Hackensack police union looks to help turn the page with first-ever merit awards By Dan Ivers/NJ.com
on October 28, 2012 at 9:40 AM, updated October 28, 2012 at 10:01 AM
Officers Stephen Ochman, Justin De La Bruyere, Jason Sawyer, Greg Kiselow, Matt Jacobsen, and Patrick Williams receive the Meritorious Service Award for their help in responding to a mentally disturbed man who threw his intestines at them in May.Dan Ivers/NJ.com
HACKENSACK — Dozens of officers were honored for their achievements in police work last week at the Hackensack police union's first-ever merit awards.
Det. James Dalton, the union's vice president, said that the force had been plagued controversy and plenty of bad press in recent years, which often took a toll on morale. Even within the union, where former Chief Ken Zisa allegedly used the threat of discipline to impose his will, the divisions ran deep.
Zisa was fired earlier this year following convictions on official misconduct and insurance fraud charges. While legal entanglements remain for some members of the department, Dalton and PBA Local #9 President John Herrmann have decided that the time was right to focus on the rank and file's good work.
"Despite everything that's gone on within the city and the police department, there's still a lot of hard working officers out there doing the job every day," he said.
"We're all about morale, camaraderie and brotherhood, and we want to bring people together of every rank. We might not be the one's responsible for it being broken, but we're still in this together."
The ceremony, which took place in Hackensack City Hall's Council Chambers on Oct. 24, recognized more than 30 officers.
They included officers Stephen Ochman, Justin De La Bruyere, Jason Sawyer, Greg Kiselow, Matt Jacobsen and Patrick Williams, who were recognized for their bravery in a May 27 incident during which a mentally disturbed man threw pieces of his intestines at them, and Detectives John Dalton, Ryan Weber and Alexander Lopez-Arenas, who helped solve a two-year-old robbery by linking a YouTube video to the crime.
Here is a full list of those recognized during the awards:
Unit Citation Medal - Det. Frank Tripodi, Det. Michael Antista, Det. Joseph Inglima, Officer Roco Duardo, Officer Aldrin Lamboy, Officer Pedro Dominguez, Officer Franklin Bay, Officer James Han, Officer John Knapp, Officer Mark Delcarpio, Officer Patrick Williams, Officer Matt Jacobsen, Det. Lt. Peter Busciglio, Det. William Inglima, Det. Demetrius Carroll, Det. Mike Antista, Det. Jason Klosk, Officer Travara Morton, Officer John Knapp, Officer Greg Zisa, Officer William Pierce.
Unit Citation Award - Det. Lt. Peter Busciglio, Det. William Inglima, Det. Demetrius Carroll, Det. Mike Antista, Det. Jason Klosk, Officer Travara Morton, Officer Richard Melber, Officer John Herrmann, Officer Justin De La Bruyere, Officer Gaetano Gallorini, Officer Matt Antista.
Honorable Service Medal - Officer Brett McCarthy, Officer Joseph Inglima, Officer Jason Sawyer, Officer James Luther, Det. William Inglima, Det. John Dalton, Officer Ed Meneses, Sgt. James Smith.
Investigative Achievement Medal - Det. John Dalton, Det. Demetrius Carroll, Det. Niles Malvasia, Det. Joseph Ayoubi.
Investigative Achievement Award - Det. Jason Klosk, Det. James Dalton, Det. Ryan Weber, Det. Alexander Lopez-Arenas
Meritorious Service Medal - Officer Stephen Ochman, Officer Justin De La Bruyere, Officer Jason Sawyer, Officer Greg Kiselow, Officer Matt Jacobsen, Officer Patrick Williams, Det. Joseph Ayoubi, Det. Niles Malvasia, Det. Matt Swetits.
Life Saving Medal - Officer John Hermann, Officer Franklin Laboy
Gallantry Star and Investigative Achievement Medal - Det. James Dalton