As scores of police officers, city officials, and family members sat in the sun-drenched plaza in Liberty State Park on Wednesday, clouds of emotion hovered over the Police Department’s annual awards ceremony, often spurred by reflections on Sept. 11 and the death of Officer Domenick Infantes, Jr.
While the event intended to celebrate the Jersey City Police Department and recognize officers who excelled in the past year, the day was marked by bitter reflection over the past year’s events. Police Chief Peter Behrens summarized those events with the words, “tragedy, challenge and gratification.”
Addressing the family of Infantes, who was killed when he tried to resolve a July 4 fireworks dispute between neighbors, Behrens said it was Infantes’ family’s courage that guided the Police Department through the tragic loss. Infantes was off duty and attending a barbeque when he approached the suspects unarmed and asked for cooperation before two men allegedly attacked him with a lead pipe. Since he was acting in the name of law enforcement, his death was considered an act of bravery carried out in the line of duty.
“They showed us what we’re made of,” Behrens said of the family. Infantes’ mother, father, brother, and wife accepted a flag in his honor that had been flown over the U.S. States Capitol during Police Week. “We will appreciate you forever and ever,” Behrens said.
Since the death of officer Infantes, Erik Infantes, his brother, has joined the Police Department. “He did it in style,” Behrens said. “He was the president of his class and the recipient of many awards.”
From Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham to a representative for Sen. Jon Corzine, each speaker at the ceremony addressed the tragic loss of officer Infantes and the subsequent anguish the Police Department has endured since then.
Award recipients
While the city’s top brass mourned the loss of Infantes in one breath, it commended its officers for a job well done in the other. Recognizing the day-in and day-out bravery of its patrol officers, the Police Department awarded three policemen with the Medal of Honor and Combat Cross and four others with the Combat Cross during the ceremony.
“This is your Academy Awards day,” said Behrens to the police officers sitting in the crowd.
“Any mayor of Jersey City would be proud of the Police Department,” Cunningham said. “But I feel a little more fortunate because I was one of you.” Cunningham, who joined the Jersey City Police Department in 1967, said his years as an officer were the “centerpiece” of his life, a position in which he served with the most pride.
Each award winner conjured up a story of courage and dedication that had made headlines in the past year. The most recent of those stories included Police Officer William Chavis and former Lt. James Ahern. Chavis had been shot in the chest two times by a 27-year-old female during a routine traffic stop several weeks ago. Witnessing the incident, Ahern, a retired lieutenant who now teaches history at Dickinson High School, pursued the suspect on foot for several blocks before apprehending her.
Chavis, who walked to the stage wearing an arm-sling, was released from the hospital the next day.
Police Officer Marcelo Ona also received a Medal of Honor and Combat Cross for foiling a barber shop holdup on West Side Avenue a few months ago. Ona was getting a haircut when two men entered the barbershop, announced a holdup and fired two shots in the air. Ona quickly drew his gun, identified himself as a police officer and demanded they surrender. Instead, the two men fired at him while fleeing. Ona returned fire to injure one of the men and apprehended the other after a short chase. “And it looks like he’s got another haircut since,” Cunningham joked as Ona accepted the awards.
Other Combat Cross award recipients included Captain John Shekya and Police Officers D. Paretti, R. Weber, and D. Goodman.
As each winner was called to the stage, Cunningham shook his hand, gave him a certificate, and smiled as a family member placed a medal around the officer’s neck.
Courage on Sept. 11
The ceremony was also filled with solemn reflection on the tragic events of Sept. 11. “As we look across to our sister city, we notice something is missing,” Cunningham said.
But that sadness was combated with a great sense of pride when discussing the non-stop commitment the Jersey City Police Department offered New York City on that day and the ones that followed. Many Jersey City Police officers rushed to the scene of the World Trade Center to assist New York and Port Authority Police Departments. Others camped out on the banks of the Hudson River to assist the thousands of civilians stepping off of ferries. They helped them recover, find temporary refuge, and get medical treatment. In the following days, the Police Department stayed in high alert, monitored traffic, assisted rescue and recover efforts at Ground Zero, and organized thousands of civilian volunteers package and ship goods across the river.
Aside from the dedication exhibited by the men in blue on Sept. 11, Cunningham trumpeted the Police Department’s accomplishments since it began its crime-fighting initiative in October. He said that the department has made over 2,000 drug-related arrests in the past eight months, doing significant damage to the drug-trafficking trade that has damaged the inner cities. “Thank you for cleaning up the city of Jersey City,” Cunningham said.
Police officials chimed on with compliments also. “I asked for [professionalism] when I came on board,” said James Carter, director of the Police Department. “And you’ve been giving it to me every day. I want you to know how proud and privileged I am to be a part of this police department. But those are just words, because this is what we do.”