Lifesaving Actions By Police Officers Honored In Mendham Township

MENDHAM, NJ — Two Mendham Township police officers were honored at the Mendham Township Committee meeting on Monday, Sept. 11, for their life-saving efforts during an incident this summer.

According to township officials, the two honored officers went above and beyond to help save a resident's life.

The Mendham Township Committee and Mayor Nick Monaghan recently took the time to publicly honor both Ptl. Sean Ulversoy and Ptl. Victoria Di Maggio, who both aided in the rescue of a Mendham resident.

The identity of the resident is being withheld from the media due to confidentiality reasons surrounding the incident.

According to Monaghan, on July 17, a 911 call was placed for an unconscious person in Mendham Township, and a bystander had already begun CPR when first responders arrived and were able to successfully resuscitate the victim.

"Through teamwork, a tragedy was averted," Monaghan said.

The authorities determined that the victim, a male in his mid-twenties, was in cardiac arrest as a result of an overdose. They were able to detect a pulse by using their Narcan kits and continuing CPR.

"What many in the community may not realize, however, is that 99 percent of the time, the first responder to the scene is a Mendham Township police officer, and they often begin life-saving efforts, as was the case here. Without that early intervention, success would be much more elusive," Monaghan said.

While drug-related overdose deaths have increased across the country, the good news for New Jersey is that they have been decreasing for the previous two years. According to Detective Sergeant Kevin Coyle of the New Jersey State Police's Office of Drug Monitoring and Analysis, drug-related deaths in April 2023 were the lowest statewide since 2017, down 12 percent from 2022, when they were down 7 percent overall.

There were 74 suspected drug-related deaths in Morris County in 2022, but to date in 2023, there have been only 30 suspected fatal overdoses.

According to officials, Morris County's community response to addiction over the years, via numerous nonprofits and county programs such as Hope One, Navigating Hope, and a "Stigma Free" campaign, appears to have had a positive impact.

The county's Hope One initiative team offers free Narcan instruction and supplies, counseling for substance abuse and mental health issues, and even transportation to detox and rehab facilities in areas with a high rate of overdoses, homeless people and hand-to-hand drug dealing.

The van stops in different communities every couple of weeks, but its full schedule can be found here.