Howell Officer Saved Driver From Partly Submerged Car, Officials Say.

HOWELL, NJ — Two Howell Township police officers and three emergency medical technicians were honored recently for their efforts to save the lives of two people.

Patrolman Christopher Sullivan, Patrolman Nicholas Volpe, and Howell EMTs Craig Lewis, Nicholas Diem, and Brenden Shackelton were honored at the 54th Annual Valor Awards Luncheon, hosted by the Monmouth County 200 Club.

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Sullivan found a vehicle partially submerged in freezing water after it ran off the road on Dec. 5, 2025, and jumped into the water to save the driver without hesitating, in spite of the extreme cold and the unstable position of the car, officials said.

He was able to get the driver out of the car and bring him to safety, "likely saving the individual's life," officials said.

On May 27, 2025, Volpe, Lewis, Diem, and Shackelton responded to a call regarding a person suffering cardiac arrest and began doing CPR on the person, then used an automatic electric defibrillator to restore the person's pulse before the person was taken to the hospital.

"Their quick actions and teamwork played a critical role in saving a life," officials said.

"Thank you, Ptl. Sullivan, Ptl. Volpe, EMT Lewis, EMT Diem, and EMT Shackelton for your outstanding service and for keeping Howell safe!" the Howell Township Police Department's Facebook post acknowledging the honor said.