Former Westfield Lieutenant Dies, Remembered As 'Selfless'

WESTFIELD, NJ — Retired Westfield Lieutenant Philip David Lieberman died on Thursday, according to announcement from Westfield Police Department.

Lieberman first started his career with Westfield Police when he was appointed as a patrolman in 1966. Westfield Chief Christopher Battiloro recognized the lieutenant for his 31 years of "selfless" service to the Department.

"For those of us who worked with Phil, we will fondly remember him as the quintessential, tough 'no-nonsense' cop, and as a boss who always demanded your best performance and accepted no excuses whatsoever for your lack thereof," Battiloro wrote in a statement. "His kind no longer exists today."

According to Battiloro, Lieberman was promoted to Detective 2nd Grade on July 1, 1973 and eventually rose the ranks to become Lieutenant of Police on June 1, 1997.

As a Sergeant of Police, Lieberman was assigned to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Strike Force and, during his years assigned to the Detective Bureau, worked closely with the then-United States Customs Service on many narcotics-related criminal investigations.

Lieberman retired from active duty after 31 years of service on May 31, 1998.

During his career, Battiloro said Lieutenant Lieberman received numerous awards and commendations for "exceptional service."

He was the recipient of two Certificates of Merit, two Command Citations and, most notably, the Medal of Merit for his actions on December 2, 1988 when he located and arrested an armed man who kidnapped a woman at gunpoint following a burglary to her Woodmere Drive home.

You can read more about Lieberman's efforts in this case in Battiloro's post here.

As a result of his courageous actions, then-Sergeant Lieberman was presented with the prestigious "Shield Award" from the Knights of Columbus, Westfield Council No. 1711.

Lieberman was predeceased by his son, Detective 1st Grade Eric Lieberman, who served as a member of the Westfield Police Department for 26 years until his sudden death while still on active duty on May 22, 2018.

Read more: Westfield Mourns 'Unexpected' Death Of Detective

Lieberman is survived by his wife, Patricia A. (Werner) Lieberman and his grandsons Tyler and Eric.

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