15 First Responders Honored For 5 Heroic Saves In Morris County

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — The 200 Club of Morris County, a nonprofit dedicated to providing benefits for local first responders, has honored 15 individuals for their heroic efforts in 2025.

The 15 honorees were involved in five different rescue responses throughout last year. From chilling ice rescues to dramatic car crashes, here are the instances that earned the first responders their honor.

Ice Rescue, Lake Hopatcong

On Feb. 19, 2025, around 11:30 a.m., the Mount Arlington Fire Department was called to Lake Hopatcong near Bertrand’s Island, where a man had reportedly fallen through the ice while ice sailing.

Authorities found the man was around 100 yards from the shore, and successfully instructed him to remove himself from the bone-chilling waters.

Once the man was back on solid ice, responders were able to meet him on the ice using rescue harnesses and drag him back to shore. He refused further treatment and was sent home, which was “a remarkable outcome given the deadly conditions he had just endured,” according to the 200 Club.

The honorees for this call are:

• Firefighter Christopher Merring
• Firefighter Arthur Scofield
• Firefighter Adrian J. Vargas
• 2nd Lieutenant Sean N. Whitteaker

Ice Rescue, Lake Musconetcong

On Feb. 28, 2025, around 5 p.m., the Netcong Fire Department was called to DiRenzo Park for a report of a man who had fallen through the ice on Lake Musconetcong while ice fishing.

Fire Chief Raymond Bock was the first to arrive, strapped on his rescue gear, and began to crawl his way towards the stranded fisherman. After falling through the ice himself, twice, Bock made it to the man and secured him to the safety rope.

It was on their way back to shore when the ice gave out again, sending both men into the icy water. Two other responders made their way to them, and everyone was taken back to shore safely.

The honorees for this call are:

• Chief Raymond Bock
• Captain Jeffrey Jozowski
• Engineer Michael Kunkel
• Firefighter Miguel S. Pardo

Motorcycle Crash, Route 10

On Aug. 2, 2025, a “violent motorcycle crash” took place at the intersection of Route 10 Eastbound and Franklin Road in Denville. The motorcyclist flipped several times, was ejected from the bike, and sustained life-threatening injuries.”

Squad 2 from the Union Hill Firehouse was on the scene, and Firefighter/EMT Abbigail Dekker implemented life-saving measures on the crash victim, including compressions.

Once the victim regained consciousness, he was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for contusions and a severe left leg fracture.

“There is no question that he survived this horrific crash because of Firefighter/EMT Abbigail Dekker’s rapid response, calm presence under pressure, and exceptional execution of emergency medical care,” the 200 Club said.

The honoree for this call is:

• Firefighter/EMT Abbigail Dekker

Police Car Rammed, Rockaway Township

On Aug. 1, 2025, around 8:30 a.m., a man intentionally rammed his vehicle into a Dover police car which was driven by Officer Christopher Caraig in the DSW Shoe Warehouse parking lot in Rockaway Township.

Caraig was trapped in his car due to the wreckage for some time, and the driver took off on foot while wielding a machete.

Several officers, including Caraig, found the man nearby, who began cutting his own forearms with the machete. Officers were able to talk the man into calming down, peacefully handing over the machete, and being taken into custody.

Two of the responding police officers involved happened to be father and son, officers Jose and Giordan Matos.

The honorees for this call are:

• Officer Christopher Caraig (Dover)
• Officer Jose Matos (Dover)
• Officer Giordan Matos (Rockaway)

Domestic Violence Call, Chatham

On Sept. 29, 2025, Chatham police were dispatched to a domestic violence call when they found a woman in the driveway with “visible injuries consistent with an assault.”

Police found the suspected perpetrator in a detached garage “intoxicated, emotionally unstable, and increasingly agitated,” demanding to be shot.

The man then pulled a machete from his waistband and pressed it to his own neck while making suicidal threats.

Officers soon jumped on the man in an attempt to disarm him. After sustaining several injuries from the man’s blade, they were eventually successful.

The man was taken to a nearby hospital to be treated for self-inflicted injuries to his neck and charged with several crimes, including assault.

The honorees for this call are:

• Sergeant Michael Bloom
• Patrolman Philip G. Masi
• Patrolman Brian McGrath