Cops, Firefighters Earn ‘Valor Awards’ From 200 Club Of Essex County

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Several police officers and firefighters will be among the emergency responders honored as part of the Two Hundred Club of Essex County’s 57th annual Valor Awards.

The club will honor 15 law enforcement officers and six firefighters from Newark, Montclair, East Orange, Irvington and NJ Transit at a luncheon on Tuesday, May 9 at Nanina’s in the Park, 540 Mill Street, Belleville. A cocktail reception will begin at 11:30 a.m. For more information, contact 973-694-4982.

“Due to the proliferation of gun violence in our society, the increase in vehicle thefts in Essex County and the fentanyl crisis, our officers had their work cut out for them in 2022, and this has continued into 2023,” said Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, a member of The Two Hundred Club’s board of trustees.

Founded in 1966, the Two Hundred Club of Essex County, which is the oldest such organization of its kind in New Jersey, assists the families of police and firefighters killed in the line of duty. Since its inception, the organization has raised millions of dollars to support the spouses of fallen officers and fund college scholarships for their children.

Nominations for The Two Hundred Club’s Valor Awards are made by the chiefs of Essex County’s municipal and fire departments and the commanding officers of federal, state, and regional public safety agencies. Valor Award recipients are selected by The Two Hundred Club’s Executive Committee.

“It is our privilege to recognize these outstanding men and woman who put their lives on the line every day,” president Ira Cohen said, commending this year’s awardees for their “courageousness, commitment to duty, vigilant bravery and altruistic acts.”

The full list of 2023 Valor Award recipients includes:

EAST ORANGE FIRE DEPARTMENT

East Orange Fire Department Firefighter Francois Serrano acted bravely when he rescued a child and adult from a fire at a four-story building. He helped both people climb down a rescue ladder and shielded the adult from the heat by using his own body to prevent her from falling.

IRVINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

The quick and decisive actions of Irvington Fire Department Lt. Victor Velez and Firefighter Stephen Ventura resulted in the rescue of two people from a structure fire with trapped occupants. After saving a female occupant, the men heard another cry for help from a man teetering on a two-foot ledge who Firefighter Ventura helped back into the apartment and out of the building.

MONTCLAIR POLICE DEPARTMENT

Through quick actions and bravery, Montclair Police Department Lt. Michael DeGrazio and Ofc. Kevin Ortiz apprehended an armed robbery suspect with a loaded handgun.

NEWARK FIRE DIVISION

The training and teamwork of the Newark Fire Division and other Newark Fire Companies enabled Newark Fire Division Captain Ashton Robinson to rescue two fellow firefighters from a fire in an apartment of a four-story building where there was a partial collapse in the rear of the apartment with deteriorating conditions that left the two firefighters trapped and disoriented.

NEWARK FIRE DIVISION

Without regard for their safety, and without protection of a hose line, Newark Fire Division Capt. Vincent Blasco and Firefighter Timothy Loessel rescued a victim from a burning apartment in a five-story building.

NEWARK POLICE DEPARTMENT AND BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS, AND EXPLOSIVES

Using their fine instincts to apprehend a suspect, after viewing his online videos depicting him having a gun and making a shooting admission, and then having the gun pointed at them, Newark Police Department Detectives Michael DaSilva, Jamie Rivera, Christopher Serrano, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Special Agent Laejon Brooks, took a potentially dangerous person with a gun off the streets.

NEWARK POLICE DEPARTMENT

In the face of danger, without regard to their safety, Newark Police Department Det. Sgt. Daniel Oliveira, Lt. Emil Cardona, and Det. Anthony Resendes used their keen instincts and skills to stop an active shooting situation and apprehend the suspect shooter.

NEWARK POLICE DEPARTMENT

Due to the swift actions of Newark Police Department Detectives Andrew Komorowski and Michael Perez, two dangerous individuals with extensive criminal backgrounds were removed from the community.

NEWARK POLICE DEPARTMENT

Newark Police Department Officers Johnny Aquino, Jabril Paul, and Edgar Giron displayed great courage in attempting to apprehend an armed suspect. Officers Aquino and Paul sustained gunshot wounds and Ofc. Giron exchanged fire with the suspect. In addition, responding units exhibited extraordinary calm, teamwork, and professionalism in the face of an ongoing active shooter situation.

NEW JERSEY TRANSIT POLICE

With the help of other NJ Transit officers, Ofc. Andrew Ruckriegel and Lt. Alan Imperiale exercised excellent judgement, with disregard for personal risk, to apprehend two suspects, armed with a handgun, that had committed a previous armed robbery. They did so knowing that if the suspects were to escape, they would pose potential harm to innocent citizens.

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