Police officers honored
for outstanding service
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
MANALAPAN — Risking their lives, protecting residents from harm and volunteering their expertise is just part of the job for the heroes of Manalapan, and so at a special awards ceremony, held Jan. 22, Manalapan’s bravest and finest, along with some very special residents, were recognized for their achievements.
"On Sept. 11, 13 and 15, 2001, Capt. Mike Rumola, Capt. Stuart Brown and New York City retired police Sgt. Steve Cataneo requested that some of our people go up to New York City," said Police Chief John G. McCormack. "Twenty-eight men and women from our police department volunteered their services to go to New York City to search for survivors at ground zero. It took true courage and commitment to go into that terrifically devastated area. This was beyond the call of normal duty."
Receiving the blue and gold WTC award pin were Capt. Michael Rumola, Capt. Stuart Brown, Lt. Christopher Marsala, Sgt. Kenneth Gibson, Sgt. Timothy Kirkland, Detective Samuel Britton, Detective Robert Rushnak, Detective Joseph Moreto, Detective Eric Schmidt, Patrolman Gerald Bruno, Patrolman Joseph Felicia, Patrolman Edward Hedden, Patrolman Kevin McIntosh, Police Officer Kimberly Pujat, Patrolman Matthew Trembow, Patrolman Kevin Dobbin, Patrolman Kevin Ruditsky, Patrolman Peter Curran, Patrolman Edward Niesz, Patrolman David Castellani, Police Officer Margaret Freeman, Patrolman Charles Mazzatto, Patrolman Robert Pease, Patrolman Robert Mandel, Patrolman Thomas Mantle, Patrolman Brian Cruse, Patrolman Robert Kelly and Patrolman Paul Seetoo.
Niesz and Cruse received the "Police Life Saving Award" for their response in saving a person at the Manalapan Recreation Center on Aug. 20, 2002. The officers arrived at the recreation center where a man was administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a person who was having a heart attack. The officers took over and realized the CPR wasn’t working and activated a defibrillator unit. The Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad and Monmouth County paramedics arrived shortly and stabilized the victim before he was taken to the hospital by ambulance. It was determined that the quick action of the officers helped to save the person’s life.
In another moment involving life and death, Patrolman Reginald Grant helped to save a life while he was off-duty and attending a basketball game at Howell High School. Upon seeing a referee collapse and fall to the floor, Grant and a Freehold Township coach came to the victim’s aid and administered CPR for approximately 15 minutes.
Life saving awards were also presented to Sgt. Glenn Essner and to Patrolman Robert Kelly.
An Exceptional Service Award was presented to Britton for his role in helping to solve numerous burglaries in Manalapan, Holmdel, Marlboro and Millstone Township. Britton played a significant role in an investigation which paid off with the arrest of three individuals who police said were members of the "James Bond Gang" which was based in Bergen County. Police said Britton’s efforts resulted in the dismantling of the gang and led to the resolution of about 60 other burglary cases statewide.
Also receiving Exceptional Service awards were Rushnak, sergeants Jeffrey Morrell and Timothy Kirkland; Patrolmen Michael Fountain and Michael Ratta, who each received three awards; Mantle and Hedden, who each received two awards; Brian Dugan, Kevin Schmidt, Frank Krause and his partner K-9 Rocco, Ruditsky, Trembow and Dispatcher Debbie Visconi. A Civilian Service Award was presented to township employee John Erndl, who assisted Trembow by calling for backup during a Dec. 21, 2002, arrest.
Exceptional awards were given for participation in or coordination of a vehicle pursuit involving the municipalities of Manalapan, Elizabeth, Old Bridge and Englishtown; arresting potential armed robbery suspects; narcotics and transporting narcotics arrests; arrest for theft while in progress; and the apprehension of a wanted sexual assailant and robber.
Patrolman Jonathan Suydam received the Educational Achievement Award.
Recognized with an Honorable Service Award for their continuing efforts involving the community’s 9/11 memorial were detectives Britton, Schmidt and Moreto. Through resident mailings, a golf outing and private donations, more than $107,000 was raised for the planned memorial.
Receiving awards for their years of service to the department were Lt. Dominick Donatelli Sr., 30 years; Dispatcher Francine Edwards, 20 years; Lt. Lloyd Drucker, Schmidt and Mandel, all 15 years; and Pamela Tracey, data processing, 10 years. Service awards for five years were also presented to Rosemarie Savage, police records; and patrolmen Peter Chalfin, Kevin Schmidt, McIntosh and Seetoo.
Three township residents, Nitin Singh, Adam Shuff and Alex Amay, received the civilian Life Saving Award. On July 19, 2002, the three boys were riding their bicycles on Woodhollow Road when they saw a man laying near a home. The boys took a closer look and found the man had face and head injuries and they proceeded to a neighbor’s home to call 911. The boys’ quick response was, according to police, instrumental in saving the man’s life.
Edward Walker, a postal carrier with the U.S. Postal Service, also received a Police Department Life Saving Award. While delivering mail, he noticed that mail had not been removed from the mailbox at a Pease Road home. Summoning police to the home, it was determined that the call saved the life of an elderly person who had collapsed inside the residence.