Belleville Cop Praised For ‘Life-Saving’ Response After Hit-And-Run

BELLEVILLE, NJ — A Belleville police officer earned an award for his “life-saving” response during an alleged hit-and-run last month.

Here’s what happened, according to a news release from the Township of Belleville:

“During the month of November, Officer Mendoza once again demonstrated exceptional professionalism, leadership, and dedication to the Belleville community. On November 4, Officer Mendoza responded to a serious hit-and-run involving an elderly victim who suffered a life-threatening leg injury. Acting quickly, he applied a tourniquet that ultimately stabilized the victim and contributed to saving his life. He then began an extensive canvass of the area, locating key surveillance footage that helped identify the suspect vehicle. His investigative work directly led to the arrest of the driver responsible for fleeing the scene.”

“In addition to this life-saving response, Officer Mendoza continues to set the standard for performance on his shift, consistently engaging with the community and assisting fellow officers on major investigations,” the township’s statement continued.

Mendoza’s teamwork recently helped lead to the apprehension of a suspect in multiple vehicle burglaries, the township noted.

The November “Officer of the Month” award is Mendoza’s second nomination this year.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.