Woodbridge Police Thanked For Saving Suicidal Man, Reviving Woman

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — In a major ceremony Thursday at town hall, Woodbridge Twp. hired three new police officers, promoted one officer to the rank of lieutenant, named another officer Police Officer of the Year for 2022 and recognized more officers for life-saving actions above and beyond the call of duty in the past year:

The following three officers received the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Public Safety & Life- Saving Action:

Woodbridge Police Detective Perry Penna and Patrolman Orlando Faria

On November 27, 2022, Det. Penna and Officer Faria responded to an emergency medical assist 911 call in Avenel for an adult woman in medical distress. Upon arrival, Penna and Faria determined the woman was unconscious and not breathing. Detective Penna immediately began chest compressions while Officer Faria prepared and initiated the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and administered a resuscitation shock to the woman. Penn is also a certified EMT. His mouth to mouth, and the AED, revived the woman, who regained a pulse and normal breathing. She made a full recovery at the hospital.

Woodbridge Patrolman Preet Karan Singh

On November 6, 2022, Officer Singh was dispatched to the bridge on Rt. 9 north for a 911 call of a disabled vehicle. Upon arrival, he noticed an unoccupied van parked on the shoulder of the roadway with the keys in the ignition. Singh immediately conducted a search of the area fearing that the occupant of the vehicle may be in distress and attempting suicide. Officer Singh observed a man (subsequently identified as 58 years old) standing on a small ledge on the outside of the guardrail, threatening to jump. Utilizing training and experience, Officer Singh engaged the distraught man in conversation in an attempt to distract and calm him — and ultimately convinced the man to climb back over the railing to safety.

Patrolman Matthew Murdoch was named Woodbridge Police Officer of the Year for 2022.

Murdoch, assigned to the Radio Patrol Division - Squad 12, has demonstrated a commitment to law enforcement, said the Township. During 2022, Officer Murdoch responded to 2,037 Calls-for-Service, which included 441 Special Checks and 241 Motor Vehicle Stops. He also did self-initiated policing, which resulted in the issuance of traffic summonses, DWI summonses, arrests of those wanted on outstanding arrest warrants and arrests of people accused of breaking the law.

Patrolman William Petrovey received the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Academic Achievement.

While a Woodbridge police officer, he also earned his bachelor’s degree at Rutgers University, his master’s degree from Seton Hall University Police Graduate Studies Program in the Human Resources Training and Development Track, his Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) and most recently is still in pursuit of a PhD of Higher Education at Seton Hall University. Officer Petrovey authored and presented a Doctoral Dissertation entitled “Are We Prepared? Analyzing Active Shooter Policy Accessibility in New Jersey Institutions of Higher Education,” which was submitted to the Department of Higher Education Dissertation Committee, Seton Hall University, in September 2022.

Also at the ceremony, Lt. Benjamin Stevenson was promoted to lieutenant.

“The public safety mission of the Woodbridge Police Department is our most important priority," said Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac at Thursday's ceremony.

He said Woodbridge Police is at maximum staffing levels, and there has been increased assignment of uniformed officers to street patrol.