Several police officers and emergency medical technicians received awards from the mayor and Town Council during the Jan. 10 council meeting for performing heroic life-saving acts.
The mayor and council gave out a Unit Citation Award to a dispatcher who took the call for a burglary at Restaurant Depot on Nov. 22, 2010, and to the officers who responded.
Nine officers and two EMT workers received the Mayor’s Award for responding to a domestic violence incident on Sept. 29, 2011. Sergeant Thomas Borelli received a special distinction with a Valor Award for subduing the alleged assailant during the Sept. 29 incident.
In that attack incident, allegedly a man attacked a woman with a knife.
Going above and beyond the call of duty
“I would like to thank the mayor and council for the opportunity to recognize these officers for a job well done and hope that we can do this on a regular basis,” said Police Chief Dennis Corcoran before the awards presentation.
“You guys did a fabulous job,” said Mayor Michael Gonnelli, before presenting the Mayor’s Award. “You know you saved a life. You know you went above and beyond the call of duty. And without you, we don’t know where we’d be today. On behalf of the whole governing body, thank you for a job well done.”
“It is an honor to receive this award with my fellow officers.” – Police Officer Roderick Aninipot
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Just doing their job
“We are just doing our job,” said Police Officer Roderick Aninipot. He responded to the domestic violence incident on Sept. 29 and received the Mayor’s Award. “It is an honor to receive this award with my fellow officers. It shows that we are doing a good job and we are honored by it.”
He has served Secaucus police force the past 12 years and as an officer for a total of 23 years, previously with a different force.
“You basically just do what needs to be done, follow your orders and what you are told to do by your supervisor,” said Police Officer Robert Napoleon. He said that police don’t know what really needs to be done until they arrive on the scene. “When it comes to the victim you try to treat them the best way that you can. Get them the care that is needed. Make sure that they are comfortable.”
Napoleon said it was the first time in 13 years on the force that he had responded to an incident like the one on Sept. 29, which was a brutal attack.
“This doesn’t happen often, something like this. It is a rare occasion,” said Napoleon. “When it comes to [the award] tonight, I accept this completely proudly but with humility. We do this job to help people.”
The following individuals received the Mayor’s Award in connection with that incident: Police Officers Raymond Cruzado, Matthew Ford, Peter Garass, Robert Napoleon, Roderick Aninipot, Det. Michael Torres, Detective Sgt. Dominick DeGennaro, Det. Lt. Michael Reinke, and EMTs Barbara Orofino and Frank Spina.
Sgt. Thomas Borelli received a special distinction for subduing the attacker to free the victim for first aid treatment.
“On that night, Sgt. Thomas Borelli stood out, took control, really subdued what was going on, and just really went above and beyond,” said Gonnelli when he presented him with the Valor Award.
Unit Citation Award
On Nov. 22, 2010 Dispatcher Debra Defelice took a call that she initially thought was a medical issue but then realized a burglary was under way because she stayed on the line. Officers arrived at Restaurant Depot and discovered a robbery had taken place at gunpoint by two armed assailants. Six Restaurant Depot employees were bound. One of the employees had been beaten and injured. The armed assailants were apprehended at a nearby creek.
The following individuals were recognized for performing with valor during the armed burglary incident: Dispatcher Debra Defelice; Police Officers Kevin Kutola, Jerome Mercado, Reinaldo Cruzado, Martin Moreda, Marc Schoch, Sergeant Clark Rhiel, and Sergeant Francis Cotter.
Adriana Rambay Fernández may be reached at afernandez@hudsonreporter.com.