OCEAN TOWNSHIP POLICE ANNUAL AWARDS

     On Thursday evening May 17, 2007, the Ocean Township Police Department held it’s annual awards dinner. This yearly event highlights some of the great work done by officers of the Ocean Township Police Department over the past year. The awards dinner was held at the English Manor in Ocean Township. Lt. Earl Gifford hosted the event and award presentations were made by Chief Antonio V. Amodio Jr. and Captain Kevin McDermott. Representatives of the Township Council and the Loch Arbor Board of Trustees, as well as Ocean Twp Manager David Kochel, were on hand to congratulate the officers on their accomplishments.  Below is the list of officers and the awards received.

From left to right pictured are Lt. Earl Gifford, Capt. Kevin McDermott, Citizen Award Recipients Thomas Dreissig and Eric Van Norde along with Chief Antonio V. Amodio Jr.

Commendations certificates are awarded to officers who have shown extraordinary efforts and attention to detail. They were as follows: Brendan Bruther, Kevin Donohoe, Michael Clancy, John Hanna, Michael Rich, Scott Valenti, Eduardo Segarra, Ryan Vaccaro, Gregory Tongring, Cory Cole, Kevin Meseroll and Joseph Pangaro.

Honorable Service and Investigative excellence awards are given to officers for an intelligent, professional action in a case or incident. They are as follows: James Loizos, Patrick Martin, Bruce Friend and Cory Cole.

Life saving awards: are given to officers whose actions saved the life of a person who might have otherwise died. They are as follows: John Hanna, Jimmy Kelesidis, Jason Lester, John Green, and Casey Larrison.

Distinguished Service awards: are given to officers for an act of outstanding personal bravery, intelligently performed in the line of duty at imminent personal hazard of life under circumstances evincing a disregard of personal consequences.
They are as follows: William Crosta and Sonia Henriques.

Exceptional Service and Distinguished service awards are given to officers who actions are far above the norm and who displayed professionalism and great courage. They are as follows: Trevor Dickerson, Todd Gregory, Jimmy Kelesidis, Jason Lester and Thomas Burke.

Citizens Awards are given to members of the public that have distinguished themselves in the community by their actions. They are as follows: Thomas Dreissig and Eric Van Norde.  Both Driessig and Van Norde were recognized for their quick actions which resulted in saving the life of a 4-year-old child that nearly drowned in a swimming pool on July 11, 2006.