Maplewood Cops Honored At Valor Awards

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — A group of 20 cops and firefighters will be honored for their bravery in the line of duty as part of the 200 Club of Essex County's 53rd Anniversary Valor Awards.

"The job of a police officer or firefighter is tougher today than ever before," said Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, a member of the 200 Club's board of trustees. "Law enforcement and firefighting are extremely hazardous professions which are performed at tremendous personal risk."

The awards were given out during a ceremony at Nanina's In The Park in Belleville on May 9 where New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver was the keynote speaker.

Maplewood's Sergeant James DeFazio and Patrolman Robert Smith officers were honored for their response to a fire on Nelson Place. The narrative from the awards committee:

On Sept. 11, 2018, Sgt. DeFazio and Off. Smith were part of a team of public safety officers that responded to a Nelson Place fire.

With flames protruding from a second floor window and with heavy smoke conditions, the officers entered the residence where Smith discovered, rescued and removed a blind male who had been asleep in a 2nd floor bedroom.

Re-entering the building, DeFazio alerted Smith that he had made a forced entry to another bedroom with a Halligan Hook.

Here, he discovered a breathing, yet unconscious, female victim. The officers also evacuated and provided her with oxygen until EMS arrived on the scene.

Upon reports that a young child may still be in the burning building, the officers made yet another entry for search and rescue. A thorough search of the residence yielded no other victims.

During this life-threatening incident, DeFazio and Smith placed themselves in harm’s way several times. For their courage, quick thinking and selfless professionalism the 200 Club of Essex County is proud to present Valor Awards to Sgt. James DeFazio and
Patrolman Robert Smith.

Nominations for the 200 Club's Valor Award are made by the chiefs of Essex County's municipal fire and police departments and the commanding officers of federal, state and regional public safety agencies. Valor Award recipients are selected by The 200 Club's Executive Committee.

Established in 1966, the 200 Club of Essex County has raised nearly $2 million to support the spouses of fallen officers and to fund scholarships for their children through membership dues and the annual luncheon.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter by clicking here. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading our Apple iOS app here, or by visiting the Google Play store for the Android app here.