Valor In Newark: Firefighters, Police Officers Earn Awards

NEWARK, NJ — A group of 20 law enforcement officers and six firefighters from agencies across Essex County earned commendations at the Two Hundred Club of Essex County’s 59th annual Valor Awards luncheon earlier this week.

The awardees included firefighters and police officers from Newark, according to the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, which shared the following details:

NEWARK POLICE DEPARTMENT

"Newark Police Detectives Xaviel Pimental and Jose Collazo responded to an ongoing investigation related to an armed robbery involving a suspect demanding all the victims’ possessions and fleeing with the victim’s phone and wallet. Subsequently apprehended, the detectives recovered and confiscated three loaded, illegal handguns and five cell phones."

"Officers in the Newark Police Division’s Emergency Services Unit responded to a welfare check regarding three neglected children who were being neglected by their mother inside of a barricaded apartment for several weeks. Sergeant Angel Romero and Officer Paul Lamagna remedied the situation; safely removed the children from their mother’s custody."

"Upon hearing gunshots while conducting a routine traffic stop, Newark Police Officers Pierre Chiara and Kaydon Holmes found the dying victim lying nearby. The officers began a foot chase of the shooter who was subsequently arrested and charged for murder."

NEWARK FIRE DEPARTMENT

"Following reports of a male in the Passaic River, Captain Dioniso Bras and Firefighters Brian Laube, Patrick O’Hara, and Jerson Ravelo collectively worked together to safely remove the victim suffering from hypothermia and get him proper medical treatment."

"Units were dispatched to a Third Alarm fire. Upon arriving and entering the burning structure, one Captain and three firefighters were buried under the falling chimney bricks. The Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) was activated, and the brave firefighters were safely removed from the collapsing building and given proper medical treatment."

Newark Fire Division Recipients in Order of Rank:

• Battalion Chief Vincent Barisciano
• Captain Efrain Beltre (Not in Attendance)
• Captain Valter Pires
• Captain Ryan Rosetti
• Firefighter Robert DeFroscia (Not in Attendance)
• Firefighter Nicholas Gay
• Firefighter Amalio Hernandez (Not in Attendance)
• Firefighter Jacob Ramos (Not in Attendance)

OTHER AWARDS

Two late law enforcement officers were honored this year, organizers noted:

“A notable recipient being recognized with the Meritorious Service Award is Newark Police Detective Sergeant Joseph Azcona, who bravely lost his life in March while in the line of duty. Moreover, we will be recognizing the loss of 2020 Valor Award recipient, Fairfield Police Detective James Ciampi, who lost his battle with cancer this past September.”

The Two Hundred Club of Essex County assists the families of police and firefighters killed in the line of duty. Since its inception in 1966, The Two Hundred Club has raised millions of dollars to support the spouses of fallen officers and fund college scholarships for their children.

Nominations for The Two Hundred Club’s Valor Awards are made by the chiefs of Essex County’s municipal and fire departments, as well as the commanding officers of federal, state and regional public safety agencies. Additionally, Valor Award recipients are selected by The Two Hundred Club’s executive committee.

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