Police officers, civilians honored by Freehold Twp. BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — Police officers and civilians were honored for meritorious service provided to the community when the Township Committee held its annual police awards ceremony on May 24. Before a packed municipal meeting room filled with family members and fellow officers, some of the Freehold Township Police Department’s finest were commended for their efforts over the past year. A Unit Citation Award was presented to Detective Russell Gelber and police officers William Gallo, Daniel Ruiz, Scott Keenan and Richard Leidy for their efforts on Dec. 22, 2004. Communications officer Jeff Stiles received a Civilian Service Award for his actions on that same day. Two suspects were arrested following a home invasion and stolen property was recovered. An Excellent Police Duty Award was presented to officer Michael Denham for his actions in March 2005. Denham observed a drug deal taking place in the township. His investigation led to the seizure of more than 100 grams of crack cocaine. Three suspects were arrested and charged with narcotics possession and trafficking. An Excellent Police Duty Award was presented to officer Richard Hudak for his actions on Nov. 5, 2004. Hudak initiated a motor vehicle stop that eventually led to the discovery of cocaine and narcotics in quantities to be distributed. A handgun was also found in the vehicle. Information obtained from the arrest helped solve a shooting and an armed robbery that had occurred in a nearby town. An Excellent Police Duty Award was presented to Lt. John Todd and officers Jeffery Palladino, Karl Schlechtweg and Richard Hudak for their actions on Sept. 13, 2004. Officers observed a stolen motor vehicle and attempted to stop the driver. The vehicle refused to yield and a five-mile pursuit ensued. The vehicle was subsequently involved in a traffic accident from which the suspects fled. Officers located the suspects in a nearby restaurant and arrested them. One suspect was wanted on 11 active warrants and the second suspect was in possession of more than $1,000 in stolen merchandise. An Excellent Police Duty Award was presented to officer Earl Cain for his actions on April 1 in responding to a serious motor vehicle accident involving a stolen car. According to information provided by municipal officials, Cain created a rapport with a 13-year-old boy who was involved in the accident. The boy provided an accurate description of the fleeing operator of the stolen vehicle. Cain searched for the suspect, located and interviewed the suspect, and eventually arrested the individual. In conjunction with the award that was presented to Cain, a Civilian Service Award was presented to Harry Block, of Marlboro, the young man who provided the information about the suspect in the April 1 motor vehicle accident. Harry has since turned 14. According to information provided by the township, despite being shaken up in the crash, Harry provided a concise description of the suspect, who had fled the scene. The police officers who responded to the accident later reported that had it not been for Harry’s information, the suspect might not have been apprehended. A second Excellent Police Duty Award was presented to officer Earl Cain for his actions on Dec. 14, 2004. The officer observed a suspect attempting to burglarize a business. The suspect fled into a heavily wooded area. A subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of two suspects, who were charged with several other attempted burglaries as well as possession of a stolen vehicle used in the crimes. An award for Distinguished Police Duty was presented to officer Raymond Piccolini who, on Aug. 14, 2004, participated in an investigation regarding stolen credit cards and identity theft. Piccolini worked with numerous law enforcement agencies and was able to uncover an organized crime ring that extended from Vancouver, Canada, to Florida. This led to the arrest of several people for the possession of fraudulent driver’s licenses and credit cards from many unknowing victims of identity theft. The Star of Life Award was presented to police officers George Burdge III, Raymond Piccolini and Patrick Cruse, and to U.S. Customs Service Agent William McLeod. A Civilian Service Award was presented to Ken Lucas. On Oct. 8, 2004, officers responded to a motor vehicle crash with an unresponsive victim. The officers retrieved an auto-mated external defibrillator (AED) from their vehicle and began to set it up. McLeod and Lucas, who is a volunteer firefighter with the Freehold Township Independent Fire Company, came upon the scene and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the victim to assist the officers. The AED was used and all involved continued in the lifesaving effort until paramedics and the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad revived her. The Star of Life Award was presented to police officer Scot Hall for his actions on May 5. Hall responded to a restaurant for a report of an elderly woman who was choking. The woman was not breathing when the officer arrived. Hall performed abdominal thrusts that resulted in the item being expelled from the woman’s throat. A Civilian Service Award was presented to senior communications officer Joel Halpern, who was on duty March 6. Halpern received a cellular telephone 911 call with no caller on the line, but he could hear people yelling. He contacted the Verizon 911 control center. Working with various electronic tracing devices, he was able to establish the call was an address in Howell. He notified Howell police, who later reported that this was an incident of domestic violence and assault. A Civilian Service Award was presented to retired Freehold Township officer Jerry Ostrander who, on Feb. 17, was traveling on Route 537 when he observed a motor vehicle crash. The driver was badly shaken and was attempting to exit her car as Ostrander arrived. Ostrander observed that the car was in motion as she was trying to exit from the vehicle. He secured the vehicle and assisted the young woman until emergency services arrived.