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The Two Hundred Club of Union County Medal of Valor Award is a distinctive honor for Police and Firefighters in Union County. Recipients are chosen in part on the recommendations of the chiefs of police and firefighters in the 21 municipalities here in Union County. They are submitted to our Valor Awards committee for review and final selection.This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the club held a Virtual Valor Awards Ceremony honoring recipients from 2020 and 2021.
If ever there was a time for giving your support to the men and women who protect the front lines of our communities, it is now. Please consider actively supporting these brave men and women by joining our organization or making a donation today. DONATE NOW!
If ever there was a time for giving your support to the men and women who protect the front lines of our communities, it is now. Please consider actively supporting these brave men and women by joining our organization or making a donation today. DONATE NOW!
2020 Recipients
Union Fire Department
December 1, 2019
On the evening of December 1, 2019, The Union Fire Department was dispatched to 1979 Hillside Avenue for an odor of smoke in the residence. Battalion 1 arrived and quickly reported a working fire in a 2.5 story home, with visible fire at the front and rear. A second alarm resulted in an immediate response of Engine 2. A woman was spotted, screaming and trapped at a rear second floor window, with heavy smoke pouring from behind her.
The woman, overcome by smoke then disappeared from sight. Engine 2 raised two ground
extension ladders to the window where the victim was last seen. Lieutenant Ken DeHart and
Firefighter Steve Moro ascended the ladder and Lt. DeHart entered the house through the window under extreme heat and smoke conditions.
Lt. DeHart located the victim, who was now unconscious and badly burned. Firefighter Tom
Havyar, ascended the second ground ladder and entered the room to assist Lt. DeHart with
moving the victim out the window. Working above the fire without protection of a hose line and
still heavy smoke, they were able to hand the woman out the window to the ladder, to Firefighter
Steve Moro, who was waiting at the top of the ladder. Firefighter Havyar then exited through the
window to the ladder and together with Firefighter Moro, carried the victim down the ladder to
the ground. Once on the ground, the victim was carried to an awaiting EMS stretcher where she
was transported to St Barnabas Burn Center.
Union Fire Department
- Lieutenant Kenneth DeHart
- Firefighter Stephen Moro
- Firefighter Thomas Havyar
December 1, 2019
On the evening of December 1, 2019, The Union Fire Department was dispatched to 1979 Hillside Avenue for an odor of smoke in the residence. Battalion 1 arrived and quickly reported a working fire in a 2.5 story home, with visible fire at the front and rear. A second alarm resulted in an immediate response of Engine 2. A woman was spotted, screaming and trapped at a rear second floor window, with heavy smoke pouring from behind her.
The woman, overcome by smoke then disappeared from sight. Engine 2 raised two ground
extension ladders to the window where the victim was last seen. Lieutenant Ken DeHart and
Firefighter Steve Moro ascended the ladder and Lt. DeHart entered the house through the window under extreme heat and smoke conditions.
Lt. DeHart located the victim, who was now unconscious and badly burned. Firefighter Tom
Havyar, ascended the second ground ladder and entered the room to assist Lt. DeHart with
moving the victim out the window. Working above the fire without protection of a hose line and
still heavy smoke, they were able to hand the woman out the window to the ladder, to Firefighter
Steve Moro, who was waiting at the top of the ladder. Firefighter Havyar then exited through the
window to the ladder and together with Firefighter Moro, carried the victim down the ladder to
the ground. Once on the ground, the victim was carried to an awaiting EMS stretcher where she
was transported to St Barnabas Burn Center.
Elizabeth Police Department
October 5, 2020
On October 5, 2020, Officers Keller and Cervantes were flagged down by a concerned citizen informing them of a working fire at 865 Elizabeth Ave. The officers immediately responded to this location as they notified Communications of the situation. As the officers approached the front door of the Dollar and Party Store at this address, they were immediately met by intense flames, at which time an exploding helium tank shattered the· front window. After their attempt to enter the store was repelled by the fire, they immediately ran to the adjacent attached address, 863 Elizabeth Ave. Sgt. Gora and Officers Arrarte and Tovar had now arrived on scene and without hesitation, these officers forced entry into the adjacent building. With the fire raging in the attached neighboring structure, these officers, at great risk to their personal safety, conducted a thorough and systematic evacuation of the residents. The officers led the residents from multiple floors out a rear fire escape to an adjacent rooftop, and then to safety on the street level.
As the initial call was transmitted by Off. Keller, several Emergency Service units were on an unrelated call in close proximity to the scene. Sgt. Aliseo ensured his officers would complete their assignment safely, at which time he immediately responded on foot towards the location of the fire. Once he was in view of the rear of 865 Elizabeth Ave., he observed through a rear parking lot that there was a second floor door with no stairs, ladder or other means of egress. There was heavy smoke coming from the door, and he heard cries for help. Knowing there were occupants trapped within due to a locked, wrought-iron gate. Sgt. Aliseo had ran back to Jacques St. whre he had observed a construction crew working with ladders and brought it back to the enflamed building to attempt a rescue.
The construction workers ran to the rear parking lot with ladders and began assisting in putting the ladders up to the second floor. Sgt. Aliseo and Off. Leonard, without regard for their own personal safety, then braved intense heat and a heavy smoke condition as they ascended the ladders and attempted to force the locked gate open. As it became apparent to the officers that the victims lost consciousness, Sgt. Aliseo and Off. Leonard remained steadfast in their attempts to breach the door and rescue the trapped victims at great peril to their own safety. During this time Sgt. Gora, Off. Marques, Off. Benenati, Off. Arrarte and Off. Tovar all arrived in the rear of the building, also putting themselves in harm's way, enduring intense heat and heavy smoke to assist in the rescue effort.
Elizabeth Fire Department units began to arrive on scene and relieved Sgt. Aliseo and Off. Leonard of their efforts to save the trapped victims. Despite lacking proper protective gear, Sgt. Aliseo, Sgt. Gora, and the previously mentioned officers remained exposed to the hazardous conditions as fire personnel were able to finally extract the unconscious victims from the fire and pass them off to the waiting officers, who carried them to a safe location.
These officers then began performing CPR on all three victims, which continued for a prolonged period of time. As a result of their efforts, two of the victims still had vital signs upon their arrival at Trinitas Medical Center. The two victims later succumbed to their injuries.
These officers acted selflessly and without hesitation, with complete disregard for their personal safety. Their actions demonstrate unwavering devotion and extraordinary heroism, above and beyond the call of duty in service of the citizens of the City of Elizabeth. These actions reflect great credit upon the officers and the Elizabeth Police Department.
- Sergeant Joseph R. Aliseo
- Sergeant Eric S. Gora
- Police Officer Joseph J. Leonard, III
- Police Officer Jessica A. Marques
- Police Officer Christopher G. Keller
- Police Officer Rodrigo J. Cervantes
- Police Officer Johnny L. Arrarte
- Police Officer George Tovar
- Police Officer Edward J. Benenati, Jr.
October 5, 2020
On October 5, 2020, Officers Keller and Cervantes were flagged down by a concerned citizen informing them of a working fire at 865 Elizabeth Ave. The officers immediately responded to this location as they notified Communications of the situation. As the officers approached the front door of the Dollar and Party Store at this address, they were immediately met by intense flames, at which time an exploding helium tank shattered the· front window. After their attempt to enter the store was repelled by the fire, they immediately ran to the adjacent attached address, 863 Elizabeth Ave. Sgt. Gora and Officers Arrarte and Tovar had now arrived on scene and without hesitation, these officers forced entry into the adjacent building. With the fire raging in the attached neighboring structure, these officers, at great risk to their personal safety, conducted a thorough and systematic evacuation of the residents. The officers led the residents from multiple floors out a rear fire escape to an adjacent rooftop, and then to safety on the street level.
As the initial call was transmitted by Off. Keller, several Emergency Service units were on an unrelated call in close proximity to the scene. Sgt. Aliseo ensured his officers would complete their assignment safely, at which time he immediately responded on foot towards the location of the fire. Once he was in view of the rear of 865 Elizabeth Ave., he observed through a rear parking lot that there was a second floor door with no stairs, ladder or other means of egress. There was heavy smoke coming from the door, and he heard cries for help. Knowing there were occupants trapped within due to a locked, wrought-iron gate. Sgt. Aliseo had ran back to Jacques St. whre he had observed a construction crew working with ladders and brought it back to the enflamed building to attempt a rescue.
The construction workers ran to the rear parking lot with ladders and began assisting in putting the ladders up to the second floor. Sgt. Aliseo and Off. Leonard, without regard for their own personal safety, then braved intense heat and a heavy smoke condition as they ascended the ladders and attempted to force the locked gate open. As it became apparent to the officers that the victims lost consciousness, Sgt. Aliseo and Off. Leonard remained steadfast in their attempts to breach the door and rescue the trapped victims at great peril to their own safety. During this time Sgt. Gora, Off. Marques, Off. Benenati, Off. Arrarte and Off. Tovar all arrived in the rear of the building, also putting themselves in harm's way, enduring intense heat and heavy smoke to assist in the rescue effort.
Elizabeth Fire Department units began to arrive on scene and relieved Sgt. Aliseo and Off. Leonard of their efforts to save the trapped victims. Despite lacking proper protective gear, Sgt. Aliseo, Sgt. Gora, and the previously mentioned officers remained exposed to the hazardous conditions as fire personnel were able to finally extract the unconscious victims from the fire and pass them off to the waiting officers, who carried them to a safe location.
These officers then began performing CPR on all three victims, which continued for a prolonged period of time. As a result of their efforts, two of the victims still had vital signs upon their arrival at Trinitas Medical Center. The two victims later succumbed to their injuries.
These officers acted selflessly and without hesitation, with complete disregard for their personal safety. Their actions demonstrate unwavering devotion and extraordinary heroism, above and beyond the call of duty in service of the citizens of the City of Elizabeth. These actions reflect great credit upon the officers and the Elizabeth Police Department.
Plainfield Fire Department
May 12, 2020
On the afternoon of May 12, 2020, Plainfield Fire Division personnel were dispatched to a
report of a structure fire at 652 West 3rd Street Plainfield, NJ. Responding companies went to work quickly, and extinguished what turned out to be a rear porch fire at a 3 story multiple family dwelling. Unbeknownst to firefighters at the time, The Borough of North Plainfield would be dispatched, almost simultaneously, for a Structure fire at 46 Grove St in Plainfield.
As Plainfield Fire Division continued to extinguish the porch fire, a request for Mutual Aid from North Plainfield was dispatched. Plainfield Command quickly cleared up Engine Company 2 and headed to 46 Grove St. After completing overhaul at the exterior porch fire, Plainfield’s Truck Company 3 personnel also responded.
Upon arrival, they could see a large wood, balloon frame Victorian home which had been converted to 4 legal apartments. North Plainfield Companies were first on scene. Upon arrival, Plainfield Engine Company 2 was advised of an oversized victim on the second floor of the house in the apartment that was directly above the fire.
Lt. Coppola and FF Ocasio entered the burning home and did their best to navigate their way to the second floor. Upon reaching the second floor, they encountered Captain McDonald of the North Plainfield Fire Department. He was trying to rescue the large male victim who was face down and unconscious. Captain McDonald was working hard to move the man, but his efforts were unsuccessful due to the victim’s size. Working together, the three moved the downed victim from his location, wedged in a door frame, to the top of the second floor stair landing. At this point, Captain McDonald was forced to withdraw from the building, as his air supply became dangerously low.
Plainfield Truck Company had arrived on scene at this point. Led by Lieutenant Glenn Robinson, they were tasked by North Plainfield’s incident commander to take personnel to the second floor and assist with the victim removal. By this point, flames had started to extend to the upper floors of the dwelling causing a noticeable spike in temperature and decline in visibility. All members operated with SCBA on used thermal imaging cameras and touch to navigate through their surroundings.
As the members made the descent down the L shaped stairs, they stopped at the first landing, giving members time to pause, readjust and safely continue the descent. One more landing was encountered before exiting the stairway. This area gave way to a larger working area and FF Armstead was then able to grab the victim’s left leg and assist with removal. The victim was carried out through a common hallway, approximately twenty feet long, and into a vestibule separated from the exterior of the structure by two additional doors, one on the ingress and one on the egress side. The five personnel finally arrived on the residence’s exterior and placed the victim on the front porch face up. FF Sanders initiated CPR and began to administer chest compressions. The victim was lifted and brought down the exterior stairs of the residence and onto the front lawn where he was turned over to awaiting EMS personnel.
The victim was ultimately transported to The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. The rescue was performed on the second floor of the residence directly above the apartment involved in the fire.
- Lieutenant John Coppola
- Firefighter Gabriel Ocasio
- Lieutenant Glenn Robinson
- Firefighter Melvyn Armstead
- Firefighter Hassan Sanders
May 12, 2020
On the afternoon of May 12, 2020, Plainfield Fire Division personnel were dispatched to a
report of a structure fire at 652 West 3rd Street Plainfield, NJ. Responding companies went to work quickly, and extinguished what turned out to be a rear porch fire at a 3 story multiple family dwelling. Unbeknownst to firefighters at the time, The Borough of North Plainfield would be dispatched, almost simultaneously, for a Structure fire at 46 Grove St in Plainfield.
As Plainfield Fire Division continued to extinguish the porch fire, a request for Mutual Aid from North Plainfield was dispatched. Plainfield Command quickly cleared up Engine Company 2 and headed to 46 Grove St. After completing overhaul at the exterior porch fire, Plainfield’s Truck Company 3 personnel also responded.
Upon arrival, they could see a large wood, balloon frame Victorian home which had been converted to 4 legal apartments. North Plainfield Companies were first on scene. Upon arrival, Plainfield Engine Company 2 was advised of an oversized victim on the second floor of the house in the apartment that was directly above the fire.
Lt. Coppola and FF Ocasio entered the burning home and did their best to navigate their way to the second floor. Upon reaching the second floor, they encountered Captain McDonald of the North Plainfield Fire Department. He was trying to rescue the large male victim who was face down and unconscious. Captain McDonald was working hard to move the man, but his efforts were unsuccessful due to the victim’s size. Working together, the three moved the downed victim from his location, wedged in a door frame, to the top of the second floor stair landing. At this point, Captain McDonald was forced to withdraw from the building, as his air supply became dangerously low.
Plainfield Truck Company had arrived on scene at this point. Led by Lieutenant Glenn Robinson, they were tasked by North Plainfield’s incident commander to take personnel to the second floor and assist with the victim removal. By this point, flames had started to extend to the upper floors of the dwelling causing a noticeable spike in temperature and decline in visibility. All members operated with SCBA on used thermal imaging cameras and touch to navigate through their surroundings.
As the members made the descent down the L shaped stairs, they stopped at the first landing, giving members time to pause, readjust and safely continue the descent. One more landing was encountered before exiting the stairway. This area gave way to a larger working area and FF Armstead was then able to grab the victim’s left leg and assist with removal. The victim was carried out through a common hallway, approximately twenty feet long, and into a vestibule separated from the exterior of the structure by two additional doors, one on the ingress and one on the egress side. The five personnel finally arrived on the residence’s exterior and placed the victim on the front porch face up. FF Sanders initiated CPR and began to administer chest compressions. The victim was lifted and brought down the exterior stairs of the residence and onto the front lawn where he was turned over to awaiting EMS personnel.
The victim was ultimately transported to The Burn Center at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. The rescue was performed on the second floor of the residence directly above the apartment involved in the fire.
Rahway Fire Department
October 16, 2020
On October 16, 2020, while on duty at the Rahway fire department, Group #3 received an alarm for a working fire in a residential neighborhood with a possible entrapment. Incident Command arrived at the scene of a two and half story single family home completely involved with fire. The firefighters were alerted by a police officer that a disabled resident was trapped in a rear bedroom on the first floor. Several police officers were attempting to call for the woman through a bedroom window, however, they were unable to enter due to a heavy smoke and heat condition.
Upon arriving on scene and after assessing the situation, without hesitation, Captain Lopez rushed to the bedroom window along with Firefighter Terry Bell. Captain Lopez quickly cleared the window and entered the room by a placed ladder, followed by firefighter Bell. With zero visibility, and rapidly deteriorating conditions, Captain Lopez began a left-hand search while firefighter Bell began a righthand search, keeping in verbal communication. After a quick search of the bedroom, firefighter Bell was able to locate the disabled woman on the floor next to her bed. Communicating his find to Captain Lopez, together, they dragged the unconscious woman to the window, where they were able to lift her to the sill and hand her to officers waiting outside. The woman was rushed to the awaiting ambulance and taken to Saint Barnabas Burn Center, where she was later listed in stable condition.
Despite the efforts of Group #3, off duty personnel, and several departments in the surrounding area, due to the volume of fire and untenable conditions, this fire quickly escalated to a third alarm, and then a defensive operation before being rendered under control.
Captain Lopez and Firefighter Bell selflessly put themselves at great risk to save this woman’s life. There could have been a very different and possibly tragic ending to this incident if it had not been for the quick actions of these brave men.
- Captain Ramon Lopez
- Firefighter Terry Bell
October 16, 2020
On October 16, 2020, while on duty at the Rahway fire department, Group #3 received an alarm for a working fire in a residential neighborhood with a possible entrapment. Incident Command arrived at the scene of a two and half story single family home completely involved with fire. The firefighters were alerted by a police officer that a disabled resident was trapped in a rear bedroom on the first floor. Several police officers were attempting to call for the woman through a bedroom window, however, they were unable to enter due to a heavy smoke and heat condition.
Upon arriving on scene and after assessing the situation, without hesitation, Captain Lopez rushed to the bedroom window along with Firefighter Terry Bell. Captain Lopez quickly cleared the window and entered the room by a placed ladder, followed by firefighter Bell. With zero visibility, and rapidly deteriorating conditions, Captain Lopez began a left-hand search while firefighter Bell began a righthand search, keeping in verbal communication. After a quick search of the bedroom, firefighter Bell was able to locate the disabled woman on the floor next to her bed. Communicating his find to Captain Lopez, together, they dragged the unconscious woman to the window, where they were able to lift her to the sill and hand her to officers waiting outside. The woman was rushed to the awaiting ambulance and taken to Saint Barnabas Burn Center, where she was later listed in stable condition.
Despite the efforts of Group #3, off duty personnel, and several departments in the surrounding area, due to the volume of fire and untenable conditions, this fire quickly escalated to a third alarm, and then a defensive operation before being rendered under control.
Captain Lopez and Firefighter Bell selflessly put themselves at great risk to save this woman’s life. There could have been a very different and possibly tragic ending to this incident if it had not been for the quick actions of these brave men.
Rahway Fire Department
January 29, 2020
On January 29, 2020, all units were dispatched for a man in the river in downtown Rahway. Units arrived on scene at the Hamilton Street Bridge and observed a man, prone and naked, floating in the frigid water. Attempts to throw rescue ropes from the bridge were unsuccessful, and the victim was becoming less responsive by the minute. Faced with time constraints due to the water current and limited access to the river bank, members quickly relocated by foot to the Irving St. side of the river where they were able to use a parking lot for staging and command. Members began donning dry water suits due to the January temperatures, but the victim appeared to be unresponsive and Firefighter Gonzalez and Firefighter Toth jumped into action with no wet suites. They carefully went down the extremely steep and overgrown embankment into the chest deep water to rescue the victim, who was now unconscious and in grave danger. As FF Gonzales and Toth were searching for the victim, ropes were secured and lighting and all available medical equipment was requested. The rescuers reached the victim and secured him with the rope. Medical equipment and lighting were now in place and all available members were on the embankment and lot area pulling the rope as rescuers pushed and guided the victims lifeless body up the steep embankment to the street level.
As they pulled the man up the embankment from the freezing cold water, a strong smell of fuel was noticed. The victim was not breathing and no pulse was found. CPR was immediately administered and members simultaneously dried the victim and applied blankets to bring up his core temperature. Defibrillator pads . CPR and rescue ventilations continued. No shock was advised from the defibrillator and shortly after the victim began to cough up water. A pulse was regained as well as shallow breathing and the victim was put on a stretcher. Rescue breathing via bag valve mask and O2 continued as he was moved to the awaiting ambulance which transported him to the hospital. This was truly a team effort as no hands were idle.
Without the quick decisions and actions of all members working there is no doubt that this incident would have resulted in a recovery rather than a rescue. As members returned to the staging area to clean up medical waste and put equipment back in service it was noticed that the fuel smell had diminished. While following up on the patient it was found that he had ingested Diesel fuel and was suicidal prior to jumping in the river and the prognosis was not good. As time went on, more reports on this patient were coming in as there were some ties to his family. It turns out that this was not his first attempt at suicide and he had spent years struggling with addiction. The patient was released from the hospital and miraculously made a full recovery with the exception of having some toes amputated due to toxicity from the ingested diesel fuel. The most recent report from his Father is that he completed dependency rehabilitation, is substance free, employed and has a positive outlook for the future.
- Firefighter Brian Toth
- Firefighter Javier Gonzalez
January 29, 2020
On January 29, 2020, all units were dispatched for a man in the river in downtown Rahway. Units arrived on scene at the Hamilton Street Bridge and observed a man, prone and naked, floating in the frigid water. Attempts to throw rescue ropes from the bridge were unsuccessful, and the victim was becoming less responsive by the minute. Faced with time constraints due to the water current and limited access to the river bank, members quickly relocated by foot to the Irving St. side of the river where they were able to use a parking lot for staging and command. Members began donning dry water suits due to the January temperatures, but the victim appeared to be unresponsive and Firefighter Gonzalez and Firefighter Toth jumped into action with no wet suites. They carefully went down the extremely steep and overgrown embankment into the chest deep water to rescue the victim, who was now unconscious and in grave danger. As FF Gonzales and Toth were searching for the victim, ropes were secured and lighting and all available medical equipment was requested. The rescuers reached the victim and secured him with the rope. Medical equipment and lighting were now in place and all available members were on the embankment and lot area pulling the rope as rescuers pushed and guided the victims lifeless body up the steep embankment to the street level.
As they pulled the man up the embankment from the freezing cold water, a strong smell of fuel was noticed. The victim was not breathing and no pulse was found. CPR was immediately administered and members simultaneously dried the victim and applied blankets to bring up his core temperature. Defibrillator pads . CPR and rescue ventilations continued. No shock was advised from the defibrillator and shortly after the victim began to cough up water. A pulse was regained as well as shallow breathing and the victim was put on a stretcher. Rescue breathing via bag valve mask and O2 continued as he was moved to the awaiting ambulance which transported him to the hospital. This was truly a team effort as no hands were idle.
Without the quick decisions and actions of all members working there is no doubt that this incident would have resulted in a recovery rather than a rescue. As members returned to the staging area to clean up medical waste and put equipment back in service it was noticed that the fuel smell had diminished. While following up on the patient it was found that he had ingested Diesel fuel and was suicidal prior to jumping in the river and the prognosis was not good. As time went on, more reports on this patient were coming in as there were some ties to his family. It turns out that this was not his first attempt at suicide and he had spent years struggling with addiction. The patient was released from the hospital and miraculously made a full recovery with the exception of having some toes amputated due to toxicity from the ingested diesel fuel. The most recent report from his Father is that he completed dependency rehabilitation, is substance free, employed and has a positive outlook for the future.
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Our non-profit organization consists of residents and business people throughout New Jersey who care about the welfare of over 3,000 men and women who daily put their lives on the line for our protection.We provide financial assistance to the widows and families of our uniformed protectors throughout the County who have given their lives in the line of duty.The Two Hundred Club has also initiated a scholarship program consisting of three separate educational scholarship opportunities.
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