Middle Township Police Awards Ceremony Recognizes Members’ Service Above Self

COURT HOUSE – Middle Township Police Department held its third awards ceremony at the DeVico Senior Center March 18. Since it had been almost three years since the previous ceremony, there were a number of officers and dispatchers deserving of recognition.
In all, 44 individuals received some form of award. Chief of Police Christopher Leusner and Mayor Timothy Donohue presented the awards.
Opening the evening with a dinner for all attendees, which included friends and family of the officers, Deputy Mayor Daniel Lockwood, Committee Member Michael Clark and Business Administrator Connie Mahon, Leusner said it was important “to stop and recognize the great work done by our officers.” Donohue echoed the importance of the evening and “the incredibly vital” work done by police and dispatchers. The awards consist of a commendation and a service pin that the officer can then display on his/her uniform.
Leusner explained that the awards have special meaning because they represent recognition given by fellow officers. The department established a committee to accept and evaluate recommendations for awards.
Sgt. Clint Stocker chaired the group that included Sgt. James Loftus and Detectives Jason Sweitzer and Allan McClure. Leusner explained that some of the awards were for personal achievements or for service in special operations areas of the department. This included service on SWAT teams, Bike or Motorcycle units, Crash Team, and Dive Team.
Everyone had a good laugh when Leusner presented a pin to members of the police honor guard whom he said take great care with their appearance. On this informal evening the officers showed up in jeans and one wore a “hoodie.”
Recognition was also given for acquiring additional education credentials. This included earning an associate or bachelor degrees. Lt. William Adams, received recognition for completing a course of study at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va.
For two officers, the concept of giving to the community took on a different meaning. The 2013 Good Samaritan Award went to Cpl. Jennifer DeLanzo for donating a kidney to a member of her church. The same award for 2014 was given to Officer Armando Jones, who donated bone marrow to save the life of a stranger.
In two separate cases officers were recognized for delivering babies. In each instance the officers arrived on scene with labor too far advanced for the mother to reach the hospital. Cpl. Phil Johnson and Officer Joseph Gamble delivered a baby boy in the back seat of a car.
Retired Cpl. Richard Sittineri delivered a girl after being called to a local motel.
Other areas of recognition related to specific acts of courage and valor in difficult and complex situations. In these situations, training and good decision-making are at a priority.
In one instance, officers were dispatched to a domestic violence call in Burleigh. The dispatcher relayed that a man inside was dousing the house with gasoline. They also knew that a woman and child were inside.
Responding officers included Sgt. Fran Fiore, Sittineri, and Patrolmen Martin Lindholm, Brian Vergantino and Jeffrey Salveson. When they arrived the man was holding a cigarette lighter. The officers were able to arrest the man and thereby saved the lives of the woman and child.
In another 2014 instance, Lindholm responded to a fire in an apartment complex. He was confronted by individuals pointing at the apartment and screaming at him in a language he did not understand. Lindholm had no way to know if individuals were inside.
Putting his own life at risk, he entered the apartment with a fire extinguisher. It was later determined that no one else was in the apartment, but his actions were credited by firefighters with helping to control the fire and preventing a greater tragedy in the complex.
While the department committee decided upon all other awards, one award belongs only to the chief. Leusner recognized his second in command, Capt. John Edwards, with a professional achievement award.
Edwards, who is scheduled to retire by the end of 2016, will probably not “be around for the next awards ceremony,” Leusner said. “I could not have asked for a better number two,” he added.
The award ceremony was an informal affair but there was nothing informal about the sentiments. Donohue spoke of the “sacrifice that’s behind these awards.”
Leusner noted, “2014 was a very tough year for police nationwide.” The awards presented at this dinner were for officers who did things they consider “part of the job.” Most were anxious to leave the awards area before pictures could be taken.
Donohue talked directly to the officers when he said “It is a tough job that you do, and we know you don’t do it for the awards.” He spoke for all of us when he added, “People needed to know about the things that you do.”
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
Complete List of MTPD Awards:
Ptl. Ray Bradley:
Veteran Military pin
Cpl. Jen DeLanzo:
Kidney Donation (Certificate)
DARE pin
Good Conduct pin
Hostage Negotiator pin
Ptl. Armondo Jones:
Donated bone marrow, April 2013, “Info on recipient is not known by anyone” (certificate)
Bike Unit pin
Crash Team pin
Capt. John Edwards:
Education, Associates Degree pin
Chief Professional Achievement
Ptl. Ron Miller:
Swat pin
Good Conduct pin
Cpl. Fred Crawley:
Meritorious Service
Barricaded subject in attic with knife
Lt. William Adams:
FBI Academy pin
DRE pin
Ptl. Jason Sweitzer:
Honor Guard pin
Bicycle Unit pin
Cpl. Phil Johnson:
Good Conduct pin
SWAT pin
FTO pin
Baby Delivery
Ptl. Brian Murphy:
Meritorious Service pin, barricaded subject with knife in attic
Education pin, Bachelor’s Degree
Good Conduct pin
FTO pin
Ptl. Daniel Geiger:
Education pin, college credits
Motorcycle Unit pin
Bicycle Unit pin
Sgt. Mark Higginbottom:
Dive Team pin
Honor Guard pin
Good Conduct pin
Command and Leadership West Point (CERTIFICATE)
Assisting American Red Cross in gathering and delivering items to victim of Hurricane Sandy (CERTIFICATE)
Sgt. Clint Stocker:
Meritorious Service, barricaded subject with knife in attic
Ptl. Daniel Martin:
Good Conduct pin
FTO pin
Crash Team pin
Life Saving pin, July 31, 2012 saved 3 year old from asphyxiation, 749 Stone Harbor Blvd.
Sgt. Fran Fiore:
Meritorious Service pin, October 6, 2013, Bravery, suspect doused house in gasoline, went in to get children and wife
Life Saving, Cape May County Zoo
Cpl. Sittineri:
Meritorious Service pin, 109 Chestnut.,Burleigh, house doused with gasoline.
Ptlm. Lindholm:
Meritorious Service pin, 109 Chestnut, Burleigh, house doused with gasoline.
Ptlm. Vergantino:
Meritorious Service, 109 Chestnut, Burleigh, house doused with gasoline.
Ptlm. Salveson
Meritorious Service, 109 Chestnut Ave., Burleigh, house doused with gasoline.
Officer Allison Akke:
Education Achievement pin Bachelors Degree Rutgers University
Life Saving Cape May County Zoo
Del Haven AED 11 shocks
Officer Michelle Brown:
Life Saving pin, CPR Cape May County Zoo
Good Conduct pin
EMT pin
Ptl. Kurt Saettler:
Education pin,
FTO pin
Honor Guard pin
Ptl. Joseph Gamble:
Life Saving pin, CPR Ptlm. Lindholm’s father, 3124 Rt 9, Rio Grande, 2014.
Baby Delivery, summer of 2012, 100 block Millman Blvd. Del Haven, delivered baby in the back of a vehicle, “it’s a boy”.
Ptl. John Norton:
FTO pin
Ptl. Matt Martino:
FTO pin
Crash Team pin
Good Conduct pin
Motorcycle Unit pin
Sgt. Bob Shepherd:
Good Conduct pin
Ptl. Leonard Larkin:
Life Saving, CPR 11 shocks Del Haven
Good Conduct pin
Honor Guard pin
Bike Unit pin
DRE pin
Ptl. Justin Vitola:
Life Saving November 6, 2014, 34 Meadowview, unconscious unresponsive
Det. Ken Martin:
Dive pin
SRO pin
Sgt. Jamie Loftus:
Education pin
Command and leadership (certificate)
Dive Team pin
Crash Team pin
Bike Patrol pin
SRO pin
Motorcycle Unit pin
Ptl. Steve Novsak:
SRO pin
Crash Team pin
Bike Patrol pin
Ptl. Martin Lindholm:
Life Saving pin, Champion Motel structure fire
Crash Team
Ptl. James D’Alonzo:
SRO Pin
Crash Team
Bike Unit
Ptl. Dave Hagan:
Good Conduct pin
DRE pin
FTO pin
Bike Unit pin
Education
Honor Guard pin
Sgt. Doug Osmundsen:
Command and leadership (certificate)
Det. Tracey Super:
Honor Guard
Ptl. Josh Bryan:
FTO pin
Ptl. Michael Pastore:
Military pin
Cpl. Marcus Phillips:
SRO pin
Lt. Don Nelson:
Hostage Negotiator pin
Ptl. Julio Ruiz:
Hostage Negotiator pin
DISPATCHERS:
Brandon Mitchell:
Life Saving, January 20, 2015, CPR, 11 shocks in Del
Haven (CERTIFICATE)
Keith Woodrow:
Life Saving, January 20,2015, CPR, 11 shocks in Del Haven,
15 years of service pin, Cert of Recognition (CERTIFICATE)
Bill Mulligan:
10 years of service pin, Cert of Recognition (PIN)
Jacob Loefflad:
5 years of service pin, Cert of Recognition (PIN)
Lauren Anzelone:
5 years of service pin (part time) Cert of Recognition (PIN)
Dave Atkinson:
Life Saving, CMC Park Zoo, talked civilian thru CPR