Long Branch Police Officers Among First Responders Recognized for Valor

By Elaine Piniat

First Responders throughout Monmouth County were honored for heroic efforts at an annual luncheon last Friday.

The 200 Club of Monmouth County, which was originally formed to provide financial assistance to families of police officers killed in the line of duty, expanded and now assists all emergency responders, according to NJ.com. The charity gives out scholarships and recognizes first responders annually.

Each year awards are given for valor, merit and commendation. Local chiefs nominate their first responders. A committee then selects award recipients who receive a check, ribbon for their uniform and a plaque.

Below is a list of award recipients and descriptions of the first responder’s efforts, according to the 200 Club’s webpage:

Valor Awards:

Asbury Park police Sgt. Amir Bercovicz, Sgt. John Crescio, officer Daniel Newman and Det. Keith Finkelstein responded to a call of swimmers in distress in June 2012.

Middletown police Cpl. Daniel Murdoch, Cpl. Joseph Glynn and Sgt. Charles Terefenko for their efforts on a lookout for a resident involved in an aggravated assault and assault with a motor vehicle in March 2012.

Long Branch police officers Robert Bell and Patrick Joyce, Jr. arrested an armed man in a crowded bar in September 2012.

Long Branch police Sgt. Charles Shirley and officer Thomas Hueston evacuated 43 men, women, children and infants from an apartment building that was taking on ocean water during Hurricane Sandy.

Merit Awards:

Asbury Park police Sgt. John Crescio and officer Eddy Raisin for the arrest of an armed man after a fistfight with officers in October 2012.

Asbury Park police officers Joe Leon, Matt Czajkowski and Dillon Gourley for the arrest of two armed suspects after a report of a robbery in November 2012.

Freehold Borough police Detective John Reiff and officers Mark Garahan, Nicholas Iozzi, Shaun Hobbs and Jason Slatas rescued three people from a house fire.

Keansburg police Sgt. Andrew Gogan, Sgt. Wayne Davis, Detective Michael Deany and officers John Soranno, Nicholas Angerami and John Swartz arrested a man after convincing him to drop two large knives.

Neptune Township police officers Nicholas Taylor, Christopher Niskoch, Shaun Hubbard and Sgt. Scott Cox approached a group of 10 people, some of who were members of the Bloods Street Gang. They arrested one and recovered two handguns, a knife and hallow-point ammunition. One gun was connected to an Asbury Park homicide.

New Jersey State Police Acting Lt. Anthony Zedonek, Acting Sgt. Brian Westervelt and Trooper Michael Donnelly rescued a surfer from the ocean. The officers used a helicopter in strong winds.

United State Marshal Service, District of New Jersey Deputy Marshal Michael Kennedy was given the merit award and the New York-New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force Monmouth Team was given a recognition plaque for their efforts in arresting 112 violent felons.

Commendation Awards:

Asbury Park Acting Fire Capt. Robert Fahnholz and firefighter James Hammond rescued two from the second-floor window of a burning building.

Keansburg police Sgt. John Magner, officers Joseph Jankowski, Justin Cocuzza, Guillermo Rivera and dispatcher Leslie Thompson found a man beaten in a cemetery and performed lifesaving measures in August 2012. The victim died from injuries sustained during the attack but the suspect was arrested within 90 minutes of the report.

Keansburg police Lt. Gary Kronenberger and officers Richard Johnson and Tiffanie Dill located and arrested a suspect after responding to a stabbing in which the victim died. Two people have been charged with murder.

Monmouth Beach police officer Aaron Rock and special officer Matthew Clark revived an unconscious man lying in a pool of blood.

Oceanport police officer Gregory Lauretta performed CPR on a boy who was vomiting blood and losing consciousness. The boy survived.

Neptune City police Sgt. Richard Oppegaard and Avon police officer Michael Alaimo secured a suicidal and unstable woman who lunged at them with a knife in February 2012.

Neptune City police Sgt. James Isacson and officers Mark Mazzeo and Michael Kyle helped a woman that was being held by an armed suspect escape in December 2012. The suspect was ultimately disarmed and arrested.

Neptune Township officer Robert O’Heney, Sgt. Michael D’Amico and Lt. Robert Mangold for their arrest of a man with a knife who was trying to get officers to shoot him in May 2012.

Wall Township police Sgt. Peter Lokerson and officer Thomas Dowd for convincing a suicidal man to drop a knife.

Recognition Plaque for Outstanding Service in 2012:

The Asbury Park Street Crime Unit made more than 950 arrests and seized 125 guns, more than $110,000 in assets and more than $45,000.