TOMS RIVER – The 200 Club of Ocean County shone a light on bravery and dedication at their 35th Annual Awards Reception. Over two dozen local first responders and a Berkeley councilman received recognition for their courage and unwavering commitment to the safety of Ocean County residents.
The evening began with the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department’s Color Guard presenting the colors. Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer, the county’s chief law enforcement officer, was among the officials who acknowledged the contributions of the honorees. Senator Carmen Amato (R-9) presented resolutions to the award recipients on behalf of the state legislature.
Valor In The Face Of Danger
Sgt. Paul Bachovchin of the Manchester Police Department stood out for his courageous actions during a tense standoff with an armed, suicidal individual.
“The Manchester Police Department received a call from a representative of a local Addiction Treatment Center, alerting them to a life-threatening situation,” said 200 Club of Ocean County President David G. Paulus. “Involving an individual who was traveling from Maryland to their location, claiming he was going to take his own life.”
Paulus said the individual was armed with a .22 caliber firearm, and when he stopped on a local road, he pointed it at his own head. Bachovchin was credited with persuading the individual to drop the firearm without harming himself.
“The sergeant utilized de-escalation training, maintained his composure, displayed patience, discipline, and good judgment,” summed up Paulus. “And with compassion and empathy, effectively saved the man’s life.”
First responders from Lakewood took center stage for an amazing act of quick response. EMTs Ross Caruso and Evan LaValle, alongside Lakewood Police Officers Kevin Jacobs and Joseph Rusk, received Valor Awards for their selfless act of bravery in rescuing a victim from a fully engulfed burning vehicle.
Caruso and LaValle were traveling in the area of the reported call for the vehicle fire on Route 70 and were the first on the scene. Upon their arrival, they noticed a person was trapped underneath the overturned, fully engulfed vehicle.
“The crew attempted to remove the victim, but his lower extremities were pinned beneath the roof of the car and the ground,” Paulus said.
The EMTs, together with Officers Jacobs and Rusk attempted to extinguish the flames but were not able to successfully do so because it was fully engulfed. The four lifted the vehicle enough to remove the trapped victim and move them to a safe location where he was then quickly taken to the hospital.
“This was a tragedy that was averted because of the bravery and total disregard of their own personal safety of these officers and EMTs while saving a life,” added Paulus.
Jackson Police Officers Davis DeJesus and Tyler Melnick were commended for their skillful de-escalation tactics during the apprehension of a disturbed individual wielding several knives.
According to Paulus, the two officers responded to a residence where an individual was acting irrationally and refusing to return to a substance abuse rehab center. When DeJesus and Melnick first arrived on the scene, the man was outside. He quickly retreated inside his house and locked himself there with his wife.
“As they (the officers) approached the stairs inside,” said Paulus. “The individual quickly appeared, wielding several knives.”
Paulus said the officers covered the subject with their firearms and employed outstanding de-escalation techniques, ultimately convincing him to disarm himself and surrender.
“The rational thinking and dialogue of the officers created a successful and peaceful outcome,” Paulus summed up. “And tragedy was averted.”
Lifesaving Actions
The ceremony also acknowledged first responders whose quick thinking and decisive actions made a lifesaving difference. Patrolman Ryan Saul of the Manchester Police received a Life Saving Award for his swift medical intervention, potentially preventing a tragedy.
Saul responded to a residence following a report that an individual was experiencing significant bleeding from his leg and losing consciousness. The bleeding was attributed to a rare medical disorder. The officer applied a tourniquet to effectively control the bleeding and stabilize the victim for medivac air transportation.
“The quick and adaptive emergency response demonstrated by this patrolman, along with his accurate application of the tourniquet, proved instrumental in saving this person’s life,” said Paulus.
Teamwork among well-trained individuals who were all off-duty saved the life of a man who experienced a heart attack at a local gym. Manchester Township EMT Dylan Tortorelli, Point Pleasant EMT Joshua Menack, and Toms River Police Officers Alex Van Lew and Charles Grainger were lauded for their lifesaving efforts.
“These four random individuals used their individualized training and coordinated with each other to jump into action,” shared Paulus. “They systemically began performing CPR on the victim with the eventual help of an AED.”
“The victim was brought back to life,” Paulus continued. “He was transported to hospital for treatment, where he was later released. The quick actions of these four individuals saved the man’s life.”
Life-Saving Awards were also presented to Berkeley Patrolman Donald Rowley and Councilman Thomas Grosse for their swift medical assistance during a holiday party. They were able to perform CPR on a gentleman whose family sent a letter in to thank the first responders.
The victim’s family thanked Rowley and Grosse for springing into action without hesitation and for bringing him back to life. Doctors who treated him after his cardiac arrest told him he should have bought a lottery ticket, as he survived, but many others aren’t as lucky.
“But to him, he already won the lottery,” wrote the family. “By being able to see his family again…Last December, our family had our very own Christmas miracle, and that was because of your actions.”
Manchester Police Sgt. Charles Gatnarek and Patrolmen Steven Wendruff, Robert Campolei, and Kamar Gainey received lifesaving awards for apprehending an armed individual during a domestic violence incident.
Responding to a call where a woman reported being stabbed by her son, officers arrived at the scene and swiftly escorted the victim and her husband to safety. Inside the residence, Sgt. Gatnarek observed the armed suspect with his hand concealed in a sweatshirt pocket.
“The sergeant unholstered his handgun and began giving the individual clear verbal commands to display his hands,” said Paulus. “At this time, the other officers quickly assumed a position to cover and unholster their conducted energy devices.”
Although the suspect continued to ignore commands, the officers were ultimately able to maintain complete control in a highly stressful situation and dangerous situation, thereby avoiding injury to the suspect and themselves.
Celebrating Longstanding Service
Eight firefighters received Meritorious Service Awards, acknowledging their remarkable dedication to their communities. These include:
- Thomas Scannell of Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company #1 for 53 years of service.
- Marty Silecchia of Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company #1 for 48 years of service.
- Jeffrey Barnard of Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company #1 for 42 years of service.
- Kenneth Mallette of Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company #1 for 46 years of service.
- Richard Masker of Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company #1 for 52 years of service.
- Charles “Chip” Smith of Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company #1 for 45 years of service.
- Ronald Braen Jr. of the Laurelton Fire Department, District 2 for over 48 years of service and 35 years as Commissioner.
- Former Chief Jack Amrozewicz of the Lanoka Harbor Fire Company #1 for 40 years of service.
Scholarships Awarded
The 200 Club of Ocean County also presented the David Ascione Memorial Scholarships to family members of uniformed services personnel attending Ocean County College. Recipients included Daniel Aulisi (Brick, criminal justice), Alexis Clark (Toms River, nursing), Brianna Helwig (Brick, nursing), Allison McKeen (Mays Landing, nursing), and Gianna Torres (Toms River, nursing).
Jacquelin Ascione, a trustee of the 200 Club and daughter of founding trustee David Ascione, highlighted the significance of the scholarships. Jacquelin said she was both an alumnus of the college and taught there.
“Ocean County provides an amazing opportunity for everybody who attends whether you attend for one semester, a year, or you actually graduate,” Jacquelin said. “It provides a basic foundation of liberal arts and criminal justice and an amazing variety of subjects.”
A Legacy Of Support
The 200 Club’s roots trace back to a tragedy in 1953, when Detroit police officer Arthur Meyer was killed in the line of duty. In a show of solidarity, 100 businessmen came together to raise $20,000 for his family. This act of compassion became the foundation for the organization’s mission – to provide financial assistance to families of fallen first responders and to recognize the heroism displayed by these brave individuals who protect our communities every single day.
“As board members, we typically don’t know these men or women,” said Paulus. “But we hear the many stories of their pride and their dedication to duty. We meet their children, and we offer our condolences to their spouses.”
Over the years, the 200 Club of Ocean County has assisted numerous families, including those of Bayville Fire Company #1 Firefighter Eugene T. Furey, Berkeley Police Sergeant Alison Wray, Jackson Police Officer Robert J. Ventura, Lakewood Police Officer Christopher Matlosz, Lakewood Police Officer William Preslar, Lavallette Police Cadet Ken Carpenter, Manchester Police Cpl. Scott Thompson, Ocean County Prosecutor Detective John Scott Stevens, and Ocean County Prosecutor Detective Tina Rambo.
