JC St. Pat’s dinner dance honors hero cops from July shootout

JERSEY CITY – Irish pride was the story of the night at the annual Jersey City St. Patrick’s Day Parade Dinner Dance on Friday.
The dinner dance takes place in the days proceeding the annual parade, which was held on Sunday.
Over 400 people were in attendance to salute the honorees who would be leading the parade such as City Councilman and longtime businessman Bill Gaughan, who was named grand marshal of the parade.
Also honored were the police officers who were involved in the July 16 shootout with a robbery suspect on Reed Street, in the city’s Bergen-Lafayette section, that left Officer Marc DiNardo dead. Those officers — Jersey City Police Detectives Michael Camacho, Frank Molina, Jr., Marc “Spike” Lavelle (not present). Port Authority Police Officer Dennis Mitchell — received a standing ovation.
Afterward, Camacho, 26, said the gun wound he sustained to his neck is still healing and he will return to active duty in May.
“It feels good to see people care and I’m thankful they are recognizing my fellow co-workers for the work we do,” Camacho said.
Among the dignitaries at the event were Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner and Jersey City Board of Education member Sean Connors, who lauded the organizers of the dinner dance.
“They always do a great job, year in and year out, to make this happen,” Connors said.
Interestingly, also showing up were former City Councilman Phil Kenny and city fireman Michael Manzo, both of whom were arrested in connection with the corruption sting that saw public officials and religious leaders arrested last July. Both, it turns out, have been involved for years in the organizing of the dinner dance and parade and/or attended the event. – RK