The 200 Club of Essex County, founded to assist the families of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty and the oldest such organization of its kind, honored brave fire and police officers at the recent Valor Awards luncheon Established in 1966, The 200 Club of Essex County has raised nearly $2 million to support the spouses of fallen officers and to fund scholarships for their children through membership dues and the annual luncheon.
The 200 Club of Essex County, comprised of regional business and civic leaders, has spawned 18 similar organizations throughout New Jersey. Lori Hennon - Bell, vice president and chief security officer for Prudential Financial and The 200 Club president said, “This special organization is dedicated to the principle of caring for those who care for us. Each year, our support from business and community leaders has dramatically increased.”
“The job of a police officer or firefighter is tougher today than ever before,” stated Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, a member of The 200 Club’s board of trustees. “Law enforcement and firefighting are extremely hazardous professions which are performed at tremendous personal risk. The work of The 200 Club of Essex County is greatly appreciated by the entire public safety community and their families.”
According to Hennon - Bell, twelve law enforcement officers and nine local firefighters will be recognized for bravery, dedication to duty, courageous vigilance and selflessness with individual Valor Awards during the luncheon. Additionally, four police officers and fifteen firefighters will share Unit Valor Awards for their outstanding performance of duty under life-threatening circumstances.
Attorney Bart Oates, the former anchor of the New York Giants offensive line, a three-time Super Bowl champion and five-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, will serve as the event’s featured speaker.
Nominations for The 200 Club’s Valor Award are made by chiefs of Essex County’s municipal fire and police departments and the commanding officers of federal, state and regional public safety agencies. Valor Award recipients are selected by The 200 Club’s Executive Committee.
This year’s individual Valor Award recipients are:
Detective Nicholas Rizzitello of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office and mounted Newark Police Officer Erich Schroeder for the capture of an armed suspect who was holding a victim at gunpoint on Mulberry Street during Newark’s evening rush hour;
Essex County sheriff’s officers Richard Alberto, a resident of Nutley, and Erik Udvarhely, a resident of Belleville, for risking their lives while jumping across three rooftops at a height of three stories to capture a major narcotics distributor who was armed with three semi-automatic handguns;
Irvington Police Lieutenant Stewart Townsend and Detective Andres Lebron for the capture of an armed bank robber;
Newark Police Captain Richard Perez and Officer Dennis Dominguez who engaged in a shoot-out while capturing an armed robbery suspect. Off. Dominguez was wounded during this incident;
Newark Police Detective Louis Weber for the pursuit and capture of an armed suspect;
New Jersey State Police Sergeants Fidiberto Soto and Damon Crawford for the pursuit and capture of an armed robbery suspect;
Nutley Patrolman Davis Schus for the capture of a knife-wielding suspect who had killed one male victim and severely wounded a second male victim;
Roseland Fire Captain Douglas Yates and West Caldwell Fire Captain Tom Webber and Firefighter Brian Drastal for the rescue of a female victim of a residential fire who subsequently succumbed to her injuries;
Newark Fire Captains Danny Farrell and Kevin Reilly and Firefighter Khalif Boyer for the rescue of an unconscious female victim from a two-story residential fire;
Newark Fire Captain John Norvis and Firefighters Reynard Gasavage and Wilson Vasquez for the rescue of an unconscious female victim from an apartment house fire at Georgia King Village.
The 2015 Unit Valor Award recipients are:
Maplewood Fire Captains Michael Demartini and Kevin Hayes and Firefighters Joseph Alvarez, Michael Amato, Richard Salkowski and Dennis Weust, and Maplewood Police Sergeant Vincent DeCicco and Officers Kraig Huncken, Rodney Tannenbaum and Henry Wasielewski for the rescue of a construction worker who was trapped beneath the debris of a building collapse;
Millburn Fire Battalion Chief James Boyle, Captains Chris Beady and Shawn Daly and Firefighters Marlin Adams, Andrew Dante, Peter DiCostanzo, David Hammond, Steve Jason and Joe Tobia for the rescue of a construction worker who had fallen through the floor of a residential garage and was trapped in a trench beneath the structure. Tickets for the annual 200 Club Valor Awards luncheon are available at $75 each. For more information and to purchase tickets contact 973-694-4982.
