County Employees Honored For Saving Elderly Man In Blizzard

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – It seems the worst of times brings out the best in people.

Such was the case in Morristown on Saturday, Jan. 23, when a blizzard blew into town and unloaded more than two-feet of snow on the region.

So on Saturday, when Morris County Sheriff’s Office Detective Thomas Reilly and Morris County Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Christopher Walker were inside the county Administration Building parking garage and noticed an elderly man venturing into the storm subsequently fall into a snow bank, the pair of county employees jumped into action.

Walker and Reilly pulled the man from the snow bank, who had left the senior housing complex on Ann Street to get a loaf of bread from a nearby store, and safely guided him back home.

Walker then headed out to a local store still open and bought the bread for the elderly man, later delivering it to the housing complex.

The duo was honored this week at the Morris County Freeholders Meeting.

“That is the type of selfless act and kindness that are not surprising from our county employees,’’ said Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo. “We tip our hats to these two men.’’

Pictured, from left: Deena Leary, Chris Walker, Freeholder Director Kathy DeFillippo, Tom Reilly, and Sheriff Ed Rochford