South Orange Cops Capture Armed Robbery Suspect, Get Valor Award

Two South Orange police officers will be honored for bravery at the 200 Club of Essex County’s 50th annual Valor Awards on May 5.

The annual awards are intended to recognize “bravery, dedication to duty, courageous vigilance and selflessness,” according to a news release.

“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.”

This year, the club will honor 17 law enforcement officers and 12 firefighters for bravery on the job.

SOUTH ORANGE HEROISM

The following statement comes from via the 200 Club of Essex County:

"Following the armed robbery of a fast food deliveryman in their community that occurred on July 25, 2015, Det. Davenport, utilizing multiple investigative techniques, was able to identify a person of interest in the crime.

"One week later, Davenport with Chief Kroll and other officers in plainclothes support, the suspect was tracked down to a Smith Street address in Newark.

"The suspect was walking on the street when Davenport and Kroll approached him. In identifying themselves as police officers, the suspect ran from the scene and a foot-chase ensued.

"Through backyards and over fences, Kroll employed his football skills, tackling the suspect who was pulling his loaded, 9mm, Ruger semi-automatic handgun from his waistband.

"The suspect was soon under control and arrest.

"A follow-up investigation revealed that the weapon had been previously used in a homicide and two additional shootings."

THE HEROES OF 2016

This year’s individual Valor Award recipients include:

• Newark Police Sergeant Matthew Ruane, Newark Police Detectives Ana Colon and Tyrell Wheeler, Essex County Sheriff’s Detective Abdullah Holmes and NJIT Police Sergeant Antoine Hughes “for the capture of two armed suspects who opened fire on them on a city street”
• Newark Police Detectives Juan Ramos and Wyhidi Wilson “for the capture of an armed suspect”
• Newark Police Detective Glen Calderon “for single-handedly capturing two armed suspects during a robbery in progress”
• Irvington Police Patrolman Edward Pearce “for single-handedly capturing a gun-wielding suspect”
• New Jersey State Police Detective II Anthony Giunta, Detective II Edward Schmalz and Trooper Blazej Oczkos “for the capture of a kidnapping and attempted murder suspect and the rescue of the three-year-old victim”
• Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Detectives Eric Manns, Carlos Olmo and Kenneth Poggi “for the capture of two homicide suspects”
• South Orange Police Chief Kyle Kroll and Detective Steven Davenport “for the capture of an armed robbery suspect”
• North Caldwell Fire Lieutenant Lee Sutherlin and Firefighter David Hicock “for successfully evacuating a large residential complex and the rescue of an unconscious 88-year-old female victim during a natural gas leakage event”
• Newark Fire Captains Delfin Ortiz and Mark Furka ad Firefighter Derek Hunter “for the rescue of three adults and four children from a residential fire”
• Newark Fire Captain Frank Fonseca and Firefighters Michael Bellina, Tony DeFeo, Carlo Dello Russo and Carlos Henriques “for the rescue of an unconscious pregnant female and her two unconscious children from a residential fire”
• Newark Fire Captain Carl Wendt and Firefighter Raymond Hatton “for the rescue of three children from a residential fire”

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