Westfield Police To Be Honored For Arresting Gunman At School

WESTFIELD, NJ - Seven Westfield Police Officers will be recognized by the New Jersey State PBA at its annual valor awards banquet in Atlantic City in November for their role in arresting a man in possession of a firearm, numerous rounds of ammunition and a folding knife outside a Westfield elementary school in June.

According to Westfield Police Chief Christopher Battiloro and President of the Westfield PBA Local No. 90 Paul Ferry, Officers Jeffrey Johnson, Michael Pollock, Joseph Habeiche, Elizabeth Savnik, and Tiffany Kenny, along with Detectives Nicholas Bruno and Jason Merritt, will be presented with the State PBA’s Unit Citation award for their actions on June 13 at Tamaques School.

These officers and detectives responded to a report of a man “in crisis” who was reportedly in possession of a firearm.

Officers Johnson and Pollock located Thomas J. Wilkie, 46, of Bear, Delaware and he was seated in a parked car, directly opposite the school’s main entrance armed with a .45 caliber handgun fully loaded with hollow point bullets.

Wilkie was quickly disarmed and taken into custody by Johnson and Pollock without incident. Two additional fully loaded magazines were located on his person and an additional 130 rounds of ammunition were later located in the vehicle’s trunk.

Although the normal school day had already ended, some 30 children were still present on the school premises in an aftercare program. The additional responding officers and detectives placed the school into a lockdown, assumed custody of each and every child, and thoroughly searched the interior and exterior of the building and its grounds for additional possible threats.

The NJ State PBA is New Jersey’s largest law enforcement labor union, representing over 33,000 law enforcement officers. The valor awards banquet will be held at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino located on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City.

"I am extremely proud of these officers and detectives and how they worked together in such a flawless manner," Battiloro said. "Their courageous actions undoubtedly prevented a loss of life and are they are worthy of such a prestigious recognition."

A Union County grand jury returned a six-count indictment against Wilkie earlier this month. Wilkie is currently lodged in Union County Jail, where he was ordered to remain detained pending the adjudication of his case, officials said. Convictions on criminal charges of this nature are commonly punishable by five to 10 years in state prison.

"These officers are skilled professionals who serve their community with pride and distinction. The recognition they are receiving is not only warranted, but well deserved," Ferry said. "I am extremely proud to work alongside these individuals and to serve as their union representative."

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.