3 Rescued From Ocean In Separate Incidents In Seaside Park

SEASIDE PARK, NJ — Four Seaside Park police officers are being lauded for rescuing swimmers caught in rip currents in Seaside Park.

The rescues happened on Sept. 13 and Sept. 19, the Seaside Park Police Department said. Two of the officers had to be treated at a hospital after the rescues, police said.

On Sept. 13, Class I Officers Dakota Giglio and Bryan Urspruch were patrolling the Stockton Avenue beach on a quad when someone flagged them down about a swimmer in distress, about 100 feet out in the water, police said.

Giglio and Urspruch went into the water and were able to get to the victim safely to shore, but the person refused medical attention, police said.

On Sept. 19, Class II Officer Mason Kinlan and Class I Officer Luke Cox were patrolling on a quad when two males stuck in a rip current were reported at the 2nd Avenue Beach, police said. Authorities did not say whether the two were juveniles or adults.

The two swimmers were about 50 yards from shore and Kinlan and Cox were able to get them back to shore with help from the Seaside Heights Fire Department, police said.

Both officers and one of the victims were taken to Community Medical Center for further evaluation and the officers were later released after being treated, police said.

"Chief (James) Boag and the Seaside Park Police Department would like to recognize these four officers, Officer Giglio, Officer Urspruch, Officer Kinlan and Officer Cox, for acting above and beyond their duties with the intention to save lives," the police department said.

The borough has not had lifeguards on duty since Labor Day, authorities said, and reminded people to stay out of the water.