Sacrifice and honor celebrated during annual Police Week
BY JENNIFER AMATO Staff Writer

SCOTT FRIEDMAN Detective Seeta Jones proudly walks from the podium after receiving a letter of commendation at North Brunswick's annual commemoration of Police Week on May 15.

NORTH BRUNSWICK - On May 15, members of the police department, the government and the community gathered to pay their respects to officers who have died in the line of duty, and those who put their lives on the line every day.

Between the playing of bagpipes and the landing of a state police helicopter, several awards were presented to township police officers during the commemoration of National Police Week.

A letter of commendation was presented to Patrolmen Joseph Grasso, Cullen Kushnir, Tawana Marshall and Paul Pappas Jr., Sgt. Joe Mazza, and Lt. Brian Hoiberg for their response to an armed robbery at the Farrington Inn on Sept. 10. 2006, in which two suspects were apprehended at the scene. Further investigation led to the recovery of a loaded handgun.

A letter of commendation was presented to Patrolman Demitrios Timbinaris for his response to an armed robbery of a cab driver at Livingston Avenue and Haverford Street on June 25, 2007. A suspect was arrested and later admitted to the robbery, as well as to another robbery that had taken place in New Brunswick.A handgun was also found in the area.

A lifesaving award was presented to Patrolman Jason Vallese for his response to HessMart for a male who collapsed and struck his head on July 3, 2007. The subject was not breathing and had no pulse. The man's heartbeat and breathing were eventually restored and he was transported to the hospital.

An individual citation was presented to Detective Michael McGinn for his work during the summer of 2007 to arrest a man accused of several lewd acts within the township at Governor's Pointe and in other communities. McGinn worked in conjunction with the Sex Crimes Unit of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office and the South Brunswick Police Department.

A lifesaving award was presented to Patrolmen Joseph Grasso,Michael Sauvigne, Demitrios Timbinaris and Jason Zier for responding to a call of a male who had cut his throat on Oct. 1, 2007. The officers controlled the bleeding and administered oxygen, and subdued the boy from further injuring himself.

A letter of commendation was presented to Patrolman Kenneth Riley, Sgt. William Bonura, and Detectives Michael Braun, Steve Dunkel and Robert Powell for their quick response to a burglary at the North Oaks Apartments on Oct. 23, 2007, in which a suspect was arrested and charged.

A lifesaving award was presented to Patrolmen Thomas Szabo and Anthony Velez and Detective William Lynch for their response to Sir John's Restaurant on Oct. 24, 2007, for a call of an individual turning blue and not breathing.

A letter of commendation was presented to Detective Seeta Jones for a three-month investigation into a Texas resident's complaint of identity theft and credit card fraud.Awarrant was executed on Dec. 6, 2007, in New Brunswick, and the suspect was arrested and later confessed to numerous incidents. The suspect also supplied information that led to a subsequent investigation by the NewYork City District Attorney's office.

A letter of commendation was presented to Patrolmen David Incle, Alex Obando and Frank Vitelli for their response to the Gulf Station on Georges Road on Dec. 22, 2007. Three men wearing masks entered the station, put a knife to the attendant's throat and stole money. The juvenile suspects were located and taken into custody. A handgun and knives were recovered at the scene.

A unit citation award was presented to PatrolmenMyron Cox,Wayne DeGaetano, Joseph Falcone, Chris Falletta, Cory Harris and Cullen Kushnir; Detectives Michael Braun and Robert Powell; Lts. Dan Daino and Brian Hoiberg; and Public Safety Telecommunicators Darleen Farrell and Marie Santoro for locating a stolen vehicle out of Philadelphia in a Jersey Avenue parking lot on Jan. 10, 2008. Three suspects were apprehended and the investigation that followed resulted in the end of a stolen vehicle ring across several states that involved sending the vehicles to another country.

A lifesaving award was presented to Patrolman Gregory Gyumolcs for responding to an unresponsive elderly male who was lying motionless in a bathtub on Jan. 14, 2008. The officer began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the man was stabilized and transported to a local hospital.

A unit citation was presented to Patrolmen Chris Falletta and Myron Cox for apprehending a male who was threatening a female with a gun on Jan. 18, 2008.

A lifesaving award was presented to PatrolmenMyron Cox,Wayne DeGaetano, Cory Harris and Cullen Kushnir for performing CPR on and reviving a 2-½-yearold baby who was not breathing on Feb. 29, 2008.

A letter of commendation was presented to Detective William Lovas for an investigation of a fight at Brunswick Zone on March 8, 2008, which led to the arrest of and confession by the suspect.

A letter of commendation was presented to Patrolman James Cox for his plainclothes detail due to a string of car burglaries in the area of Barnes & Noble on Route 1. On March 18, 2008, he observed a male smashing a vehicle's window, stealing a navigation system and attempting to flee. He immediately arrested the suspect for burglary.

A unit citation was presented to Patrolmen Colin Cumiskey, Joseph Grasso, Tawana Marshall, Michael Sauvigne, Jason Vallese and Jason Zier; Sgts. William Bonura and JoeMazza; Lt. James Curry, and Public Safety Telecommunicator Kourtney Glass for a team effort in April 2008 that resulted in the recovery of a defaced handgun from a private residence and the arrest of numerous gang members meeting at the location.

A civilian award was presented to Charles Lyons for his report of suspicious activity behind the Valero gas station on Route 27, which led to the apprehension of a suspect and a knife, thwarting a robbery and any potential injuries. Patrolman Ron Girard was presented with a director's citation for his response to the call.

Besides the awards, "America the Beautiful," "God Bless America," taps and "Amazing Grace" were played on the bagpipes, and the Junior Police Academy cadets placed a wreath that was donated by Linwood Middle School.

During his prayer, Bishop Calvin Enlow of the New Destiny Family Worship Center spoke of police officers having "courage, dedication and commitment to protecting our families" and our need to "express our appreciation to the real heroes of our community." During his prayer, the Rev. John Polyak of Our Lady of Peace Church cited a speech from a Baptist minister in Texas who asked for the blessing of officers to have courage, strength, dedication, concern and compassion

These speeches were all the more pertinent since acting Deputy Chief Joseph Battaglia said that there are 900,000 sworn officers in the United States, 181 of whom died in the line of duty in 2007. He said there are 17,500 names included on the officers'memorial inWashington, D.C.

"Every day, law enforcement officers wake up, gear up, kiss their families goodbye, not knowing what the day will bring - but they do it without hesitation," he said.

Government officials echoed these statements. Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula said that officers sacrifice their lives to save others, and North Brunswick council President Cathy Nicola thanked the officers for their "dedication and diligence and professionalism" in keeping the town's neighborhoods and streets safe.

Michael McGinn, Police Benevolent Association Local 160 vice president, asked the community to take a moment and reflect on the sacrifices of police officers, while reminding the officers themselves to hold their heads high and to be proud of wearing their uniform.

After the reading of the poem "A Part of America Died" by retired Capt. Michael Misurell, Lt. Keith Buckley read the honor roll of the 13 North Brunswick officers who have died in the line of duty.

"It is the cooperation and partnership of the citizens of North Brunswick and the officers of North Brunswick … that keep the community safe," concluded Lt. Roger Reinson