South Jersey Corrections Officer Honored For Off-Duty Rescue On Jersey Shore

CHESTERFIELD, NJ — A Burlington County correctional officer has been awarded for swimming 300 yards to save an elderly boater who capsized in Little Egg Harbor in 2021.

Senior Correctional Police Officer Chad Ammerman, 41, is one of 16 recipients of the Carnegie Medal, a prestigious award given by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. The award is given to “individuals in the United States and Canada who risk death or serious physical injury to an extraordinary degree saving or attempting to save the lives of others,” the NJ Department Of Corrections said in a news release.

Ammerman works at Garden State Youth Correctional Facility in the Crosswicks section of Chesterfield.

Ammerman’s off-duty actions on June 21, 2021 earned him the Carnegie Medal. That day, John L. McKenna’s sailboat capsized in Little Egg Harbor, according to the award citation.

“McKenna, unable to reenter the sailboat, floated in the harbor until he arrived near a bulkhead along a bank. Fatigued, McKenna called out for help,” the citation said.

Ammerman heard the call for help and called 911, but feared that a rescue boat would come too late.

So, Ammerman grabbed an empty 29-gallon plastic cooler, jumped into the water, and swam through rough currents with bystanders giving him directions.

He swam out 300 yards to reach McKenna, 82, the NJDOC said.

He reached McKenna and told him to grab one of the cooler’s handles while Ammerman backstroked toward the bulkhead.

A firefighter piloting a boat was able to deliver McKenna and Ammerman to the bulkhead.

Ammerman said he was grateful for the award - but doesn’t consider himself a hero.

“I’m just grateful I could be in the right place at the right time that day to help,” said Ammerman. “I appreciate the Carnegie Hero Fund for recognizing me in this way.”

Ammerman was also honored by the state Attorney General's Office last year with the inaugural "New Jersey Officer of the Week" award.

“Senior Officer Ammerman represents the best of NJDOC,” said Commissioner Victoria L. Kuhn. “When we say we are ‘NJDOC Strong,’ this is what we mean – a willingness to put others before self, to risk one’s own safety to save another. We’re proud the Carnegie Hero Fund has recognized his remarkable actions this way.”

William Sullivan, president of NJPBA 105, which represents about 5,000 New Jersey correctional police officers, said Ammerman is among 10,000 recipients of the Carnegie Medal in its 118-year history.

“Our training and careers in the NJDOC extend well beyond our tour at our facilities. We appreciate his actions and heroism in saving this gentleman. Our officers are the best in the nation and times like this show just that.”

Carnegie Medal recipients (or their survivors) become eligible for financial awards, including one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits and continuing assistance.

More information on the Carnegie Hero Fund and this year’s Medal recipients can be found here: https://www.carnegiehero.org/