Two Stafford Police Officers To Receive Award For Saving Others When Home Exploded In 2015

It was a sight that few who saw it will ever forget.

New Jersey Natural Gas employees and local firefighters were on the scene of a natural gas leak at an Oak Avenue home in Manahawkin on the morning of Feb. 24, 2015.

Police and members of the Stafford Fire Company responded and shut down the roadway and evacuated nearby residents because of the strong odor of natural gas.

59 Oak Avenue exploded at

10:30 a.m. Stafford Officers Justin Pascale and Robert Mullin were on the scene.They pulled severely-injured New Jersey Natural Gas employee Dean Barnett from the scene and immediately began CPR and other lifesaving measures.

Barnett was flown to Atlantic City Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.

Pascale and Mullin will both be awarded the Meritorious Service Award at the annual Monmouth and Ocean County Intelligence Bureau awards banquet on Wednesday, said Lt. Herman Pharo.

"Each day a police officer reports to work, they do not know what is in store," Pharo said. "They may be called to the scene of a traffic accident, a domestic dispute, a suicidal party, a hostage situation, or many other dangerous situations. Each day could be the day they are called upon to act in an extraordinary manner. Training, education, mental preparedness, and physical preparation make them ready when crisis strikes."

According to Monmouth and Ocean County Intelligence Bureau, the Meritorious Service Award is awarded for “A highly unusual accomplishment, under adverse condition with some degree of hazard to life to the nominee or where death or injury to a third party is averted.”