Secaucus Police Officers Honored For Heroism In 2017

SECAUCUS, NJ — Last Thursday, outstanding members of the Secaucus Police Department were honored in a ceremony at Town Hall that commended them for significant acts of bravery, quick-thinking and good police work during the 2017 year.

Secaucus Police Chief Kevin Flaherty opened the event by saying: "2017 was another banner year for the Secaucus police department. You are going to see awards for just about everything here today: Good police work and lives saved."

Some of the life-saving events and major crime busts made the news, but residents may be surprised to hear about other incidents that happened in town last year, which officers responded to.

"Looking at these officers, you see a lot of young faces and this is the future of our department," said Mayor Mike Gonnelli at the ceremony. "It's rare to see a law enforcement officer getting thanks. You have the full support of my administration."

The event started with Secaucus girl Madeline Gasser singing a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem.

Excellent Police Service Award: Police Officer Joseph Fuardo

On May 12, 2017, information was received that a suspect had brandished a loaded handgun at another person and was currently in possession of illegal firearms. Police Officer Fuardo intensely began to patrol the area where the suspect resided. During one of his patrols, he located the suspect vehicle and interviewed the suspect. Fuardo observed a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and a loaded .40 caliber handgun, later found to be stolen, within the vehicle. These firearms along with a quantity of methamphetamine and other controlled dangerous substances were seized from the vehicle. The suspect and his girlfriend were placed under arrest after she was found hiding a loaded .32 caliber handgun in her waistband.

"These arrests were a direct result of Officer Fuardo’s perseverance and dedication to duty," said Secaucus police Capt. Dennis Miller.

Excellent Police Service Award: Police Officer Robert Napoleon and Detective Aniello Schaffer

On Sept. 17, 2017, both officers received a report from a taxi driver that he was just robbed at knifepoint. After providing a physical description and direction of travel, they both immediately responded to the scene where the suspect was said to be. At great personal risk, Detective Schaffer cornered the armed suspect and ultimately placed him under arrest; Officer Napoleon assisted. The weapon used in this robbery and proceeds were recovered and the detective also ascertained a confession from the suspect.

Excellent Police Service Award: Police Officer Justin Restrepo

On Sept. 3, 2o17, Police Officer Justin Restrepo responded to a residence on a report of a woman going into labor within the home. Without any prior experience, Police Officer Restrepo began to assist the victim and ultimately delivered the baby girl. "Police Officer Restrepo remained calm, thereby putting this mother at ease during this chaotic time," said Capt. Miller. "He conducted himself as a true professional as he assisted in bringing a life into this world."

Excellent Police Service Award: Police Officer Nicholas Spangenberg, Sergeant Thomas Malanka

Unit Citation: Detective Sergeant Peter Garass, Detective Aniello Schaffer, Detective Joshua Sigmund, Police Officer Kiril Petrov, Police Officer Justin Machno

On Nov. 24 last year, these officers responded to the Holiday Inn on a report of a crime in progress. While on scene, they gathered vital evidence that led to the arrest of three suspects and the requisite probable cause to apply for a search warrant. During the search, implements of an organized identity theft ring were uncovered, including, but not limited to embossing machines, fraudulent credit cards, personal identifying information of over 20 different people and various forms of fraudulent identification cards.

This identity-theft ring was actually going into Secaucus residents' mailboxes to pull personal information, Capt. Miller said. They were also pulling personal information from thousands of other victims online, but Secaucus residents were at risk, so it's a very good thing they were stopped, he said.

Read the story: Secaucus Motel Room Used For Identity Theft Scheme, Police Say

Life-Saving Award: Police Officer Matthew Ford, Police Officer Anthony Sherman

On June 27, 2017, they observed an impaired passenger of a speeding motor vehicle going into respiratory distress. The passenger, a known narcotics user, exhibited symptoms of an opiod overdose. Ford and Sherman administered a dose of Nasal Naloxone to the victim who began to recover from the overdose. "Their quick actions are the sole reason the victim survived this ordeal," said Capt. Miller.

Life-Saving Award: Police Officer George Sikaffy, Police Officer Jude Masullo, Police Officer Michael Bronowich, Sergeant Thomas Malanka

On Aug. 10 last year, they were dispatched to a call from a frantic parent who stated her two-week old infant was “not breathing and turning blue.” These officers all responded to the home within minutes and immediately took action. The officers cleared the infant’s airway and began to perform lifesaving cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The infant began to breathe on his own and his normal color returned, thereby saving the infant’s life.

Life-Saving Award: Sergeant Reinaldo Cruzado, Police Officer William Smith, Police Officer Stephen Jui, Police Officer Salvatore Manente

On Oct. 18, 2017, they were dispatched on a call that a female was “not breathing” in the parking lot of a gas station. They responded within minutes and immediately took action. After determining the female had no pulse, they began to perform lifesaving cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). While performing CPR they delivered two shocks from an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The female victim was transported to a local hospital and made a full recovery.

Life-Saving Award: Sergeant Michael Simone, Sergeant Thomas Malanka, Police Officer William Kosky, Detective Aniello Schaffer, Police Officer Michael Lyons
On Nov. 10 last year, they responded on a report of an overdose in a room at a local motel. The victim, exhibited symptoms of an opiod overdose. They administered a dose of Nasal Naloxone to the victim who began to recover from the overdose. "These officers' quick actions are the sole reason the victim survived this ordeal," said Capt. Miller.

Unit Citation: Detective Sergeant Peter Garass, Detective Sergeant Michael Torres, Detective Joshua Sigmund, Detective Aniello Schaffer, Police Officer Justin Machno

"This is only one of the cases that was cleared by them, but we thought it was significant enough for an award," said Capt. Miller.

On July 25 last year, these sergeants and members of the detective division responded to 23 reported car burglaries and thefts that occurred in one night in a residential area of Secaucus. They diligently took part in the processing of all of the crime scenes, which led to the recovery of 41 latent fingerprints being developed and quality video surveillance being preserved as evidence. The division worked tirelessly as a team and ultimately identified, located and arrested three Jersey City residents for committing these burglaries. Additionally, the suspects were interrogated and confessions were obtained and stolen property was recovered.

"The teamwork displayed and follow-up work performed was exemplary," said Miller.

Unit Citation: Sergeant Michael Simone, Dispatcher Thomas Meicke, Police Officer Sean Egan (pictured above)

On Sept. 3, they responded to a residence on report of a woman going into labor within the home. This sergeant was part of a team of officers and dispatchers that attempted to calm a chaotic situation. This team of police professionals calmed the mother and her onlooking family members and assisted in the delivery of a healthy baby girl.

All photos by Carly Baldwin/Secaucus Patch