Lifesaving Efforts Of Toms River Residents, Officers Honored

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River officials took time out to honor several officers and three local residents who helped save the lives during incidents in Toms River in 2022.

Samantha Batiatio, Jordan Finkle and Dominic Dowd received the Civilian Service Award for their actions on Oct. 23.

Batiato heard people yelling and saw flames coming out the kitchen window of 112 Edgewood Drive. She alerted her roommates, Jordan Finkle and Dominic Dowd, who both ran toward the building on fire while she called 911. Finkle and Dowd yelled and banged on doors in an attempt to evacuate the building. They ran to the back of the building and found Victoria Pelton inside her sliding glass door. After getting her to come outside to the balcony, she appeared disoriented and would not come down to them, so Dowd climbed up the second-story balcony, while Finkle climbed up the railing below. Dowd lowered Pelton to Finkle, and once they were on the ground everyone moved to a safe area, where Batiato tended to her and kept track of her vitals until EMS and Toms River police arrived.

Police Chief Mitch Little praised the three for their selfless act to help another person.

On Sept. 6, Officer John Carolan and East Dover Assistant Fire Chief Travis Veth arrived and found a victim of a motor vehicle crash with life-threatening injuries. Veth applied a tourniquet to the victim’s partially amputated right arm and Carolan began rescue breathing. Multiple officers and Silverton EMS responded to assist, and the victim was taken to Jersey Shore Medical Center. "Carolan and Veth are commended for their successful lifesaving efforts," Little said.

On Nov. 26, a driver suffered a medical episode that led to a serious traffic accident. Off-duty Seaside Park Police Officer Ryan Stack stopped to help and began performing CPR on the driver. Toms River Police Officers Dominick Pollio, Robert King and Damon Korpon arrived to assist. Pollio began chest compressions and King took over rescue breathing while Stack maintained an airway. Korpon then used an AED to shock the victim's heart back into rhythm. At the hospital, the victim became fully alert and responsive.

"All officers involved are commended for their teamwork and prompt actions resulting in the saving of a life," Little said.

On Aug. 12, Officer Bridgette Badalis went to a home on Pinewood Road for a call about a woman who was not breathing and wasn't responsive. Badalis immediately began CPR, then used an AED to shock the victim's heart. She then continued chest compressions while EMTs were assisting at the scene. The victim was later transported to the hospital with a pulse and breathing on her own. "Officer Badalis is commended for utilizing her training properly during an intense and stressful situation in which she saved a life," Little said, adding it is the second time Badalis has been honored for her lifesaving efforts.

The Class C Award was presented to Officer Kristi Stebila for performing an outstanding service to the community and fellow man. On Nov. 25, multiple police responded to Leawood Avenue for an out-of-control man. The man had a knife and at one point in time held it to his mother’s throat. He refused to come downstairs and was later barricaded in his room with the knife, where Officers Robert King, Kevin Corrigan, and Damon Korpon repositioned themselves and made sure all other residents were safely escorted out. During this time, Stebila established a rapport with the man and talked with him for about 2 hours, eventually convincing him to walk out to police, so he could be taken for mental health evaluations.

"Officer Stebila is commended for her communication skills and for de-escalating a lethal situation to one in which no force was used at all," Little said.