Annual Awards Recognize Outstanding Police Work

Two police dispatchers whose coverage area includes Bernards Township received a phone call last December from a distraught man who threatened suicide. The dispatchers, Dominick Aboosamara and Brenden Scheffler, stayed on the line with the man until they could locate his whereabouts in another town and ensure that the police department there could come to his aid.

"The committed work and dedication of these two dispatchers is directly responsible for saving this individual’s life," said Township Police Chief Brian Bobowicz, as he presented the township police department's annual awards and citations to recognize exemplary service from police and related law enforcement agencies.

Until a few years ago, the awards ceremony was held within the department, police said. But now, the annual event is held in public, at a Township Committee meeting.

"These are the officers that commit everyday and every shift to make Bernards Township a great and safe community," the chief said at a meeting earlier in May. He said the officers, as well as dispatchers and those who worked with the department _ including an investigator with the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office — are "daily examples of hard and dedicated police work, [and] define what it is to be a Bernards Township Police Officer."

Bobowicz reviewed a number of examples of a quick police reponse or sustained detective work that resulted in awards and recognition before the public.

The chief recognized all in the department bureau for tracking down an accused thief — and drug dealer — whom the chief said brought $3,000 worth of marijuana to the Lyons Mall to sell in a deal last Nov. 28. The alleged dealer then decided to keep the marijuana — and the buyer's money — and pulled a gun to make that intention clear, Bobowicz said. 

The chief said the investigation was made more challenging by the fact that the alleged victims, who supposedly had been seeking to buy the marijuana, "were not forthcoming" in aiding police.

Township Detective Mike Sweeney and Detective Justin Berger from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office were cited for their example of inter-agency cooperation that led on a trail to Baltimore, Md., to locate to suspects in last November's armed holdup of the Lukoil gas station on Route 202 and Madisonville Road.

The investigation required contacting police in Baltimore, where the accused robbers had supposedly pulled off another holdup, according to police reports from the time. The local investigators conducted interviews with the suspects in Baltimore, and closed the case, the chief said.

Another case involved Patrol Officer Margaret Corsentino, who last July 12 answered a call from Bernardsville police for mutual aid in responding to a reported home invasion, Bobowicz told the Township Committee. Corsentino located the suspect "on foot" in downtown Bernardsville and arrested him without backup, the chief said. Her search of the suspect also resulted in the recovery of stolen property, the chief said.

Other incidents and police responses involved the location of a suspect wanted for violent sex crimes in Union County who was living in Bernards Township, and multiple arrests for drugs that in one case, resulted in Patrol Officer Chris Baxter's seizure of a Glock handgun outfitted with an illegal, extended magazine and a laser sight from a vehicle on Martinsville Road, according to one of the police cases outlined at the awards ceremony.

In another case, the chief said, Detective Robert Herndon was noted an investigation and subsequent recovery of a large quantity of pre-market "test" phones from the Verizon Headquarters on North Maple Avenue, The new technology in the pre-market phones made them particularly valuable to Verizon, he said. Herndon worked closely with Verizon Corporate Security to recover the stolen phones as well as arrest two suspects in the thefts, the chief said.

Not all of the incidents or citations for service involved crime. Officer Hank Werner, designated shift commander, was recognized for his work with students at the William Annin Middle School. Community Service coordinator Larry Millius also was recognized.

Civilians were recognized for their contributions and cooperation with officers that, in some cases, saved lives.

A civilian lifesaving medal went to Julie Hipsher who, with Patrol Officer Michael Yeo, initiated lifesaving techniques when a referee collapsed at a basketball event last February at the William Annin Middle School, Bobowicz said. The officer arrived shortly afterwards and administered a "shock" with a defibrillator to re-establish the victim's heartbeat, according to the police case. "The victim regained consciousness and has made a full recovery," the chief said.

Bobowicz thanked the Township Committee for hosting the ceremony and recognizing officers and other police department employees. Mayor John Malay also praised the department during the ceremony.