On May 4th, 2017, The Two Hundred Club of Essex celebrated its 51st Anniversary…51 years of dedicated service to the dependents of police and Firefighters 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 Nanina’s In The Park in Belleville, NJ 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 forty-one individuals who exemplified outstanding on-the-job performances.

Our luncheon began with the Newark Firefighters Pipe Band leading in this year’s Valor Award recipients.  Lori A. Hennon-Bell, Vice President & Chief Security Officer/Global Security, Prudential Financial and President of the Two Hundred Club, gave a warm welcome and introduced Newark Police Detective Maysa Washington, who afforded the luncheon guests with a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.  Ms. Hennon-Bell continued her welcome message and inspired us with an encouraging overview of the Club’s achievements and its future goals.

As our program continued we were able to receive words from Essex County Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura, Honorary Trustee/Executive Committee Member of the Two Hundred Club, who saluted our finest and bravest.

Sheriff Fontoura proceeded to inform the audience that 2016 was another costly year in terms of lives lost by brave law enforcement officers and courageous firefighters.  Representing public safety departments across our nation, 144 law enforcement officers and 89 firefighters died in the line of duty.

Sheriff Fontoura went on to say that while Essex County was spared our New Jersey neighbors were not as fortunate.  Chief Engineer Richard Zadorozny of the Eatontown Fire Department on July 11th; Safety Officer Paul Price of the Audobon Fire Department on August 11th; Chief Engineer Daniel McCann of the Manasquan Fire Department on September 16th; F/F Joseph Bichler of the Evesham Fire Department on October 31st; Deputy Fire Coordinator of the Union County Office of Emergency Management on December 16th all suffered work-related heart attacks.  Firefighter Alfred Stewart of the West Milford Fire Department was killed when he fell from a ladder at the station house while performing maintenance on November 6th and New Jersey State Police Trooper Frankie Williams was killed when his marked unit was struck head-on while responding to a call for service on December 5th.

Sheriff Fontoura asked the audience to take a look at the Honor Roll page in the luncheon program to see that in Essex County 87 brave police officers and courageous firefighters have made the supreme sacrifice on our behalf.  He said “these valiant officers and firefighters hold a special place in our hearts and in the hearts of the people they served.  We mourn their untimely deaths.”  Sheriff Fontoura then asked everyone to bow their heads and offer a moment of silent prayer as we reflect and remember all fallen police officers and firefighters.

The Two Hundred Club of Essex County was honored to have The Honorable Ras J. Baraka, Mayor, City of Newark, as its guest speaker.  In his keynote address at The 200 Club of Essex County’s Valor Awards ceremony, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka highlighted the dedication to duty, professionalism and bravery of police officers and firefighters who, during times of crisis and danger, sacrifice their personal safety on behalf of their neighbors.  He specifically cited the heroic actions performed by this year’s Valor Award recipients who at the risk of life and limb confronted armed suspects and entered into raging residential fires.

The Two Hundred Club of Essex County proudly presented its Meritorious Service Award to the Montclair Fire Department Group 3 and Deputy Essex County Fire Coordinator and Millburn Battalion Chief James Boyle for their outstanding group rescue on December 3, 2016, which saved the life of a man trapped underneath an oil tank.

Reverend Monsignor Christopher J. Hynes, Assistant to the Archbishop for Public Affairs, Archdiocese of Newark, graciously provided a warm and inspirational Invocation and Benediction.

In closing, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the following organizations for their participation as 2017 Corporate Luncheon Sponsors:

  • ASEABRA FOODS I, LLC
  • CAW, LLC
  • ESSEX COUNTY FIRE CHIEF’S ASSOCIATION
  • ESSEX COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, SHERIFF ARMANDO B. FONTOURA
  • GATEWAY GROUP ONE
  • INVESTORS BANK
  • LISBON CLEANING INC.
  • LUSO GLASS CO.
  • MAFFEY’S SECURITY GROUP
  • NANINA’S IN THE PARK
  • PSE&G
  • PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL
  • RED HAWK FIRE & SECURITY LLC
  • RED ROCK CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
  • SPIRIT DELIVERY & DISTRIBUTION SERVICES INC.
  • STERLING SECURITIES LLC
  • VERICON CONSTRUCTION CO., LLC
  • VERIZON
  • W. B. MASON

Hon. Ras J. Baraka, Mayor, City of Newark

 

Two Hundred Club of Essex County / 51st Anniversary Valor Awards luncheon Guest Speaker, Hon. Ras J. Baraka, Mayor, City of Newark

The Valor Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Nanina’s in the Park, Belleville, NJ.

 

 

 

East Orange Division of Police

 

The 200 Club of Essex County presented Valor Awards to East Orange Division of Police, Officers Christopher Kyer and Segundo Marquez for their November 22, 2016 capture of an armed suspect who fired upon them.

The Valor Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Nanina’s in the Park, Belleville, NJ.

(pictured left to right:  200 Club President Lori A. Hennon-Bell, East Orange Public Safety Director Sheilah Coley, Officer Christopher Kyer, East Orange Police Chief Phyllis Bindi, Officer Segundo Marquez, East Orange Mayor Lester Taylor)

 

 

 

Essex County Prosecutor's Office

 

The 200 Club of Essex County presented Valor Awards to Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Detectives Rahsaan Johnson and Phillip Reed for their Dec. 6, 2016 capture of two armed suspects.

The Valor Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Nanina’s in the Park, Belleville, NJ.

(pictured left to right: Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray, Detective Rahsaan Johnson, Rahsaan Johnson, Jr., Detective Phillip Reed, Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of Investigators Quovella  Spruill)

 

 

 

Newark Police Division and Essex County Sheriff's Office

 

The 200 Club of Essex County presented Valor Awards to Newark Police Lieutenant Darrell White and Essex County Sheriff’s Detective Abdullah Holmes for their capture of an armed suspect.

The Valor Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Nanina’s in the Park, Belleville, NJ.

(pictured left to right: Newark Police Lieutenant Darrell White and Essex County Sheriff’s Detective Abdullah Holmes, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka)

 

 

 

Millburn Police Department

 

The 200 Club of Essex County presented its Valor Award to Millburn Police Detective Lieutenant David Bonney for his July 4, 2016 rescue of a young boy who had fallen into the Rahway River.

The Valor Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Nanina’s in the Park, Belleville, NJ.

(pictured left to right: Millburn Police Chief Brian Gilfedder, Detective Lieutenant David Bonney, 200 Club President Lori A. Hennon-Bell)

 

 

 

Millburn Fire Department

 

The 200 Club of Essex County presented Valor Awards to Millburn Fire Captain Christopher Beady and Firefighter Edgar Echavarria for their May 4, 2016 high angle rooftop rescue of an emotionally distraught and functionally challenged 8-year-old child from a residential fire.

The Valor Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Nanina’s in the Park, Belleville, NJ.

(pictured left to right: 200 Club President Lori A. Hennon-Bell,  Captain Christopher Beady,  Firefighter Edgar Echavarria, Millburn Fire Chief Robert Echavarria)

 

 

 

Newark Fire Division

 

The 200 Club of Essex County presented its Valor Award to Newark Firefighter Jeremy Larena for his February 10, 2016 rescue on an unconscious male victim from a residential fire.

The Valor Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Nanina’s in the Park, Belleville, NJ.

(pictured left to right:  Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Firefighter Jeremy Larena, Fire Chief Rufus Jackson, 200 Club President Lori A. Hennon-Bell)

 

 

 

Newark Fire Division

 

 

The 200 Club of Essex County presented Valor Awards to Newark Fire Captain Carl Carpenter, Captain Helder Fonseca, F/F Kevin Daniel, Probationary F/F Louis Maisonave, Probationary F/F Ivan Encarnacion, Firefighter Carlos Martinez, F/F Jerome Fernandes and F/F Hilton Reynolds for their life saving actions on September 11, 2016 rescuing 3 adults, an infant and a dog from a burning three-story wood frame structure under extremely heavy fire and smoke conditions.

The Valor Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Nanina’s in the Park, Belleville, NJ.

(pictured left to right:  Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose, Mayor Ras J. Baraka, F/F Kevin Daniel, F/F Jerome Fernandes, Fire Chief Rufus Jackson, Probationary F/F Ivan Encarnacion, Probationary F/F Louis Maisonave, F/F Carlos Martinez, F/F Hilton Reynolds)

 

 

 

 

 

Montclair Fire Department Group 3

 

 

The 200 Club of Essex County presented its Meritorious Service Award to members of the Montclair Fire Department Group 3 for the December 3, 2016 trench rescue of a male victim who became entombed when a residential oil tank and its supporting dirt walls collapsed on him during removal of the tank.

Meritorious Service citations were presented to Montclair Fire Department recipients:  Lt. Antonio Acocella, F/F Scott Bowman, F/F Sebastian Covello, Probationary F/F Adam Duchinsky, F/F Keith Ferenz, F/F John Fierro, Lt. John Grapes, F/F Chris Herrmann, Fire Chief John Herrmann, Lt. David Hill, F/F David Jones, F/F Artie Karydes, F/F Charles J. Miller, Lt. Bill Morrison, Battalion Chief Greg Murray, F/F Kevin Palek, F/F Kurt Reinhardt, F/F Bill Roth, Captain Chris Russo, Lt. Kevin Sweeney, F/F Jeffrey Testa, F/F Levar Washington.

Millburn Fire Department Battalion Chief James Boyle also received a Meritorious Service citation for his work on this trench rescue operation.

The Valor Awards ceremony took place on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at Nanina’s in the Park, Belleville, NJ.

 

 

 

2017 Public Safety Valor Award Winners

 

East Orange Division of Police

Officer Christopher Kyer
Officer Segundo Marquez

Essex County Prosecutor’s Office

Detective Rahsaan Johnson
Detective Phillip Reed

Essex County Sheriff’s Office

Detective Abdullah Holmes

Millburn Police Department

Detective Lieutenant David Bonney

Newark Police Division

Lieutenant Darrell White

Millburn Fire Department

Captain Christopher Beady
Firefighter Edgar Echavarria

Newark Fire Division

Captain Carl Carpenter
Firefighter Kevin Daniel
Probationary Firefighter Ivan Encarnacion
Firefighter Jerome Fernandes
Captain Helder Fonseca
Firefighter Jeremy Larena
Probationary Firefighter Louis Maisonave
Firefighter Carlos Martinez
Firefighter Hilton Reynolds

 

2017 Meritorious Service Award

Montclair Fire Department

Group 3

Lieutenant Antonio Acocella
Firefighter Scott Bowman
Firefighter Sebastian Covello
Probationary Firefighter Adam Duchinsky
Firefighter Keith Ferenz
Firefighter John Fierro
Lieutenant John Grapes
Firefighter Chris Herrmann
Chief John Herrmann
Lieutenant David Hill
Firefighter David Jones
Firefighter Artie Karydes
Firefighter Charles J. Miller
Lieutenant Bill Morrison
Battalion Chief Greg Murray
Firefighter Kevin Palek
Firefighter Kurt Reinhardt
Firefighter Bill Roth
Captain Chris Russo
Lieutenant Kevin Sweeney
Firefighter Jeffrey Testa
Firefighter Levar Washington
Battalion Chief James Boyle, Millburn Fire Department