Police Officers Recognized for Extraordinary Service
Borough of Fanwood
Mayor Colleen Mahr, the Borough Council Public Safety Committee and Capt. José Vendas, Officer in Charge of the Fanwood Police Department, presented awards for extraordinary service on May 17, 2021, to more than a dozen officers. The Mayor and Borough Council recognized them during the regular Council meeting, held via ZOOM, in observance of National Police Week. The presentations occurred before the meeting outside Borough Hall.
The officers were cited for their actions during a variety of emergencies including an aggravated assault in a Fanwood home that resulted in the quick arrest of the suspect and timely medical aid to the victim, a drug overdose, a child struck by a car and trapped under it, the helicopter evacuation of a resident with a traumatic injury following a fall, the capture of a burglary suspect, giving life-saving CPR and AED treatment to a fall victim who stopped breathing and outstanding service to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The officers honored are: Off. Elliot Bernard, Off. Kathy Case, Det. Sgt. Nicholas Falcicchio (Union Co. Prosecutor’s Office), Lt. Marc Gottlick (retired), Off. Carlos Gonzalez, Sgt. Ron Greco (retired), Off. Tim Green, Capt. Kevin Grimmer (Union Co. Prosecutor’s Office), Off. Sean Hoffman, Off. Rob Jastrzebski, Sgt. Dan Piccola, Off. Mike Rusin, and Sgt. Phil Ugone.
A proclamation by the Mayor and Council calls on citizens to “recognize our law enforcement officers, past and present, who, by their faithful and loyal devotion to their responsibilities, have rendered a dedicated service to our community and, in so doing, have established for themselves an enviable and enduring reputation for preserving the rights and security of all citizens.”
Photos by Tom Kranz
