Chatham Officers Honored For Action In 4th Of July Stabbing

CHATHAM, NJ — Two Chatham Township police officers have been honored by the department for their work during a stabbing incident this past Fourth of July.

Officer Jessica Cortez and Sergeant Dave Gallo were both given an exceptional duty and life-saving award earlier this week, police said.

On July 4, both Cortez and Gallo responded to a stabbing call at a Buxton Road residence, where they found a man who had been stabbed in the neck.

When they arrived at the house, the suspect, later identified as Brian Kozub, emerged from the home and was ordered by Cortez to drop the knife and lay on the ground until additional officers were able to assist in securing him.

Inside the home, Gallo rendered immediate life-saving first aid to the victim, whose identity has not been revealed. The Chatham Township Police Department said that due to his actions, the victim made a full recovery after emergency surgery at Morristown Medical Center.

According to police, Kozub is accused of stabbing the 51-year-old man in the neck with a pocketknife, with whom he was celebrating the Fourth of July.

Kozub was ultimately charged with second-degree aggravated assault, third-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and fourth-degree possession of a weapon for an illegal purpose.

In July, Kozub was incarcerated at the Morris County Correctional Facility, awaiting his detention hearing.