SOUTH BRUNSWICK – Several officers, dispatchers and citizens were recognized for their service to the community.
The South Brunswick Police Department held its annual awards luncheon on May 26 in honor of National Police Week.
Officer George Morgan, Officer Jarrid Harpster, Dispatcher Christine McCarthy, Dispatcher John Muccioli and Jessica Vanliew each received a Lifesaving Medal for saving a 3-year-old boy who had fallen into a swimming pool and was unresponsive on June 18, 2016.
Department of Public Works employee Brian Keith received a Citizen’s Appreciation Award for beginning CPR on a 60-year-old man who collapsed in the rear parking lot of Public Works on Aug. 16, 2016, and helping officers with their lifesaving efforts. Private First Class Joseph Rausch, Officer Ryan Bartunek, Officer Martin Halmi and Officer Dale Hubner also each received a Lifesaving Medal for their efforts in this incident.
Officer Salvatore Fama and Officer Brian Luck each received a Lifesaving Medal for responding to a 58-year-old unconscious man who was not breathing at a local warehouse on Oct. 28, 2016.
Officer George Morgan, Officer Peter Santa and Officer Jarrid Harpster each received a Medal of Valor for confronting an armed, wanted suspect on June 18, 2016. They were able to disarm the suspect and take him into custody without injury.
Officer Ray McCarthy received an Exceptional Service Medal for pursuing information about possible drug activity in the township and developing probable cause, leading to a search warrant which uncovered narcotics.
Officer Sean Roberts received an Exceptional Service Medal for observing an individual who matched the description of a suspect wanted in a series of car burglaries while he was off-duty on Dec. 9, 2016. Responding officers were able to apprehend the suspect.
Sgt. Michael Kuchma, Sgt. Kenneth Herman, Officer John Niper, Officer Dominick Delucia, Officer Gagan Chopra, Officer William Merkler, Officer Bryan Garrison, Officer William Bonura and Officer Aaron Parks each received a Community Service Award for pooling their money and partnering with Target to provide a juvenile, whose bicycle was stolen and whose family members were in the hospital, with a new bike in August.
Officer Brady Shelcusky, a member of the department’s crime scene evidence technician program, received a Letter of Commendation for his detailed crime scene processing of a burglary on June 4, 2015, which led to the recovery of fingerprints and physical evidence. In March 2016, the New Jersey State Police lab linked the evidence and identified a suspect.
Sgt. Kenneth Herman, Officer Dominick Delucia, Officer William Bonura Jr. and Officer Bryan Garrison received a Letter of Commendation for negotiating with a suicidal male on July 23, convincing him not to jump off the roof and instead go to an area hospital for evaluation.
“It seems like not a week goes by without an officer using lifesaving measures. Officers use defibrillators, CPR, and now Narcan in those critical first few minutes. Each of the officers awarded today faced frantic relatives and friends looking for help. These officers distinguished themselves in their rapid response and quick actions that led to lives saved,” Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said. “The awards also recognize outstanding investigative efforts and community policing. There were 78,000 calls last year, and these awards represent the best of who we are as a department and profession.”
