HOWELL – In a poignant display of solidarity, the Howell Police Benevolent Association (PBA Local #228) has initiated a fundraising campaign to support the recovery of retired Sergeant Rocco Cavaluzzi.
A 33-year veteran of the Howell Police Department, Cavaluzzi briefly retired in 2010 before returning to serve the community once again. Working as a Class II special officer in the local municipal court, Cavaluzzi had just finished his shift and was riding his motorcycle home when he was rear-ended by another vehicle.
Cavaluzzi, who is currently in a rehab facility, continues to face a long and painful recovery from the devastating crash that occurred on November 15, 2023. He has undergone several surgeries, and will need adaptive equipment for his home, as well as ongoing medical care and rehabilitation.
“They initially thought he was going to lose his leg because it was shattered pretty bad,” said Jim Alexander, PBA 228 President. “He also shattered his pelvis and ruptured his bladder.”
Alexander noted that Cavaluzzi’s overall injuries were initially considered life-threatening. He credited Anya, the retired sergeant’s wife, for advocating fiercely to preserve her husband’s leg.
“He’s recovering; he’s doing well,” said Alexander. “Last I saw, he was pretty confident that he was going to fully recover someday and be able to walk around.”
Cavaluzzi was certainly no stranger to riding a motorcycle. He joined the Howell Township Police Department in July of 1977 and was often seen around town as one of the motorcycle cops.
Within three years of joining the local law enforcement agency, Cavaluzzi was appointed to the SWAT team. In 1980, he was one of 11 SWAT team members involved in a high-profile case where a man went to his ex-wife’s house, holding it under siege after murdering her.
Cavaluzzi served as a member of the SWAT team for 22 years and was also a member of the detective bureau. He also acted as a training officer within the local department and retired in a supervisory capacity as a sergeant.
Throughout his years of service, Cavaluzzi garnered public recognition for various accomplishments in serving the community. In 2000, he responded to a residence fire and discovered a flaming trail of paper leading to the garage. At the end of the trail was a pool containing what appeared to be a petroleum-based liquid. Cavaluzzi extinguished the flare before it could ignite the structure.
Detecting the smell of gas, Cavaluzzi found that the stove had been pulled out from the wall, preventing a potential explosion. His eight years of experience as a volunteer fireman in Belmar proved invaluable in handling that incident.
Cavaluzzi’s devotion to public service was not confined to law enforcement alone. A member of the United States Coast Guard Reserves for 21 years, Cavaluzzi was called to active duty in New York City in the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11th.
As the Howell community rallies around Rocco Cavaluzzi during his recovery, the call for financial assistance emphasizes the importance of coming together in times of need. The PBA has set up an online fundraising campaign where people can make donations with 100% of the proceeds going to the family. It can be found at: zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/6bf3929a-73d0-43ec-b5a2-ee1854cd94ea
