Orange Bar was awarded to officers William D. Crosta Jr., Timothy R. Torchia and James Kelesidis, who, on May 10, 2004, were dispatched to Rustic Drive in the Middlebrook Apartment Complex for a report of a possible suicidal man armed with a gun. The officers positioned themselves around the building, and, as the man exited the building and attempted to leave in a vehicle, they stopped him and provided him with needed assistance. The officers recovered a shotgun wrapped in a towel from the vehicle. Their actions may have prevented a tragedy.

On June 8, sergeants Kevin Shanosky and Francis Sprague and Officer Eduardo Segarra responded to a report of two dead bodies in a house in the Colonial Terrace section. Segarra, the first officer on scene, met the suspect as he exited the house and took him into custody without incident. Sgt. Shanosky took command and directed his officers to secure the scene. The suspect had brutally murdered and dismembered his girlfriend and grandmother. He then attempted to burn the house down.

Sgts. Shanosky and Sprauge and Officer Segarra conducted a meticulous room-by-room search of the house, looking for other killers or victims. These officers conducted themselves professionally and skillfully as they secured one of the most horrifying crime scenes ever encountered.

The Citizens Award Certificate went to Jimmy DeRosa, of N. Wanamassa Drive.

On Sept. 12, DeRosa discovered a house fire next door to his home on Laurel Avenue and went to the house to help prior to the arrival of the police and fire companies. He was advised that an elderly disabled woman was inside the house and was unable to get out. DeRosa entered the house, located the victim and carried her to safety.