Detective honored with Officer of the Year award BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer MANALAPAN - Detective Michael Ratta, who joined the Manalapan Police Department as a patrolman in July 2001, received the department's Officer of the Year Award for 2007 during ceremonies held at the April 23 meeting of the Township Committee. Police Chief Stuart Brown said Ratta "shows a high level of enthusiasm, professionalism and dedication to the people he serves" as he presented the detective with the award. After joining the patrol bureau in July 2001, Ratta advanced to the position of field training officer, where his duties included training new officers as they came onto the force. He joined the Investigations Bureau in July 2005 and eventually served with aMonmouth County narcotics strike force. He was later promoted to detective. More recently, Ratta was part of an investigation that resulted in the arrest of numerous individuals alleged to be involved in a statewide sports gambling ring, Brown said. Police department supervisors submit the names of nominees for the Officer of the Year Award and Brown selects the winner. In addition to Ratta, the other nominees for the 2007 Officer of the Year Award were Patrolman Reginald Grant, Patrolman Seth Kreizman and Detective Samuel Britton. With Capt. Louis Moreto reading the award citations,MayorMichelle Roth and Deputy Mayor Susan Cohen, who serves as police commissioner, helped Brown present awards to other members of the police department. Detective Samuel Britton received the Croix de Negotiator Award for his role in negotiating the surrender of an armed individual. The Life Saving Award was presented to Sgt. David Castellani, and patrolmen Reginald Grant, Jennie Rae Hensley, Brian Cruse, Ross Dessel, Jean McCafferty, Andrew Adell, James Joiner, Robert Herring and Dennis O'Brien. The Exceptional Duty Award was presented to Patrolman Dominick Donatelli and Patrolman Charles Alaimo. Honorable Service Awards were presented to Lt. Lloyd Drucker and Detective Eric Schmidt (both 20 years); Sgt. Paul Seetoo, Patrolman Peter Chalfin, Patrolman Kevin McIntosh and Patrolman Kevin Schmidt (all 10 years); and Patrolman Charles Alaimo, Patrolman Bryan Belardo and Patrolman Jeffrey Emslie (all five years). The Rev. John Bambrick of St. Thomas More Church, who has served as Manalapan's police chaplain for nine years, offered prayers for the safety of the police officers at the beginning and end of the awards ceremony. It was announced that Bambrick will be leaving St. ThomasMore to become the pastor of St. Joseph's Church in Toms River, and the director ofMonsignor Donovan High School and St. Joseph's Grade School, both in Toms River. In his comments, Bambrick thanked the police department administrators for allowing him to serve as chaplain for almost a decade.