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As you approach the John H. Stamler Police Academy on the walkway leading to the front door, at the base of the flagpole bearing the American flag, you pass by an obelisk stone memorializing the names of the Unoin County officers who fell in the line of duty.
It is both a tribute to those officers, and a reminder to those of us they left behind that the duties and responsibilities of a law enforcement officers often places them at risk.
The staff of the John H. Stamler Police Academy is grateful for the men and women who place their lives on the line each and every day to protect our communities. Every life lost is a personal tragedy, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and communities of those we lost. |
Class 95 Recruits Present Living Memorial
During Patriot Day Ceremony, September 11, 2006 |
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“The memories of our friends and the others we lost on 9-11 must live on, and they will live on in your actions. You are the ones who will maintain their aspirations and dreams. Honor them, their courage, and their sacrifice, and never forget.”
Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow |
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As part of their curriculum to become police officers, the police recruits attending the John H. Stamler Police Academy in Union County conducted a Patriot Day memorial service honoring those who perished at the hands of 19 terrorists who hijacked four American commercial passenger jetliners and killed almost 3,000 people including 62 Union County citizens on September 11, 2001. |
| 9-11 Memorial Tree: Recruit Thomas Ostrander of the Westfield Police Department (kneeling) places a temporary memorial marker by the flowering plum tree presented to the John H. Stamler Police Academy from Class 95 as part of the recruits’ September 11 memorial service. Assisting in the dedication of the tree, which will serve as a living memorial to those who perished, are, from left, Police Academy Director Anthony J. Parenti, Union County Police Chief Daniel Vaniska, president of the Union County Police Chiefs Association, Father Donald Hummell, Police Academy Chaplain, Alternate Route Recruits Kelly Rieder and Eugene Perrotta, class leader Jessica Melendez of the Middlesex County College Police Department, and academy maintenance staffers Stephen Sengler and Peter Runfolo. |
The stirring ceremony conducted for the law enforcement community was planned and implemented by the 55 members of Class 95 at the academy in Scotch Plains to commemorate and honor the thousands of innocent people who lost their lives during the unfolding of those tragic terroristic attacks.
In attendance were Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow, Union County Police Chiefs and other law enforcement officers — many of whom worked at Ground Zero following the attacks. The Class 95 Recruit Color Guard posted the colors to half-mast, attended by the Union County Color Guard which included officers from the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, Union County Sheriff’s Office and the Hillside Police Department.
In presenting a flowering plum tree to the John H. Stamler Police Academy, Alternate Route Recruit Eugene Perrotta said the living memorial presented by Class 95 “stands as a symbol of our resolve in the law enforcement community to be constantly vigilant against future threats to our country.” “Unlike most crimes that end in an arrest and conviction,” he said, “the ultimate goal and victory in the war on terrorism is that nothing happens.”
The memorial tree was planted adjacent to the memorial plaque at the entrance of the Police Academy honoring those officers who have lost their lives “In The Line Of Duty.” A temporary memorial marker was placed during the service, awaiting delivery of a permanent bronze plaque.
“We hope that the growth of this memorial tree, and its rebirth of life each spring, will serve as a reminder of the spirits of those who lost their lives on September 11. It also serves to represent the strength and hope that define our nation, and to inspire all who enter the Academy,” Recruit Perrotta said. |
“Our heroic brothers and sisters did not die in vain that morning.
We are committed forever to carry their torch --for that has become our legacy.”
Union County Police Chief Daniel Vaniska |
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The Union County Police Chiefs Association was organized in 1949 as an association dedicated to the service of the people of Union County, New Jersey. The stated purposes for the association was “to secure a closer relationship among police officials throughout Union County, and to secure unity of action in police matters, and elevate the standards for police institutions; to further the adoption of humane efforts in the enforcement of laws, the advancement along all lines pertaining to the prevention and detection of crime, and the promotion of police and education in general.” The association, which represents the county’s 21 municipalities, Union County Police Department, and Union County Sheriff’s Office, continues to strive to achieve the goals set forth by their predecessors 57 years ago. Kenilworth Police Chief William Dowd currently serves as president for a one-year term. |
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Officers Who Made The Ultimate Sacrifice “In The Line Of Duty” |
The following is a list of the officers honored on our IN THE LINE OF DUTY Memorial.
Additional information on each officer will be posted in future months with articles taken from “THE NEWSLETTER,” published quarterly by the Union County Prosecutor’s Office. |
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Albert E. Jewell, Special Policeman |
Rahway |
March 2, 1895 |
Gunfire |
Robert Paton, Police Officer |
Elizabeth |
October 16, 1918 |
Gunfire |
Captain John J. Hiney |
Elizabeth |
October 22, 1918 |
Automobile Accident |
Jacob Kraus, Police Officer |
Rahway |
February 26, 1919 |
Gunfire |
James Lynch, Police Officer |
Rahway |
February 26, 1919 |
Gunfire |
Florance J. O’Sullivan, Chief of Police |
Scotch Plains |
September 2, 1921 |
Motorcycle Accident |
William John Logan, Chief of Police |
Fanwood |
September 27, 1921 |
Train Accident |
Michael Norton, Detective |
Elizabeth |
July 21, 1922 |
Assault |
Harry Orr, Police Officer |
Rahway |
December 5, 1922 |
Motorcycle Accident |
Maurice P. Higgins |
Plainfield |
November 26, 1925 |
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Edwin B. Fitzpatrick, Patrolman |
UC Park |
October 17, 1928 |
Vehicular Assault |
John F. McGann, Police Officer |
Elizabeth |
December 15, 1930 |
Gunfire |
Thomas W. England, Patrolman |
Hillside |
August 16, 1932 |
Motorcycle Accident |
Frank Carine, Jr., Police Officer |
Elizabeth |
July 1, 1934 |
Gunfire |
William J. Kroeschel, Police Officer |
Elizabeth |
August 14, 1936 |
Automobile Accident |
Edgar B. (Doc) Wright, Patrolman |
Westfield |
February 22, 1938 |
Motorcycle Accident |
George N. Guempel, Police Officer |
Elizabeth |
April 15, 1941 |
Motorcycle Accident |
Andrew P. Forbes, Patrolman |
Roselle |
June 22, 1951 |
Motorcycle Accident |
Clinton Bond, Sergeant |
Union |
February 12, 1954 |
Gunfire |
Charles Bernoskie, Police Officer |
Rahway |
November 28, 1958 |
Gunfire |
Joseph R. Roessner, Patrolman |
Springfield |
March 13, 1962 |
Vehicle Pursuit |
John V. Gleason, Jr., Patrolman |
Plainfield |
July 16, 1967 |
Assault |
Robert M. Perry, Patrolman |
Plainfield |
July 1, 1970 |
Gunfire |
John James Burns, Police Officer |
Rahway |
January 8, 1971 |
Struck by Train |
William J. Waterson, Patrolman |
Clark |
July 4, 1971 |
Gunfire |
Frank Buczek, Patrolman |
Plainfield |
September 22, 1971 |
Gunfire |
Robert F. Hand, Patrolman |
Cranford |
February 11, 1975 |
Vehicle Pursuit |
Anthony Lordi, Patrolman |
Hillside |
December 14, 1979 |
Gunfire |
Abigail J. Powelett, Police Officer |
Plainfield |
March 19, 1985 |
Gunfire |
Thomas P. Haughton, Patrolman |
Garwood |
November 24, 1995 |
Automobile Accident |
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