MANVILLE: Police keep the peace, with no one hurt

Officers commended for talking down a troubled man

By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
   Eight members of Manville Police Department were honored at the Borough Council meeting March 10 for their efforts to subdue an upset man last fall.
   Chief Mark Peltack called up officers Lt. Thomas Herbst, Sgt. Ronald Gazaway, Sgt. Craig Jeremiah, Detective William Sampson and patrolmen Michael Peterson, John Granahan, Todd Widitz and Joseph Buda.
   ”As you can see, there is a whole multitude of officers up here,” said the chief. “When I read what they did, you will understand why they were there and thank God they were all there and acted the way they did.”
   Chief Peltack said, “On Sept. 12, 2013, these officers responded to Rabens Avenue on the report of a depressed male who made the comment of ‘committing suicide by cop’. He wanted the cop to kill him.”
   Chief Peltack explained that the officers used verbal skills to calm the situation. The male, who had an 11-inch combat knife, was subdued and taken into custody, without injury to himself or the officers.
   ”These officers should be commended for several reasons,” said the chief. “First for their verbal skills, which were employed to calm the distraught male in this situation, and secondly for their pre-planning, which they had done and had to act in a swift and flawless manner. Lastly when deadly force could have and possibly should have been justified, their discretion and restraint led them to an injury-free result.
   ”By their actions these officers are a great reflection on not only the Manville Police Department but the Borough of Manville as well,” he said.
   He congratulated each one and asked for a round of applause from the audience.
   The chief spoke about Officer Widitz, who has been on the SWAT (strategic weapons and tactics) team since its inception in 1991
   ”The skills that he gained were valuable and I just wanted to say thank you to him and everybody for your actions that night,” the chief said.
   The officers all received a Certificate of Merit from the N.J. State Policeman’s Benevolent Association.
   Mayor Angelo Corradino said, “On behalf of me, the rest of the council and the residents, we also want to thank you. With that said, we have the best police department not only in Somerset County but in the state of New Jersey.”