South Brunswick Police Awards Given To Residents, Officers For Exceptional Service

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — The South Brunswick Police Department held its annual awards ceremony during National Police Week (May 14-20).

The ceremony recognized officers and citizens for their outstanding actions in 2022. From firefighters who saved a young boy and his father from a burning building and officers who performed lifesaving measures, to a civilian who assisted officers in calming an emotionally disturbed man and outstanding police responses and investigations – all these acts of keeping the community safe were awarded at the ceremony.

“Todays awards were presented to citizens and officers for their exceptional service. Officers do outstanding work all the time,” Chief Raymond J. Hayducka said during the ceremony.

“This day is where we stop to recognize the lives saved, crimes solved, and efforts that went above and beyond.”

Here is the list of awardees and their accomplishments:

Citizens Appreciation Award - Wayne McGhee

• On April 21, 2022, officers were dispatched to a business on Melrich Road on reports of an employee possibly under the influence of CDS and acting aggressively. Sgt. Urstadt and Officer Civil along with an employee, Wayne McGhee, utilized de-escalation tactics to calm and control the scene. McGhee kept the employee in a smaller room, away from other employees, and continued a conversation with him to keep him calm and avoid injuries. The Officers’ and McGhee’s actions led to a safe resolution of the incident, the police department said.

Life Saving Medal: Patrol Officer First Class Christopher Magee-Vanderveen, Officer Gerald Sarno, and Officer Kyle Klemas

• On June 15, 2022, officers responded to a report of a male who had collapsed after a shower and was unresponsive. The officers responded quickly, working as a team to administer CPR, and delivered five shocks via an AED, police said. The patient regained a pulse and was taken to the hospital for further evaluation where he made a full recovery. The officers’ actions saved the patient’s life.

Life Saving Medal: Lt. John Penney, Sgt. William Merkler, and Patrol Officer First Class Ryan Bartunek

Chief’s Award: Kendall Park Volunteer Fire Company Chief Chris Perez and Jamesburg Ex-Fire Chief Jonathon Rampacek

• On March 7, 2022, officers responded to a structure fire at one of the high occupancy apartment buildings in the South Ridge Woods Complex. Through quick response and teamwork, the Officers cleared the apartment building of all occupants and ensured the safety of all of the residents. A father and his two-year-old son were trapped inside their apartment. The officers, KPVFC Chief Perez, and Ex-Fire Chief Rampacek, were able to get the father to drop the child out of the second story window. Sgt. Merkler caught the child, who was uninjured. The father then jumped out of the window into the arms of the other officers.

Medal of Valor: Lt. Nathan Labuda, Sgt. George Morgan, Patrol Officer First Class Gagan Chopra, Officer Jarrid Harpster, and Officer Daniel Martinez

• On December 1, 2022, officers were dispatched to a home for a suicidal, intoxicated man, holding a knife to his throat. The officers were able to use de-escalation tactics to keep the man calm while encouraging him to drop the knife. After a significant amount of time, a Taser Deployment Plan was established which allowed the officers to secure the knife and the man. The officers’ actions led to the successful disarming of the man without lethal injury to himself or others.

Exceptional Service Award: Officer Daniel Martinez

• On June 27, 2022, Officer Daniel Martinez was dispatched to a group home on New Road for a report of a man cutting himself with a kitchen knife. Officer Daniel Martinez utilized de-escalation tactics to convince the resident to put down the knife. The man ultimately complied and Officer Martinez was able to secure the knife to make the scene safe.

Exceptional Service Award: Sgt. William Merkler, Patrol Officer First Class Gagan Chopra, Officer Christine Harris, and Officer Justin Samuels

• On November 19, 2022, officers were dispatched to the area of Route 522 & Georges Road for a report of an unconscious driver in the lane of travel, with the vehicle still moving. As the vehicle continued eastbound with the driver unresponsive, numerous attempts were made to enter the moving vehicle with some officers on foot. The officers then worked together to stop traffic and box the vehicle in, with no injuries or damage to township vehicles. Once stopped, forced entry into the vehicle. The driver was later charged with Driving While Under the Influence. The officers’ actions ensuring the safety of the driver and other motorists.

Exceptional Service Award: Lt. Nathan Labuda, Officer Kent English, Officer William Michie, and Officer Bruce Redfield

• On June 7, 2022, officers responded to a report of a dispute involving an emotionally disturbed man. On the arrival, officers found the man outside the residence acting erratically, possibly under the influence of CDS, and causing injury to himself. The officers utilized de-escalation tactics to keep the subject calm until backup could arrive.

Exceptional Service Award: Det. Domenick DeLucia

• On October 8, 2022, DeLucia responded to a business off Route 1 to investigate the stabbing of two people. Through a thorough investigation, speaking with the victims, witnesses, and reviewing surveillance cameras, DeLucia was able to identify two suspects. DeLucia’s investigation led to the suspects being charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, weapons offenses, and conspiracy to commit attempted murder.
• On September 28, 2021, DeLucia assisted the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office and Plainsboro Police Department with an investigation of an aggravated sexual assault that occurred on the Delaware-Raritan Canal footpath. Through an intensive, year-long, collaborative investigation with several other agencies, a man was identified and charged with aggravated sexual assault and additionally linked to two other sexual assaults in New Jersey.
• On August 20, 2022, DeLucia was called in to investigate the armed robbery of a gas station on Route 1. DeLucia’s investigation showed that the actors were involved in several other armed robberies throughout the State. Through a collaborative investigation with various other agencies, DeLucia was able to link two individuals to the crime and charge them with robbery, weapons offenses, and receiving stolen property.
• On May 31, 2022, DeLucia responded to a robbery of a convenience store that that resulted in an employee being assaulted. After a thorough investigation, DeLucia positively identified, charged, and arrested three of the actors for robbery, theft, rioting, conspiracy, simple assault, and receiving stolen property.

Exceptional Service Award: Det. Jamal Benbow

• On February 14, 2022, Det. Benbow began a follow up investigation into a report of stalking and harassment. Benbow’s investigation uncovered that the actor stalked and harassed the victim over the course of several years and followed the victim across the country. Benbow interviewed the actor and obtained a confession, which lead to the arrest for stalking, harassment and cyber harassment.

Exceptional Service Award: Det. Sgt. Timothy Hoover

• On November 5, 2022, Det. Sgt. Hoover was called in to investigate a sexual assault and strangulation case. Through Hoover’s investigation, he was able to determine the exact location of the offense and place the actor at the scene of the crime. A search warrant was obtained and executed for the actor’s vehicle, which is where the assault and strangulation occurred. The person was charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, aggravated assault – strangulation, aggravated criminal sexual contact, and criminal restraint.
• While serving as a Detective in 2021, Hoover became involved in a joint investigation with the DEA into the distribution of fentanyl pills in town. The investigation led to the arrest of several actors and the seizure of a large quantity of fentanyl pills. In continuance of the investigation, in February 2023, the DEA executed search warrants throughout several boroughs of New York City. The search warrants yielded 6 arrests, over 25 kilos of fentanyl and methamphetamine, three guns, and $19,000 in cash. Hoover’s diligence laid the groundwork for the success of the 2-years-long investigation.

Exceptional Service Award: Det. Brian Sites

• Det. Sites investigated an incident where the actor hacked a funeral service on “Zoom” and made threats to bomb the funeral home. Through Sites’ investigation he was able to identify the juvenile involved. Sites discovered that the juvenile was involved in a similar incident in another jurisdiction, which the FBI was investigating. The teen was ultimately arrested and charged with cyber harassment, terroristic threats, and circulating a false report of impending disaster

Civilian Staff Recognition Award: Alessandra Villano

• In 2022, South Brunswick Police Department was chosen as one of a handful of police departments in the State to undertake a new way of tracking crime. The FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) became the national standard for law enforcement crime data reporting. Records Supervisor Sandra Villano was instrumental in its implementation. Her work was key to making the new national program integrate with our CAD program, Enforsys. Her efforts helped numerous police agencies in New Jersey implement the national standard.

Letter of Commendation: Sgt. Michael Urstadt and Officer Andre Civil

• On April 21, 2022, officers were dispatched to a business on Melrich Road for an employee possibly under the influence of CDS and acting aggressively. Urstadt and Civil utilized de-escalation tactics to calm and control the scene along with an employee, Wayne McGhee. Mr. McGhee kept the employee in a smaller room, away from other employees, and continued a conversation with him to keep him calm and avoid injuries to any involved parties. The officers’ and Mr. McGhee’s actions led to a safe resolution of the incident.

Letter of Commendation : Sgt First Class Richard Schwarz, Patrol Officer First Class Bafti Salihi, Officer Tyler Harpster, and Officer Brian Kim

• On November 7, 2022, officers were dispatched to a business on Rt. 130 for an Attempted Carjacking involving several juvenile actors that fled the area. The officers’ quick response and teamwork led to the arrest of six juveniles for their involvement in the Attempted Carjacking.

Letter of Commendation: Det. Sgt. Richard Hutchison and Det. Bryan Garrison

• On October 15, 2022, detectives were advised that a fellow detective was being victimized by the subject of an investigation. Through a thorough follow up, Hutchison and Garrison were able to obtain a taped statement from the actor who admitted to attempting to obtain the detective’s personal information. They were able to locate the man and place him under arrest for harassment, possession of CDS, weapons offenses, and for being a fugitive from justice.

Letter of Commendation: Det. Bryan Sites

• On June 8, 2022, a theft of landscaping equipment was reported to police. Sites began his follow up investigation and was able to locate the stolen equipment at a pawn shop in Ewing. Through his investigation, Sites was able to identify the man and link him to several other thefts in town and surrounding jurisdictions. Sites cleared several cases and returned the stolen property to its owners.

Letter of Commendation: Det. Bryan Sites

• On September 9, 2022, a fraud report was filed with the police, where the actor spent over $9,000 using the victim’s information. Through video surveillance, facial recognition, and follow up with other agencies, Sites was able to identify and charge the actor with 3rd degree forgery, theft, fraud, and identity theft.

200 Club of Middlesex County Meritorious Service Award

• The 200 Club of Middlesex County recognized Det. Domenick DeLucia for his actions during the investigation into the aggravated sexual assault which occurred on the D and R Canal towpath. DeLucia’s was presented with the Meritorious Service Award at a ceremony held on May 23 at the Carteret Performing Arts Center.

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