Law enforcement group presents valor awards

by Rose Sgarlato
SPARTA — The 200 Club of Sussex County held an awards ceremony at Mohawk House on Monday, Oct. 24 honoring a select group of the county’s township police and state police.
The 200 Club is known for providing financial support in the amount of $10,000 to families of first responders who have lost their loved ones in the act of duty. The organization also funds scholarships to first responders and their children.
The awards ceremony is not an annual event for the organization, according to 200 Club trustee and retired NJ State Police Lieutenant Patrick Aramini.
“Two years ago, we honored firefighters and first aid responders. This year it happens to be all law enforcement,” said Aramini. “We decide whether to give out awards based on the year’s activity."
Categorized as “team merit and team valor awards, ” both are given to those who performed actions on duty that placed the responders lives at greater than usual risk.
• Team merit awards are given to those who made a rescue under risky conditions.
• Team valor awards are given to those who displayed courage while under perilous conditions.
The event was sponsored by Steve Scro of Mohawk House, Eric Nielsen of Nielsen Automotive Group and Sparta F.O.P Lodge # 26.
“It’s our pleasure to honor Sussex County’s finest at today’s 200 Club awards ceremony. We love our locals,” Scro said.
In addition to supporters of the 200 Club, local dignitaries, family and friends of the police officers, State Sen. Steve Oroho (R-Sussex) also was in attendance and made closing remarks:
“It’s what you are when no one is watching,” Oroho said. “You do it every single day. We thank you and we pray for you.”
After dinner, Aramini called up the various teams of officers by category to receive their awards. The 200 Club provided the following list of honorees and summaries of the cited actions:
1. TEAM MERIT AWARD
Ogdensburg Borough Police Department
• PATROLMAN CHRISOPHER GEENE
• PATROLMAN JAMES LAME
On May 30, 2016, Patrolmen Christopher Geene and James Lame acted as a team of law enforcement officers who risked their lives to rescue a drowning victim from Heater’s Pond in the Borough of Ogdensburg.
On that date, Sparta Communications dispatched Ogdensburg patrols to a possible drowning. On arrival, Patrolmen James Lame and Christopher Geene were advised by a distraught male and female that an individual was submerged in the water.
Both officers doffed their uniform gear and entered the water. Soon, the victim was located on the bottom and removed from the pond. CPR was started immediately and AED applied by other responding personnel.
The victim received both Basic and Advanced Life Support and was taken to Newton Medical Center. De-spite the water rescue and valiant efforts to resuscitate the victim, he died after further efforts in the emergency room were to no avail.
2. TEAM VALOR AWARD
Byram Township Police Department
• LIEUTENANT PETER J. ZABITA
• SERGEANT GUY MARIANI
• DETECTIVE ROBERT TIERNEY
• OFFICER JOHN D’ONOFRIO
• OFFICER TODD SODANO
• OFFICER MARCUS LISA
Andover Township Police Department
• SERGEANT BRIAN KITHCART
• OFFICER MATTHEW PUCCIO
On June 3, 2015, a team of police officers risked their lives in a highly dangerous situation involving an emotionally disturbed person with two weapons. The team responded to a location in Byram Township, Sussex County, where neighbors heard a gunshot and were concerned for a neighbor’s welfare.
Rapport was established with the subject who was in his house. Additional officers arrived due to the totality of the situation.
Eventually the subject came onto the porch carrying a shotgun and a pistol. He told officers to “take the shot.” The subject soon threw the pistol toward the officers and raised the shotgun at one officer. A covering officer fired a single round hitting the subject.
Emergency medical care was immediately rendered but the subject succumbed at the hospital.
All members of the team demonstrated a very high level of professionalism under very perilous conditions.
3. TEAM VALOR AWARD
New Jersey State Police
• SERGEANT WILLIAM CISKO, #6398
• TROOPER I RICHARD NUGNES, #6809
• TROOPER ROBERT HUNT, #763
On May 13, 2016, NJSP Sergeant William Cisko, Trooper I Richard Nugnes and Trooper Robert Hunt were a team of New Jersey State Police troopers who risked their lives in a highly dangerous domestic violence incident to save the life of a victim. The team responded to a location in Wantage Township, Sussex County, where they heard a woman’s screams, made a forced entry and disarmed a male who was viciously assaulting the woman with a large knife.
“The troopers would have been justified in using deadly force. Therefore, when the troopers decided to use only physical force to remove the threat, a second life was spared.”
Directly due to the timely intervention of the team, the victim survived her injuries and the assailant arrested.
4. TEAM VALOR AWARD
Town of Newton Police Department
• SERGEANT FRANK PHILHOWER
New Jersey State Police, Sussex Station
• SERGEANT MICHAEL VERHEECK, #6483
• TROOPER I WALLACE ZOSCHE, #6619
• TROOPER II MATTHEW MEEHAN, #7050
• TROOPER ANTHONY DeMARCO, #7849
• TROOPER ANTONIO DeMATTIA, #7850
On March 8, 2016, a team of law enforcement officers risked their lives in a highly dangerous incident involving an emotionally disturbed person with a loaded assault rifle.
On that date, Newton Police responded to a location in the Town of Newton, Sussex County, in response to a call for a suicidal male with a shotgun.
On arrival, a male was observed with an assault rifle. Backup assistance was requested and rapport was developed with the subject who eventually sat down with the weapon on his lap. He confirmed it was loaded. On arrival of NJSP backup, the team approached the subject in an overwhelming manner. The team disarmed the subject and took him into custody.
Directly due to the highly professional intervention of the team, the emotionally disturbed person received care for his condition.