BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer
MANALAPAN — A police officer’s outstanding efforts throughout 2004 earned him the honor of being named the Manalapan Police Department’s Officer of the Year.
Senior officers in the Manalapan Police Depart-ment paid tribute to Officer
of the Year Patrolman Edward Hedden during the July 6 meeting of
the Township Committee.
Capt. Louis Moreto said officers are nominated for the award based on their professionalism and dedication to law enforcement. The chief of police selects the winning officer.
Police Chief Stuart Brown said it is always a pleasure to recognize a member of the department.
“A lot of people think we look for one major event that stands out, but Officer Hedden has too many,” Brown said. “He’s done a phenomenal job for us in 2004, as he has in the past.”
The chief said that in selecting an Officer of the Year, he looks for courage, integrity, dedication to service and consistency in performance.
“Officer Hedden is one of our field training officers,” Brown said. “He is responsible for training officers and indoctrinating new officers into the department, showing them proper safety techniques, investigative and patrol techniques. He does a wonderful job. The officers that come through Ed become extremely proficient and productive members of the department.”
Hedden, 30, joined the Manalapan Police Department in May 2000. He said, “I am very happy to have received this award. I consider it a great pleasure and an honor to work for the Manalapan Police Department, as all of our officers are worthy of such recognition. I look forward to continuing my career here with the members of this agency.”
Within the past year, Hedden became a member of the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team, being selected from a list of officers from throughout the county. The officer is also known for his proficiency in firearms.
Hedden also received an Exceptional Duty Award.
Moreto said, “On Aug. 30, while on patrol, Hedden and his partner Dan Carey stopped a vehicle on Route 9 and recovered a substantial amount of narcotics, over $4,000 in cash and a firearm. This is the third Exceptional Duty Award for Patrolman Hedden.”
Hedden also received a Meritorious Award from the department for his actions on May 13 while he was off-duty in New York City. The officer rendered aid in what appeared to be a motor vehicle accident, but turned out to be an intentional act.
According to information provided by police, Hedden was in New York City eating dinner with a friend when he heard what sounded like a motor vehicle accident. He observed a suspect hit another person’s vehicle twice with a car. At that point he went outside the restaurant after instructing his friend to call 911.
The suspect fled the area, but as Hedden went to assist the victim he heard the suspect’s vehicle approaching again. Hedden jumped out of the way and observed the suspect intentionally swerve in order to strike the victim. Police said the suspect struck the victim and then appeared to be turning to strike the victim again. Hedden pulled the victim out of the street to prevent that from happening and attended to the victim until medical help arrived.
Unfortunately, the victim died from injuries sustained in the attack, according to information provided by police. Hedden later gave testimony on behalf of the New York Police Department in that case.
In other police news, Patrolman Robert W. Herring and Patrolman Dennis O’Brien have joined the department and took the oath of office at the July 6 committee meeting.
Herring, 30, previously served in the Marine Corps in Japan and Kuwait. He received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from North Carolina Wesleyan College, where he graduated summa cum laude.
O’Brien, 31, is married. His family has a long history of law enforcement. His father, grandfather and two uncles all served in the Jersey City Police Department. O’Brien has a bachelor of science degree in marketing from Clemson University.
“We are pleased to have hired two outstanding candidates for police officers and are proud to welcome them into our law enforcement family,” Moreto said.
Several of Manalapan’s finest recently retired.
“We are happy they have entered a new and exciting chapter in their lives,” Moreto said. “We will miss them, but know they have earned and deserve a long and happy retirement.”
Lt. Denis Brady and Patrolman David Visconi retired at the end of May. Sgt. Brian Carhart, Patrolman Robert Pease and chief dispatcher Lorraine Maine retired at the end of June. All of the retirees had a minimum of 25 years of service.