On May 7th, 2014, The Two Hundred Club of Essex celebrated 48 years of dedicated service to the dependents of police and Fire fighters in Essex County and state troopers in New Jersey who lose their lives in the line of duty. The Club celebrated this milestone at its Annual Valor Awards luncheon at Mayfair Farms in West Orange with an extensive program.
As you know, the purpose of this luncheon is, and has always been, to honor our police officers and Firefighters of Essex County, who demonstrate exceptional courage and fortitude while performing their duties throughout the year.
This year, we were grateful to acknowledge twenty-eight individuals who exemplified outstanding on-the-job performances.
Our luncheon began with the Newark Firefighters Pipe B and leading in this year’s Valor Award recipients. Arthur S. Guida, Director of External Affairs for PSE&G and President of the Two Hundred Club, gave a warm welcome and introduced Newark Police Officer Maysa Washington, who afforded the luncheon guests with a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Mr. Guida continued his welcome message and inspired us with an encouraging overview of the Club’s achievements and its future goals.
The Invocation, which was delivered by Reverend Joe A. Carter, Pastor, New Hope Baptist Church, was uplifting to all of us.
As our program continued we were able to receive words from Essex County Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura, Honorary Trustee of the Two Hundred Club, who saluted our finest and bravest.
Sheriff Fontoura proceeded to inform the audience tha t 2013 was another costly year in terms of lives lost by brave law enforcement officers and courageous firefighters. Representing public safety departments across our nation, 105 law enforcement officers and 101 firefighters died in 2013 while performing their duties and protecting those they had sworn to serve. Sheriff Fontoura went on to say that while Essex County was spared from this tragedy, other communities in New Jersey were not. We re membered Jersey City Captain Gregory Barnas who died in the line of duty in Wallington, NJ where he also served as a volunteer firefighter when a roof collapsed on February 28, 2014; and United States Army Sgt. Timothy McGill, also a member of the Ramsey Fire Department, who was killed in Afghanistan during an attack on his base on September 21, 2013.
Sheriff Fontoura reminded everyone that our good for tune in Essex County has not always been the case. He asked the audience to look at the back page of their program and see our Honor Roll with the names of all 86 of our police officers and firefighters who gave their all for us. Sheriff Fontoura said “All of these valiant officers and firefighters who were killed performing their duty in 2013 and those whose names grace our Honor Role hold a special place in our hearts and in the hearts of the people they served. We mourn their untimely deaths and we celebrate their heroic lives and the magnificent contributions to make our communities safer and more secure.” He then asked everyone to stand and offer a moment of silence prayer as we remember our fallen police officers and firefighters.
The Two Hundred Club of Essex County was honored to have New Jersey Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney as its guest speaker. During his remarks, Senate President Sweeney stressed the importance of determination in overcoming the challenges before you for the successful resolution to problems.
The Two Hundred Club of Essex County presented its John P. McLaughlin Award for service and duty posthumously to the late Newark Police Lieutenant Louis R. Dell’Ermo. Mr. Dell’Ermo served as Secretary for the 200 Club of Essex County for many years. The award was accepted by his sons, John and Gregory, and his widow, Vivian. As a successful businessman later in his life, Mr. Dell’Ermo worked tirelessly and selflessly to insure that the needs of the surviving partner and the families of law enforcement officers and firefighters were met.
The Two Hundred Club of Essex County proudly presented a Special Commendation Service Award to 35-year veteran Newark Firefighter Frank Bellina for his leadership and dedication in creating and providing specialized training to the Metro Urban Rescue and Search Strike Team which is composed of First Responders from Newark, Paterson, Bayonne, Hackensack, Morristown, Hoboken, Jersey City, Elizabeth, North Hudson, Middlesex County, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and several federal agencies.
The Essex County Prosecutor’s Office was presented with a Special Unit Valor Award for the consistent excellence and outstanding success, especially for their round-the-clock efforts in making arrests of the suspects wanted for the December 15, 2013 carjacking/murder at the Short Hills Mall and for the suspects wanted in six Christmas Day homicides in Newark and Irvington.
A representative on behalf of Rev. Dr. Ronald Christian of the Christian Love Baptist Church was gracious to provide us with a warm and inspirational Benediction.
In closing, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the foll owing organizations for their participation as 2014 Corporate Luncheon Sponsors:
Essex County Fire Chief’s Association
Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura
Fox and Fox, LLP
Gateway Group One
Investors Bank
Lisbon Cleaning Inc.
Mayfair Farms
Newark Superior Officers’ Association
PSE&G
Prudential Financial
Spirit Delivery & Distribution
2014 Public Safety Valor Award Winner
East Orange Police Department
Police Officer Kendrick C. Hamlett
Irvington Police Department
Detective Jamal Calloway
Detective Brechner Jeannot
Newark Police Department
Police Officer Gaston Adrien
Police Officer Vernon Bradbury
Police Officer Hubert Henderson
Police Officer Neil Laurie
Detective Andy Rivera
New Jersey State Police
Trooper II Damon Crawford
Detective I Thomas Kelshaw
Trooper II Stephen Kempinski
Sergeant Michael Kenyon
Staff Sergeant James Thompson
Roseland Police Department
Police Officer Jason Hiter
West Orange Police Department
Detective Keith Boryeskne
Police Officer Jerome Pleasants
Belleville Fire Department
Lieutenant Dennis Ives
Bloomfield Fire Department
Firefighter Daren McCoy
Firefighter Brian Shaw
Newark Fire Department
Firefighter Khalif Boyer
Firefighter Joseph Carpio
Captain Danny Farrell
Firefighter Luis Jimenez
Firefighter Kevin Lowry
Firefighter Dane Rispoli
North Caldwell Fire Department
Firefighter Janice Stickles
West Caldwell Fire Department
Firefighter / Essex County Sheriff’s Officer Thomas Bradley
Firefighter Ryan Peter
Special Commendation Service Award
Newark Fire Department
Firefighter Frank Bellina
Unit Valor Award
Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force
Sergeant Miguel Arroyo, Newark Police Department
Detective Michele Bolan, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Bruce Branch, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Susan Bzik, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Sergeant Peter Cassidy, Orange Police Department
Detective Hervey Cherilien, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Luigi Corino, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Tyrone Crawley, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Deputy Chief Michael DeMaio, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective David Fontoura, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Lieutenant Daniel Francis, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Sergeant Jose Gonzalez, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Kevin Green, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Joseph Hadley, Newark Police Department
Detective Roberta Harper, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Anthony Iemmello, Newark Police Department
Lieutenant Thomas J. Kelly, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Rahsaan Johnson, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Thomas Kilbride, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Anthony Lima, Newark Police Department
Detective John Manago, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Eric Manns, Newark Police Department
Detective Miranda Mathis, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Lieutenant Toniann Mattia, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Sergeant Thomas McEnroe, New Jersey State Police
Detective Epifano Mendez, East Orange Police Department
Detective Murad Muhammad, Newark Police Department
Detective Carlos Olmo, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Nicholas Oriolo, New Jersey State Police
Lieutenant Patterson Pasteur, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Consuelo Perez, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Wilfredo Perez, Newark Police Department
Detective Kenneth Poggi, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Lieutenant Jose Ramirez, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Sergeant Paul Ranges, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Sergeant Francis Robina, New Jersey State Police
Detective Chris Smith, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Detective Rebecca Velez, New Jersey State Police
Detective James Ventola, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Sergeant Vincent Vitiello, Newark Police Department
Detective Holt Walker, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office
Lieutenant John Zutic, Newark Police Department
Save the Date!
The 2015 Valor Awards luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at Mayfair Farms in West Orange, NJ. The event begins with a cocktail reception at 11:30 a.m., followed by the luncheon and awards program at 12:00 p.m. For questions and/or reservations, contact Nancy B. Poloso/Administrator:
Phone: (973) 694-4982
Fax: (973) 694-4937
E-mail: npoloso@aol.com
New Membership Category
As of December 2003, for a fee $500.00, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of a new level of membership called our Platinum Membership.
All Platinum member participants will receive a metal platinum identification membership card, platinum member decal, which can be displayed on your vehicle, office window, etc. and a platinum member certificate, which will all display the year of participation.
Be advised that if you decide to join, or remain, in the Standard Membership category, for the current fee of $250.00, you will receive a gold plastic identification membership card and our gold member decal, which will also display the year of participation.