During Police Week, Cranford Police Department Holds Awards Ceremony
On Thursday, May 19th 2022 in the midst of Police Week, the Cranford Police Department held an awards ceremony to recognize officers who went above and beyond the normal call of duty. In addition to the men and women of the Cranford Police Department, in attendance was Mayor Kathleen Miller Prunty, Deputy Mayor Jason Gareis, Commissioner Brian Andrews, Commissioner Mary O'Connor, Township Administrator Jamie Cryan, Fire Chief Dan Czeh and members of the Cranford Fire Department. The following details were released by Chief Greco during the ceremony:
DEPARTMENTAL CITATION AWARD
Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident - Sgt. Joseph Stulpin, Det. John Rattigan, Officer Ryan McSharry, Off. Christopher Folinusz, Off. Ryan Drew, Communication Officer Stacy Thorn, Communication Officer Chapin Taggart
On 02/15/21 at 0243hrs. Patrol Units were dispatched to the Garden State Parkway for a motor vehicle crash with severe injuries. Upon arrival units were presented with a chaotic, unsecured, dangerous scene, which had now morphed into a criminal investigation. Each of the officers involved did not operate as individuals, but rather as a cohesive group ultimately recognizing that one of the parties involved was attempting to flee to avoid arrest. Even while providing life-saving aid to a victim, Off. Rattigan recognized that this individual was attempting to run away. Off. McSharry, Off. Folinusz, and Off. Drew were all tasked with managing the chaos of a multi-jurisdictional crime scene. The turmoil surrounding this scene was undoubtedly managed flawlessly at the communications center by C/O Thorn and C/O Taggart. Sgt. Stulpin was responsible for coordinating responses, notifications, and coordination of not only Cranford units, but arriving emergency services from multiple agencies. Each of the officers performed a “textbook” response to this incident which the average citizen will never hear about. Tragically, one of the occupants of an involved vehicle did not survive their traumatic injuries. However, each of the officers’ swift actions led to charges being filed by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office for Vehicular Homicide.
DEPARTMENTAL CITATION
CHILDBIRTH - Officer Thomas Bell and Detective James Knight
On 12/20/2020 Patrol Units were detailed to a Dietz Street residence on a report of a woman in labor. Upon arrival, Officer Thomas Bell immediately assessed the woman and recognized that the birth of the child was imminent. As Officer Bell was assisting with the birth, he recognized that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck. Officer Bell immediately began lifesaving measures and was able to free the cord from the neck area. Within minutes the birth was completed, and the baby began to breath on its own. As is typical of Officer Bell, he was able to take control of an extremely stressful situation and assist both the mother in the delivery and the baby in taking its first breaths. Not going unrecognized are the efforts of Detective James Knight in operating as a team to assist all involved.
DEPARTMENTAL CITATION AWARD
Barricade Subject - Officer Thomas Bell
On May 7, 2020, at 11:02am, the Cranford Police Department received a telephone call from the Rahway Police Department regarding an evolving situation in their City. The Rahway Police Department was currently on-scene negotiating with a barricaded individual who was suffering from a mental health episode. The individual was intoxicated and threatening to take his own life with a loaded firearm. During negotiations, it was determined that the subject was familiar with Off. Thomas Bell and requested to speak directly with you. Specifically, Off. Bell had recently played the bagpipes at the funeral of the subject’s mother. Upon receiving this information, Off. Bell immediately contacted the individual via the phone. During a nearly thirty-minute phone call Off. Bell was able to keep the individual calm, but on one occasion the subject said “goodbye” and disconnected the call. Off. Bell was able to again contact the individual and offered to respond directly to the scene, which could have exposed him to an extremely unstable and dangerous situation. At this point, the individual decided to seek assistance and peacefully exited his residence. Undoubtedly Off. Bell’s extremely calm demeanor and enhanced crisis intervention training played an integral role in resolving a potentially tragic situation.
LIFESAVING AWARD
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - Officer Kelly Rieder and Officer Thomas Bell
On 2/03/2020, Officer Tom Bell and Officer Kelly Rieder were dispatched to Nomahegan Park along with the Cranford Fire Dept and EMS, on a report of a man possibly having a stroke. Upon the arrival of Off. Bell, he discovered the 53-year-old male patient lying unconscious on the blacktop within the main parking lot off of Springfield Ave. Off. Kelly Rieder arrived on scene shortly thereafter and both officers began assessing the patient’s condition. The male was found to be not breathing and had no pulse. Off. Bell and Off. Rieder worked together and attached a defibrillator to the patient and initiated CPR. At that time CFD and CFD EMS arrived on scene. Resuscitation efforts were then turned over to CFD/EMS personnel while Officers Bell and Rieder remained hands on with patient care. CPR efforts continued as the patient was transported to the Hospital. Cranford Fire EMS personnel later learned that the male patient had regained a pulse and ultimately began breathing on his own. The male was released from the Hospital approximately 1 week later.
DEPARTMENTAL CITATION
Weapons Arrest - Sgt. Thomas Stiansen, Sgt. Steven D’Ambola, Off. Robert Chamra
On July 29, 2021, Sergeant Thomas Stiansen and Sergeant Steven D’Ambola were on routine patrol in the area of Springfield Avenue and West End Place when they were flagged down by a motor vehicle. The occupants informed the officers that they were just involved in a road rage incident during which the sole occupant of a Ford Transit Van produced a semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at the group. At this point, both Stiansen and D’Ambola observed the suspect vehicle directly behind the victim’s vehicle. Sgt. D’Ambola who was operating the marked patrol vehicle immediately began following the Ford Van while Sergeant Stiansen started relaying information to Central Communication while coordinating with responding Patrol Units to conduct a high-risk motor vehicle stop. As the vehicle proceeded toward the busy downtown business district, Sgt. Stiansen made the tactical decision to allow the vehicle to clear the downtown, which was now populated with pedestrians and outdoor diners. Unfortunately, the vehicle proceeded into Municipal Lot #7 which prompted the execution of a potentially dangerous motor vehicle stop. Assisted by Off. Robert Chamra, Sgt. Stiansen and Sgt. D’Ambola began giving the driver commands to exit the vehicle. As the driver exited the vehicle, he was tactically overwhelmed by CPD Officers and taken into custody without incident. Recovered from the interior of the vehicle was a loaded semi-automatic handgun which had no serial number. Through a follow-up investigation, it was determined that the handgun was assembled from various parts constituting it as a “ghost gun.” The suspect was transported to CPD Headquarters for processing. Once back at headquarters, statements were taken from the victim and the following charges were approved for: Unlawful Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree, Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes in the 2nd Degree, and Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine in the 4th Degree. The suspect was ultimately transported to the Union County Jail pending a Detention Hearing.
LIFESAVING AWARD
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation-Lieutenant Christopher Polito, Detective Corey LoForte, Construction Official Frank Genova
November 1, 2021, at 3:15pm a 71-year-old Township resident was conducting personal business in the Municipal Building. At some point the resident collapsed in the Administrative Wing and became unresponsive due to a cardiac episode. As municipal employees attempted to alert Police personnel, Construction Official Frank Genova, a retired Cranford Career Fire Captain, sprang into action. Genova immediately recognized that the individual was unresponsive and had no detectable pulse at which time he commenced Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. For nearly a minute Genova continued the exhausting life-saving measures until Lt. Christopher Polito and Det. Corey LoForte arrived on scene to assist. Both reassessed that the male had no pulse, was not breathing, and Lt. Polito continued CPR while Det. LoForte went to retrieve an AED and oxygen. During this chaotic incident Lt. Polito and Genova continued to rotate through the exhausting process of chest compressions, while Off. LoForte administered oxygen to the victim. After approximately two plus minutes of CPR, the victim gasped for air. As Advanced Life Support measures were continued and just prior to transport to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, a faint pulse could be detected on the victim. Upon consulting with members of the Cranford Fire Department, the victim was conscious and alert upon arrival at Newark Beth Israel Hospital and asking staff if he would be able to leave the facility that evening.
DEPARTMENTAL CITATION
Narcotics Investigation - Officer Gregory Federici and Detective Jason D’Agostino
In the summer of 2021, the Cranford Police Department received confidential information of narcotics distribution within the township. The information indicated that a male was distributing large quantities of cocaine and prescription pills from a New Street address. As a result of months of surveillance by Detective Jason D’Agostino, the target was eventually identified. In December of 2021 a search warrant was obtained for the suspects person, property, and vehicle.
On December 8, 2021, a search warrant was executed by members of the Cranford Police Department Detective Bureau at which time the suspect was taken into custody without incident. Recovered from the residence was over 300 grams of cocaine and hundreds of illegal prescription pills. In consultation with the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, the suspect was charged with a multitude of 1st and 2nd Degree narcotic related offenses and ultimately remanded to the Union County Jail to await a detention hearing.
DEPARTMENTAL CITATION
Weapons Possession - Officer Ryan McSharry and Officer Jason Ingram
On February 16, 2022, Off. Ryan McSharry and Off. Jason Ingram effectuated a motor vehicle stop of a black Nissan Maxima in the area of Raritan Road and Centennial Avenue. Upon contacting the driver of the vehicle, he provided Off. McSharry a name that he determined to be false. As the on-scene investigation continued and through observations, Off. McSharry observed a quantity of crack cocaine inside the vehicle. Additionally, by this time each officer and Central Communications determined the identity of the lone occupant was the main suspect in a cold case homicide in the City of Rahway. A search of the vehicle yielded not only the observed crack cocaine, but also a fully loaded .40 caliber Springfield XD handgun. This gun was determined to have been stolen out of Jacksonville, Florida. The subject was arrested and charged with weapons and narcotic related offenses. He was ultimately remanded to the Union County Jail pending a Detention Hearing.
DEPARTMENTAL CITATION
Weapons Possession - Officer Christopher Gross and Officer Michael Gamba
On February 20, 2022, Off. Christopher Gross conducted a motor vehicle stop of a Hyundai Venue in the area of Raritan Road and Union County Parkway. The vehicle had been driving erratically, committing a multitude of motor vehicle violations. Off. Michael Gamba was dispatched to provide backup to Off. Gross, arriving almost immediately. Off. Gross contacted the driver and passenger of the vehicle. During his investigation, he observed items strewn about the vehicle consistent with narcotics use. Off. Gross observed the passenger attempting to conceal an item commonly used to ingest crack cocaine. As Off. Gross was attempting to arrest the passenger, Off. Gamba observed the driver attempting to discard crack cocaine. Off. Gamba immediately tried to handcuff the driver at which time he fled the area on foot. After a brief foot chase, Off. Gamba was able to apprehend and handcuff the driver. This violent struggle unfolded in a matter of seconds.
Once back-up units arrived and the situation became stabilized, a methodical investigation commenced. A significant amount of narcotics were recovered from the vehicle along with two loaded firearms. These weapons were undoubtedly a product of and/or intended for use in criminal activity. Both the occupants were charged with a numerous of weapon and narcotic related offenses and committed to the Union County Jail pending a Detention Hearing in Superior Court.
LIFESAVING AWARD
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - Officer Nelson Hearns, Detective Daniel Donnerstag, Officer Joshua Sousa
On 04/01/2022 at 8:47am, Patrol Units were detailed to an Orchard Street residence on a report of an unresponsive 53-year-old male. Upon arrival, Officers Hearns, Donnerstag, and Sousa began their initial assessment of the patient. All determined that the male had no pulse, was not breathing, and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation was initiated, and Officer Hearns began connecting an AED to the patient. During this initial phase of life saving measures, ALS arrived on scene to assist along with Cranford Fire Department. During this frenzied incident, the patient received an AED shock from Off. Hearns, all while officers continued to rotate through the exhausting process of chest compressions. As Advanced Life Support measures were continued and just prior to transport to Newark Beth Israel Hospital, the patient regained consciousness.
LIFESAVING AWARD
Tourniquet Application - Officer Nicholas Cook and Detective Ryan Gerrity
On 09/01/2021 the remnants of Hurricane Ida ravaged the East Coast and Cranford unfortunately took a direct hit. In the aftermath of the historic flooding and large-scale destruction that accompanied the event, town wide cleanup and restoration efforts began. The area was littered with debris and hazards and was an extremely dangerous area in which to operate. On 9/03/21 Emergency Services Units and Police Units were dispatched to a Glenwood Rd address on a report of a 23-year-old male with a severe laceration to his upper arm. The male was reported to be “Bleeding profusely”. It was learned that the male had been working on an exterior electrical panel that had been damaged during the flood two days earlier. Officer Nick Cook arrived on scene first and discovered that the man was in fact severely injured and was losing blood. The patient had fallen down a debris riddled set of steps and an exposed wood board with nails caught the man’s arm causing a large and deep cut to the inside of his upper arm. Off. Cook immediately recognized that the patient was suffering a potential life-threatening injury and quickly retrieved his issued tourniquet began to attach it to the patient. At this time, Det. Ryan Gerrity arrived on scene. Det. Gerrity, who is also a combat experienced United States Marine Veteran, began to take over patient care. Det. Gerrity manually worked the tourniquet and began turning the rod until the bleeding stopped. Upon the arrival of EMS and paramedics, it was determined that the patient needed immediate transport to University Hospital where his care was ultimately transferred to their staff. EMS personnel reported that staff in the Trauma ER explicitly stated that the injury was in fact life threatening. They stated that Officer Cook’s immediate recognition of the seriousness of the injury and the rapid and proper deployment of the tourniquet by Det. Gerrity contributed to saving the patient’s life and his extremity.
DEPARTMENTAL CITATION
Robbery Investigation - Officer Thomas Bell, Officer Robert Jordan, Officer Ryan Gerrity, Officer Jason D’Agastino, Officer Brian Trotter
On 12/24/2021 Patrol Units were detailed to a Collins Street address on a report of a robbery. Upon arrival the sixty-nine-year-old victim stated that she was unloading groceries from her vehicle when she was approached from behind by a male suspect. The male placed his hand over her mouth and stated, “Give me the money.” The suspect threw the victim to the ground, took her purse, and fled the area on foot. The victim’s son overheard the commotion and began to chase the suspect, where the suspect entered a vehicle and fled the area. The son had the wherewithal to capture a photo of the license plate on his cellphone. The initial investigating officer, Officer Thomas Bell, was able to collect detailed information about the incident, including the description of the suspect, vehicle, and locations of various cameras in the area. All this information proved crucial during the investigation.
Over the course of nearly a month, Cranford Police Detectives (Jordan Gerrity D’Agostino and Trotter) partnered with numerous agencies including the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, Jersey City Police Department, Hoboken Police Department, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Trenton Police Department, and Division of Parole and Probation. In partnership with these agencies a suspect was developed, leading to the application of multiple search warrants and a communication data warrant.
The suspect was ultimately arrested and charged with Robbery, Burglary, and Theft. suspect is a career criminal with a violent criminal history. He was a suspect in a recent vicious attack of a Hudson County woman, which was captured on a Ring Doorbell Camera and is chilling to watch. suspect is currently housed in the Hudson County Jail on unrelated charges.
CAREER RECOGNITION
Retirement of Communication Officer Stacy Thorn
Stacy Thorn began her career with the Cranford Police Department as a Crossing Guard in 1990. In 1995 she became a full-time Communications Officer until her retirement this month. is undoubtedly one of the most dedicated employees ever to walk the halls of the Cranford Police Department, serving nearly her entire career on the nightshift and always willing to come in to assist on her days off. She has not only trained a multitude of communications officers, but also every police officer assigned to the Communication Center. A calming voice in the midst of chaos, has received numerous commendations for her part in life-saving situations, violent crimes in progress, and during numerous weather-related catastrophes. Stacy has undeniably had a massive impact on the lives of people she has never met let alone never seen. Although people may think that police officers have a difficult job, the role of a dispatcher is probably the most stressful job in law enforcement. truly is a “Professional Communications Officer.”
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Release by D/Lt. Matthew R. Nazzaro
05/20/22 @ 1000 hours
m-nazzaro@cranfordnj.org / 908-709-4313