Sheriff Honors Officers for Exceptional Work

CREST HAVEN — Seven county Corrections Officers and two Sheriff’s Officers were recognized for extraordinary duty at the Tue., June 22 freeholders meeting.
Sheriff Gary Schaffer, assisted by Undersheriff Ray Lewis and Warden Donald Lombardo presented citations to the nine.
On Feb. 16, 2009, while off duty at a recreational area in Lower Township, Sheriff’s Officer Scott Ridgeway observed an unknown black male conceal a handgun in the small of his back.
Knowing that children were present and in possible danger, Ridgeway, without regard to his own safety, approached the armed suspect and identified himself as a Sheriff’s Officer. Using only verbal commands Ridgeway was able to disarm the suspect and subsequently placed him under arrest.
The quick actions of the officer prevented further danger to children and others of the public. Ridgeway received a Meritorious Service Medal.
Upon graduating from the Cape May County Police Academy Basic Class No. 29 on Jan. 27, Sheriff’s Officer Michael Pastore received the Vehicle Operations Award for finishing first in vehicle operations and the Director’s Award for finishing first in the class in all areas as the top graduating recruit.
Additionally, Pastore finished second in all other areas including academics, firearms and physical fitness. Pastore was commended through issuance of the Academy Honors Citation Bar.
“This speaks highly of Officer Pastore’s dedication to his self and the Cape May County Sheriffs Office,” said Schaffer.
In the early morning hours of March 27, Corrections Officer Joseph C. McCorriston, who was unable to attend the meeting due to a prior engagement, was assigned to an outside patrol shortly after a power outage affected the County Correctional Center and surrounding areas.
While patrolling, McCorriston ascertained from a Middle Township police officer that the power outage was caused by a vehicle that had left the scene of an accident and that other township police officers were attempting to find the vehicle involved.
A few minutes later McCorriston observed a vehicle with front-end damage and was able to stop the vehicle and detain the driver until Middle Township officers arrived.
The driver of that vehicle was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. McCorriston’s “keen observations and quick actions prevented further property damage and possible injuries to members of the public,” said Schaffer.
He was commended through the issuance of the Exceptional Duty Medal.
On May 7, upon graduating from Atlantic County Correctional Academy, Class No. 19, Officer Jenifer L. Wyers received the Police Training Commission’s Merit Award.
That award was chosen by her peers in the academy class, and was given to the recruit showing the most effort and fortitude during the academy, and who was believed to be the recruit most likely to succeed in his/her career.
Wyers was commended through issuance of the Academy Honors Citation Bar.
On May 7, upon graduating from Atlantic County Correctional Academy, Class No. 19, Officer James P. McNulty received the Physical Fitness Award, the Firearms Proficiency Award and placed second academically with a 95.99% average.
McNulty was commended through issuance of the Academy Honors Citation Bar.
Corrections Officers Joseph A. Tallerico, Christopher J. Chin, Kourtney L. Perry and Debra A. Tomlinson were jointly recognized for action that prevented illicit drugs from entering the correctional center.
On March 20, Officer Tomlinson, while assigned to Receiving Control observed a newly committed inmate acting suspiciously during initial processing procedures. Tomlinson alerted other officers regarding the suspicious behavior and the inmate was subsequently strip-searched, yielding negative results.
Nonetheless, those officers felt that the inmate may have concealed contraband in a body cavity. For a period of two and a half hours, Tallerico, Chin and Perry remained vigilant during their assignments in Processing, frequently observing the inmate’s behavior while he was in a holding cell.
Those officers continuously observed the inmate until which time a search of his cell resulted in recovering 24 baggies of confirmed rock cocaine and five bundles of tobacco.
Discovery of the contraband was a direct result of those officers’ diligence to duty.
Their actions prevented the substances from being distributed throughout the correctional center and preserved the security of the facility, Schaffer said.
The performance of those officers was commended through issuance of the Honorable Service Medal.