Jackson police officers honored
BY DAVE BENJAMIN Staff Writer
They risk their lives every day and people call them heroes.

PHOTOS BY DAVE BENJAMIN Several officers who serve in the Jackson Police Department were honored with citations of merit during a recent meeting of the Jackson Township Council.

They are the men and women of the Jackson Police Department who spend their days protecting the public, saving lives, and finding and arresting those who break the law.

On Dec. 9, the Township Council recognized several members of the police department,

Police Chief Matthew Kunz announced the promotion of one officer to the rank of sergeant, distributed award certificates, ribbons and a plaque to several officers, and recognized one telecommunications operator for his years of service to Jackson.

"This month we are going to see the retirement of one of our sergeants, Sgt. Anthony Amalfitano" Kunz said. "As such, we have the opportunity and pleasure to advance Detective John Giovanetti to the rank of sergeant."

Giovanetti was appointed to the police department in June 1999. He is a graduate of Phillipsburg High School, Phillipsburg, and Ocean Country College, Toms River, where he received an associate of science degree in criminal justice. He pursued the study of law and justice at The College of New Jersey, Ewing.

Michael Kafton council president

Giovanetti was assigned to the Jackson Detective Bureau in January 2007, where he has had assignments as liaison to the Senior Burglary Task Force, which resulted in the arrest of a burglar who committed 200 burglaries throughout the state. He served as the terrorism information liaison.

Giovanetti received the police department's Excellent Police Duty ribbon and was named Police Officer of the Year several times. He is supported by his wife, Dawn, and children, Jason and Sienna.

Kunz said, "It is my pleasure to promote him to the position of sergeant, where he will continue to serve the department and the township even better."

Kunz said Police Officer William Campbell was receiving the department's Lifesaving ribbon.

"Officer Campbell hastened into a parking lot and removed a child from a vehicle. He quickly responded to assist, whereupon he learned that the child was choking," Kunz said.

Felix Chiarelli

Campbell performed the Heimlich maneuver, which dislodged the object that was obstructing the child's airway. The child resumed normal breathing after that, the police chief said.

In another incident, Police Officers Wayne Olejarz, Michael Grochowski and Derek Gorski were summoned to an abandoned 911 call where it was determined there was someone crying in a home, Kunz said.

"Based on those cries, the officers made the decision to force entry into the residence, where they were confronted with a male covered in blood and a female who had been beaten and battered," Kunz said. "The male was quickly apprehended and the victim was quickly provided with medical assistance."

Kunz said the officers' action prevented further injury to and the possible death of the victim and led to the successful prosecution of her attacker.

Each officer received the department's Meritorious Police Duty ribbon.

In another incident reported by Kunz, Police Officers John Rodriguez, Richard Bosley and (now Sgt.) Michael Cunningham were summoned to a residence for a crisis intervention in which a male suspect was described as having been drinking and on psychiatric medications, as well as being out of control.

"Upon their arrival at the residence and after meeting with the subject's mother, they located the subject, who was armed with a knife and a firearm and retreated to the basement," the chief said. "Their search found the male kneeling with the firearm and the knife to his throat. Through very calm and compassionate negotiations led by Officer Rodriguez, the male was ultimately convinced to surrender the weapons and accompany the officers to the hospital for much-needed help."

For his actions in leading the negotiations, Rodriguez received the Excellent Police Duty ribbon. For their roles in providing assistance and the successful conclusion of the incident, Bosley and Cunningham each received a Command Citation Letter.

The final award was presented to retired Officer Felix Chiarelli, badge No. 2, who served as Special Police Officer Class I and Class II and as a telecommunications operator.

"This is a very special award that very few people can achieve, and that would be longevity of service," Kunz told the audience at the council meeting. "In preparing this award, I looked back at Officer Chiarelli's personnel file and noted that he applied as a special police officer on Jan. 17, 1966. I also noted that he had a career within a career when he served from 1982 to 1998 as a telecommunicator, another outstanding component of his service to the township."

Kunz read comments from Chiarelli's interview with Sgt. Borden Applegate, which included the fact that the officer had to purchase most of his own uniform and his sidearm.

Chiarelli was presented with a service award plaque in recognition of his outstanding service to Jackson from January 1966 through July 2007.

Township Council President Michael Kafton said, "Most of us, when we return home after a day of work, rarely have to tell our families about incidents that involve guns or knives or relate a story about someone who was covered in blood or that a child had to be saved. Nearly every single day the police officers in our town have an experience similar to what you have heard this evening. So, standing before you are some of the finest police officers, and I would like everyone to stand up and give them a rousing round of applause."