Charisse Montone

On March 18, 2009 at 1121 hours, several fire departments were dispatched for a reported apartment fire. Upon arrival, Lt. Clark, Berlin Twp. Police reported a working apartment fire and a female burn victim. Fire units arrived and aggressively suppressed the fire as Berlin EMS treated the victim and transported her to Cooper Trauma.

An investigation revealed that the female victim was home in the apartment alone. Social worker Charisse Montone from Archway Programs who was assigned to the victim, stopped by on a random check of her client. Ms. Montone first went to the front door of the apartment and didn't get a response. She then went around to the rear of the apartment and began to knock on the sliding glass doors. She noticed the apartment was filling with smoke and she could see fire in the living room area. She began to bang on the door and was calling out for the victim. With no response, she went around to the other windows and banged on them also, calling out for the victim. Ms. Montone then located the bathroom window and actually pulled the window from the frame work. She then yelled into the opening, calling out to the victim. The victim, who was actually in the room where the fire originated, finally came to and was able to get her bearings and headed to the window. Once at the window, Ms. Montone reached in and pulled the victim from the apartment, only seconds before the apartment flashed over. The victim was then transported to the hospital where she was treated for smoke inhalation and was released.

The quick and unselfish actions of Ms. Montone undoubtedly saved the life of her client.

Meritorious Award

Patrolman Alexis Ramos
Camden Police Department

On January 2, 2009, Officer Ramos responded to the 800 block of Elm Street in reference to a fight. Upon arrival a male and female were involved in a verbal dispute. The male then picked up a brick causing Officer Ramos to unholster his service weapon while giving verbal commands to drop the brick. The suspect advanced toward Officer Ramos, attempting to strike him with the brick. Officer Ramos then fired two rounds at the suspect, striking him, and causing him to fall to the ground. The suspect was then controlled, handcuffed and taken into custody.

The actions of Officer Ramos demonstrate his professionalism and commitment to duty, without regard for his own personal safety in a manner that is truly to be admired.

Meritorious Award

Patrolman Antonio Rodriguez
Camden Police Department

On February 7, 2009 officers responded to 1552 Norris Street in reference to a domestic dispute with an armed suspect. Upon arrival, a male was seen walking away from the residence. The complainant was yelling "he has a gun", while pointing at the male. The officers approached the male on foot and ordered him to stop and show his hands. He refused to comply and continued to walk away. As he was walking, he stopped several times and started to turn toward the officers with his hands inside the waistband of his pants, repeatedly yelling profanities. Officer Rodriguez arrived, and -with his weapon drawn, exited his marked police vehicle and approached the suspect on foot. He repeatedly ordered the suspect to stop and show his hands. The suspect then turned toward Officer Rodriguez and yelled a profanity as he pulled a dark object from his waistband and pointed it at Officer Rodriguez. The officer then fired his service weapon striking the suspect in the foot. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

The actions of Officer Rodriguez demonstrate his professionalism and commitment to duty without regard for his own personal safety in a manner that is truly to be admired.

Meritorious Award

Chief Martin Wilt
EMT Joseph Barr
EMT Steve Skipton
UMDNJ - Camden EMS

On October 25, 2009, Chief Wilt, EMT Barr and EMT Skipton were dispatched to the Northgate Apartments for a psychiatric emergency on the 7th floor. While enroute, County Communications advised of a fire on the 7th floor with possible people trapped. Chief Wilt arrived on the 7th floor and found a chaotic scene, a bloody hallway, a gravely injured young child and an active fire from an occupied apartment with smoke starting to fill the hallways. As EMT Barr and EMT Skipton arrived on the scene, Chief Wilt advised that there was a fire and atleast one patient. The EMT's proceeded to the 7th floor. The scene was chaotic with people very upset from seeing the bloody hallway and the body of the small child. EMT Skipton picked up the child and ran down seven flights of stairs passing her off to additional awaiting personnel who rendered treatment. The child was transported to Cooper Hospital Trauma Unit.

EMT Skipton then ran back up the stairs and took over EMS command to back up Chief Wilt and requested additional resources to the scene. EMT Barr and Chief Wilt began knocking on neighboring doors to begin evacuation to help minimize further injuries or casualties. This was all done prior to the fire department initiating any fire attack on the primary apartment.

After the fire was brought under control the deceased body of the child's father was found inside the apartment. Upon further investigation it was determined that the father whom was suffering from mental disabilities was responsible for the chaotic situation.

Unfortunately, the child was pronounced at the hospital due to the injuries she sustained.

The actions of Chief Wilt, EMT Barr and EMT Skipton demonstrate their professionalism and commitment to duty in a manner that is truly to be admired.

Unit Citation

Pennsauken Township Emergency Services

Pennsauken Police Department
Pennsauken Fire Department
Pennsauken Emergency Medical Services

Meritorious Award

Officer Michael Killion
Pennsauken Police Department

On December 19, 2009 Pennsauken EMS along with Pennsauken Fire Department, Pennsauken Police Department and various units were dispatched to Park Avenue at the rail road tracks for an accident involving a train and passenger bus. The area was under a winter storm warning. The storm had already produced 15 inches of snow with near blizzard conditions. The temperature was approximately 25 degrees with a wind chill near zero. Snow was falling at a rate of ½ to 1 inch per hour.

Upon Pennsauken EMS Supervisor's arrival he found a TNJ passenger train had struck a TNJ passenger bus at the crossing. Initial assessment reported 38 passengers on the bus and 36 passengers on the train. The impact pushed the bus 100 feet down the tracks and the train came to a stop about 500 feet from the intersection. Incident Command was immediately initiated.

As part of the initial scene size-up it was reported that all 38 bus passengers were removed from the bus just prior to the crash. It was found that Officer Killion had driven by the scene just prior to the crash and found the bus stuck on the tracks in the snow with all the passengers still aboard. He also noticed the train coming down the tracks. Recognizing that the bus was not able to get off the tracks before the train's arrival, Officer Killion, along with an unknown civilian, rapidly escorted all passengers from the bus moments before the crash.

The bus evacuation created another dimension to the incident. Command now had 38 uninjured individuals out in extreme weather conditions. Command contacted TNJ for additional buses to use as warming centers. Pennsauken Police contacted the local Masonic Lounge at the incident site to open their doors, which they did without hesitation.

Having addressed the bus passengers concerned, Command continued with assessing the passengers on the train. Numerous EMT's, along with Firefighters boarded the train to triage all passengers. Upon triage completion it was assessed that there were 8 injuries, only three which would require treatment and transport.

Thanks to the quick actions of all involved, a very catastrophic situation was avoided. The Camden County Hero Scholarship commends the efforts of the combined Pennsauken Township Emergency Services personnel, and the quick actions of Officer Killion.

Distinguished Service Award

Detective John Gramaglia
Camden Police Department

On April 16, 2009 Det. Gramaglia was conducting a plain clothes surveillance in an unmarked vehicle on the 300 block of Chestnut Street, an area known for narcotics distribution. Det. Gramaglia observed an individual with a handgun in the waistband of his pants. Det. Gramaglia exited his vehicle to further investigate identifying himself as he approached the suspect. A pursuit commenced as the suspect fled on foot. The pursuit continued to the 1000 block of South Fourth Street where the suspect stopped, turned around with a black handgun in his right hand and pointed it at Det. Gramaglia. Det. Gramaglia fired one round striking the suspect, causing him to fall to the ground where he was subsequently handcuffed and taken into custody. A Hipoint 45 cal. handgun and brown suede holster were recovered at the scene along with one 9mm shell casing.

Det. Gramaglia's professionalism and commitment to duty without regard for his own personal safety is truly admired.

Distinguished Service Awards

Sergeant Steven Moody
Gloucester City Police Department

Patrolman William Benham
Haddon Township Police Department

On April 17, 2009 at approximately 6:30 pm the Zone 5 Tactical Team was called out to 506 Dukewood Avenue in Gloucester City for an armed man who wanted to kill himself. Upon arrival the Team found the male threatening to kill himself while holding a knife to his own throat. As officers tried to calm him down he became threatening toward them and continually told them to shoot him. As the negotiator was trying to calm the subject down he ran toward him with knife in hand forcing Sgt. Moody to discharge several bean bag rounds from his shotgun in an attempt to stop the subject. As the same time, Ptl. Benham discharged a round from his weapon striking the advancing subject in the chest, killing him.

The actions of Sgt. Moody and Ptl. Benham show their professionalism and commitment to duty, as well as to their fellow officers in a manner that is truly to be admired.

Distinguished Service Awards

Sergeant Paul Price
Sergeant William Frampton
Camden Police Department

On October 2, 2009 Communications received a 911 call from a woman who reported that while speaking to her boyfriend on her cell phone she heard several men in the background demanding money. At that time, she lost cell phone contact with her boyfriend. She immediately notified police. Sgt. Price and Sgt. Frampton responded to 2947 Westfield Avenue, Apartment 1 in reference to the robbery in progress. Upon arrival a male was exiting the apartment holding jewelry. The male was handcuffed by Sgt. Frampton and custody was turned over to a responding officer. Sgt. Price and Sgt. Frampton then entered the upstairs apartment and observed an individual holding a black handgun and several victims lying on the floor. Both Sgt. Price and Sgt. Frampton made their presence known and ordered the suspect to drop his weapon. The suspect turned and pointed the weapon in their direction. Both Officers subsequently fired their service weapons striking the suspect several times. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

Sgt. Price and Sgt. Frampton are commended for their professionalism and commitment to duty without regard for their own personal safety in a manner that is truly to be admired.

Distinguished Service Awards

Lieutenant James Collins
Firefighter Ed Micua
Cherry Hill Fire Department

On November 11, 2009 just after 2:00 am, Cherry Hill Firefighters were called to a reported fire at the Woods Condominium Complex on Kresson Road. First arriving units found a well advanced fire with flames showing at three windows. 911 callers reported that there were occupants trapped in the building. Firefighters started an attack on the fire and a rapid search effort was launched to find the trapped residents. Lt. Collins and FF Micua located one victim just outside the first floor condominium and a second female victim was found inside the interior hallway. She was overcome by smoke and was suffering from first and second degree burns. Both occupants were removed to the front of the building and were turned over to medical personnel for treatment. Both victims were transported to Cooper Trauma Center. They were later moved to the Temple University Hospital Burn Unit. Lt. Collins and FF Micua went on to search other condominiums for trapped occupants. Other firefighters completed the outside team functions and raised ladders to windows, searching for victims, and ventilated the building.

The fire went to three alarms using 5 Engine Companies, 3 Ladder Companies and just over 50 firefighters. The fire was under control in 42 minutes. The Condominium was a 16 unit building. 4 units were damaged by fire, 8 additional units received smoke and water damage and 5 units received smoke damage. 17 residents were displaced by the fire.

Lt. Collins and FF Micua are commended for their professionalism and commitment to duty in a manner that is truly to be admired.

Distinguished Service Awards

Patrolman John McArdle
Patrolman David Seybert
Camden Police Department

On December 20, 2009 Officer McArdle and Officer Seybert responded to 21 Terrace Avenue in reference to a male mental subject armed with a knife, barricaded in an upstairs bedroom. Upon arrival the mother of the 28 year-old suspect reported her son was on "wet" and "going off" and that his father was trying to keep him contained in a rear bedroom. The officers made their way upstairs and the suspect immediately exited the bedroom, charging at them, with an object in his right hand. Fearing for their lives, and the lives of the other persons in the house, the officers drew their service weapons and began firing shots at the suspect, subsequently hitting him. The suspect fell down the stairs to the first floor. A violent struggle commenced at the bottom of the stairs. The suspect was eventually subdued, handcuffed and was subsequently transported to Cooper Hospital.

Officer McArdle and Officer Seybert are commended for the professionalism and commitment to duty in a manner that is truly to be admired.