Two Hundred Club Medal of Valor Award
Each day our uniformed protectors are involved in dangerous confrontations and life threatening situations here in Union County. Our uniformed protectors perform impeccably to protect the public interest. Therefore, every Spring, individuals that have performed heroic acts above and beyond the call of duty are selected to receive The Two Hundred Club Of Union County Valor Award. Since 1968, we have honored more than 500 police officers, firefighters and State Troopers, each having risked their own lives to serve the public interest.
The Valor Awards Luncheon also provides an opportunity to take a few moments to reflect on the lives of the uniformed protectors who have died in the line of duty in the previous year. It is with profound respect that we honor the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate price.
Each year, Valor Award 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. In the Spring of each year our Annual Spring Valor Award Luncheon is held with hundreds of attendees. It is here that these heroes are presented with the Valor Award
Please purchase a ticket to our 54th Annual Valor Awards Luncheon to JOIN US in recognizing the following 2023 Valor Award Recipients from Union County, NJ:
The Valor Awards Luncheon also provides an opportunity to take a few moments to reflect on the lives of the uniformed protectors who have died in the line of duty in the previous year. It is with profound respect that we honor the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate price.
Each year, Valor Award 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. In the Spring of each year our Annual Spring Valor Award Luncheon is held with hundreds of attendees. It is here that these heroes are presented with the Valor Award
Please purchase a ticket to our 54th Annual Valor Awards Luncheon to JOIN US in recognizing the following 2023 Valor Award Recipients from Union County, NJ:
Heroic efforts during a domestic violence incident
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Officer Michael Gamba
Cranford Police Department May 28, 2022 |
On the evening of May 28, 2002, Cranford Patrol Units responded to 40 Meeker Avenue on a reported domestic violence incident. The elderly victim reported that she was previously assaulted by her son, and that he was left the apartment and was walking in the area. Additionally, she believed that he was armed with a firearm. This particular Saturday evening in spring was beautiful weather, where many residents were walking in the neighborhood.
Officer Michael Gamba, Officer Nicholas Cook, and Sgt. Steven D' Ambola located the suspect on a residential street and began to approach him. As Off. Michael Gamba attempted to stop the suspect, he reached into his waistband and pointed the semi-automatic weapon directly at Gamba. Immediately and without hesitation, Off. Gamba grabbed the slide of the weapon, ultimately disarming the suspect. Upon further investigation, the weapon was determined to be a "ghost gun," which is made up of untraceable parts.
The actions of Officer Michael Gamba not only potentially saved the life of he and his fellow officers, but also prevented potential harm to the lives of many innocent bystanders.
Officer Michael Gamba, Officer Nicholas Cook, and Sgt. Steven D' Ambola located the suspect on a residential street and began to approach him. As Off. Michael Gamba attempted to stop the suspect, he reached into his waistband and pointed the semi-automatic weapon directly at Gamba. Immediately and without hesitation, Off. Gamba grabbed the slide of the weapon, ultimately disarming the suspect. Upon further investigation, the weapon was determined to be a "ghost gun," which is made up of untraceable parts.
The actions of Officer Michael Gamba not only potentially saved the life of he and his fellow officers, but also prevented potential harm to the lives of many innocent bystanders.
Officer in pursuit of vehicle showing no regard for life
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Officer Matthew Fonseca and Detective Shynese Mosley
Elizabeth Police Department March 2, 2022 |
Officer Matthew Fonseca and Detective Shynese Mosley displayed extreme bravery in the face of danger being involved in a devastating pursuit of a vehicle. The vehicle in pursuit had no regard for life. The vehicle disregarded stop signs, passed multiple school buses at high rates of speed, squeezed between vehicles traveling the opposite direction, and struck multiple objects and vehicles before ultimately becoming disabled. The officers exited their vehicle and approached the suspects vehicle with their service weapons drawn as the driver exited his vehicle. The driver removed a handgun from his waistband and tossed it onto the sidewalk.
Officer Matthew Fonseca and Detective Shynese Mosley were able to remove an armed criminal and two handguns off of our streets. The knowledge, experience, and assertiveness these officers displayed were exemplary in how to maintain control under pressure.
Officer Matthew Fonseca and Detective Shynese Mosley were able to remove an armed criminal and two handguns off of our streets. The knowledge, experience, and assertiveness these officers displayed were exemplary in how to maintain control under pressure.
Intentional ramming of an off-duty police vehicle; driver firing at officers
Lieutenant Christopher Sylvester, Sergeant Bryan Oliver, Officer Tyler James, Officer Ramon Antigua, and Officer Mauricio Mejia
Plainfield Police Department
July 8, 2022
Plainfield Police Department
July 8, 2022
At approximately 8:45am on July 8, 2022, Police Officer R. Antigua relayed via police radio to dispatch the Fire Department to the 600 block of West Front Street due to a motor vehicle accident. Simultaneously, a male driving a minivan at a very high rate of speed was witnessed heading towards Officer Antigua, who was standing outside of his police vehicle which was blocking the roadway from the motor vehicle accident that had occurred. The minivan aggressively swerved around Officer Antigua and his vehicle, nearly striking him. At this time, the minivan accelerated and continued traveling westbound towards Officer James, who was also standing outside of his police vehicle a few hundred feet away. The driver then swerved his vehicle into Officer James who was forced to jump out of the minivan’s path as it crashed into the rear of his police vehicle forcing it across the roadway. The minivan then continued to accelerate and rammed into the rear of a police vehicle being operated by Sergeant Oliver. The collision sent Sergeant Oliver’s vehicle spinning around and forced it up onto the sidewalk. The minivan came to rest in the middle of the roadway, just a short distance away from another group of utility workers in the street. Officer Antigua began transmitting the details of this crash to central communications, which was initially believed to be just a motor vehicle accident.
As Lieutenant Sylvester, along with Officers Antigua and Mejia were approaching the van, the male began to exit the vehicle and fired two rounds from a handgun, presumably, at Sergeant Oliver and/or Officer James. Thankfully, neither officer was struck by the gunfire. Sergeant Oliver quickly exited his vehicle and along with Officer James they approached the male without hesitation. With both officers having their handguns drawn and trained on the suspect; Officer James ordered the male to drop the gun. The male dropped his handgun on the ground and began to run from the scene. However, the male quickly retracted and began running back towards the gun, which was still on the ground in very close proximity. It was at this time, that Sergeant Oliver fired twice at the male, however, he was not hit. Officer James was then able to knock the male to the ground as he was frantically attempting to retrieve the handgun. It was obvious to the officers at this time that the male had no intentions of giving up and that they were now fighting for their lives as well as the safety of the dozen or so utility workers that were on the scene.
It was at this time, that Lieutenant Sylvester, Sergeant Oliver and Officers James, Antigua and Mejia engaged in an extremely violent struggle with the male, who was attempting to attack and even bite them. The male made no attempt to escape and appeared intent on harming the officers on scene. The officers used various types of overwhelming force and tactics, that appeared to have little to no effect on the male, as he continued to violently engage them. During this struggle, the handgun that the male dropped, was still on the ground under him. Officer Mejia was eventually able to retrieve and remove the weapon from the immediate area as the exhausting struggle continued. After a lengthy fight, they were eventually able to wear the male down and, with the assistance of additional officers arriving on scene, were able to secure him in handcuffs.
Lieutenant Christopher Sylvester, Sergeant Bryan Oliver, Officer Tyler James, Officer Ramon Antigua, and Officer Mauricio Mejia are being awarded The Two Hundred Club Medal of Valor for their brave actions.
As Lieutenant Sylvester, along with Officers Antigua and Mejia were approaching the van, the male began to exit the vehicle and fired two rounds from a handgun, presumably, at Sergeant Oliver and/or Officer James. Thankfully, neither officer was struck by the gunfire. Sergeant Oliver quickly exited his vehicle and along with Officer James they approached the male without hesitation. With both officers having their handguns drawn and trained on the suspect; Officer James ordered the male to drop the gun. The male dropped his handgun on the ground and began to run from the scene. However, the male quickly retracted and began running back towards the gun, which was still on the ground in very close proximity. It was at this time, that Sergeant Oliver fired twice at the male, however, he was not hit. Officer James was then able to knock the male to the ground as he was frantically attempting to retrieve the handgun. It was obvious to the officers at this time that the male had no intentions of giving up and that they were now fighting for their lives as well as the safety of the dozen or so utility workers that were on the scene.
It was at this time, that Lieutenant Sylvester, Sergeant Oliver and Officers James, Antigua and Mejia engaged in an extremely violent struggle with the male, who was attempting to attack and even bite them. The male made no attempt to escape and appeared intent on harming the officers on scene. The officers used various types of overwhelming force and tactics, that appeared to have little to no effect on the male, as he continued to violently engage them. During this struggle, the handgun that the male dropped, was still on the ground under him. Officer Mejia was eventually able to retrieve and remove the weapon from the immediate area as the exhausting struggle continued. After a lengthy fight, they were eventually able to wear the male down and, with the assistance of additional officers arriving on scene, were able to secure him in handcuffs.
Lieutenant Christopher Sylvester, Sergeant Bryan Oliver, Officer Tyler James, Officer Ramon Antigua, and Officer Mauricio Mejia are being awarded The Two Hundred Club Medal of Valor for their brave actions.
Attempted law enforcement assisted suicide
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Patrolman Edherson Thalout
Union Police Department February 2, 2022 |
On February 28, 2022 at 8:25 PM Officer Edherson Thalout was among several officers dispatched after a 9-1-1 call from a man who stated, "I have a gun and I'm really sad and I'm thinking of killing myself." He asked the dispatcher to send the police to him and told her to tell the cops that he had a gun so they will shoot him. He asked if they would shoot him on sight. Patrolman Thalout did not have a partner that night, but was close to the call and was the first officer to arrive. The call was on Concord Ave., which is at the edge of Union and borders Maplewood. As he arrived he observed a man getting out of a parked car and start to approach him. The man was not following the officer's directions and walked towards the officer with one hand hidden in his clothing. Officer Thalout directed the man to take his hands out of his pocket, but the man did not comply and continued to say that he had a gun and the officer should shoot him. Officer Thalout tactically backed up into the shadows behind his Radio Car while the man kept stating, "Shoot me, shoot me!" The man continued to aggressively approach Officer Thalout hoping to provoke him into shooting him and forced him to take action.
Officer Thalout made a split second decision and tackled the man to the ground and wrestled with him in the street until help arrived quickly. The man continued to urge the officers to shoot him, pleading with the officers to "Please shoot me I have a gun." It became apparent that the man was intoxicated and wanted to die with the aid of police. Officer Thalout could have shot the man, but he chose not to use deadly force. This ultimately was the correct decision. The man did not have a gun, just his cell phone hidden under his clothing to make it appear he had a gun. This was a mental health issue and our officers took the man to a hospital for a mental health evaluation. Suicide-by-cop is the term used by police officers for incidents in which an individual, intent on killing himself, forces the police to use deadly force.
Officer Thalouts training and quick thinking not only allowed him to stay calm in the face of danger and prevent this man from losing his life, but also helped to deescalate a traumatic situation and ultimately get this man the mental help he needed.
Officer Thalout made a split second decision and tackled the man to the ground and wrestled with him in the street until help arrived quickly. The man continued to urge the officers to shoot him, pleading with the officers to "Please shoot me I have a gun." It became apparent that the man was intoxicated and wanted to die with the aid of police. Officer Thalout could have shot the man, but he chose not to use deadly force. This ultimately was the correct decision. The man did not have a gun, just his cell phone hidden under his clothing to make it appear he had a gun. This was a mental health issue and our officers took the man to a hospital for a mental health evaluation. Suicide-by-cop is the term used by police officers for incidents in which an individual, intent on killing himself, forces the police to use deadly force.
Officer Thalouts training and quick thinking not only allowed him to stay calm in the face of danger and prevent this man from losing his life, but also helped to deescalate a traumatic situation and ultimately get this man the mental help he needed.
Rescue of victim in a MVA on GSP trapped in vehicle with smoke
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Sergeant Kevin Kolbeck
Union County Prosecutor's Office November 30, 2022 |
On November 30, 2022 at approximately 9: 15 AM., Sergeant Kolbeck was driving to work on the Garden State Parkway when he encountered a motor vehicle accident just north of Exit 137 in Kenilworth. A Chevrolet Envoy sport utility vehicle was flipped onto the driver’s side and was starting to fill with smoke. Sergeant Kolbeck activated his emergency lights and pulled behind the Envoy. He could see someone moving inside the vehicle. The person appeared to be trapped, and smoke was quickly filling the vehicle.
Without delay, Sergeant Kolbeck retrieved an entry ram from his truck and began striking the windshield to port a hole large enough for the entrapped occupant to escape. With assistance from an FBI agent who also stopped at the scene, Sergeant Kolbeck was able to remove the driver. The Kenilworth Rescue Squad transported her to Overlook Hospital for treatment, and she was later released. Sergeant Kolbeck put all regard for himself and his own life aside as he jumped into action to save this woman from a burning vehicle. It is for his heroic actions that he is recieving the Two Hundred Club of Union County Medal of Valor.
Without delay, Sergeant Kolbeck retrieved an entry ram from his truck and began striking the windshield to port a hole large enough for the entrapped occupant to escape. With assistance from an FBI agent who also stopped at the scene, Sergeant Kolbeck was able to remove the driver. The Kenilworth Rescue Squad transported her to Overlook Hospital for treatment, and she was later released. Sergeant Kolbeck put all regard for himself and his own life aside as he jumped into action to save this woman from a burning vehicle. It is for his heroic actions that he is recieving the Two Hundred Club of Union County Medal of Valor.