Lifesaving Efforts Of Resident, Police Officers Honored In Toms River

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Toms River Police Department honored six police officers and a resident who saved lives with their quick actions in four separate incidents in the first six months of 2023.

Matthew Zanetti received a Citizen's Award for his actions on Feb. 15. Police and firefighters were called to a fire at 1822 Merrimac Drive for a fire that started on the outside of the house and was spreading because of high winds. Witnesses said Zanetti, a neighbor, was passing by on his way to work when he saw it. He stopped and grabbed a fire extinguisher from his vehicle and used it to subdue the fire until firefighters arrived. "He should be commended for his willingness to intervene despite the potential danger doing so presents," Police Chief Mitch Little said. "Had it not been for his quick actions damage sustained would have been much worse and could have affected more homes and citizens in the neighborhood."

On Feb. 2, Officers Alexander Van Lew, Henry Farnkopf and Anthony Pacella went to a home on McCormick Drive for a report of an unconscious juvenile. The child had recently undergone a medical procedure, they learned, and was perhaps having complications as a result. They found she was not breathing and did not have a pulse and immediately started CPR and prepared to take her to the hospital. Once at the hospital, the victim regained a pulse and began to breathe on her own. "Officers Van Lew, Farnkopf and Pacella should be commended for their immediate action and using their training and experience to save a person’s life," Little said.

In the early morning hours of May 13, Officer Justin Barberi was conducting business checks in his patrol area when he came across a vehicle illegally parked and out of place in the rear of the BJ’s Wholesale parking lot. As he approached the vehicle, he saw a man who appeared to be sleeping behind the wheel with the vehicle running. As he looked closely, Barberi saw a green garden hose running from vehicle’s exhaust into the rear driver’s side window and immediately recognized it was a possible suicide attempt. Barberi opened the driver’s door and removed the man, who was clearly in respiratory distress, and immediately began to render lifesaving first aid while at the same time requesting EMS and additional police response. The victim regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital for medical and psychological evaluation. "Officer Barberi should be commended for his diligence, immediate action and using his training and experience to save a person’s life," Little said.

On May 27, Officers Rich Karkovice and Walt Herman responded to a report of someone who had fallen in the Wawa parking lot in Normandy Beach. They found the victim had no pulse and was not breathing, and they quickly to rendered first aid, which led to the victim regaining a pulse and beginning to breathe on his own. "Officers Karkovice and Herman should be commended for their immediate action and using their training and experience to save a person’s life," Little said.