The 200 Club of Essex County, founded to assist the families of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty and the oldest such organization of its kind, will hold its 51st Anniversary Valor Awards luncheon on Thursday, May 4th at Nanina’s In The Park, located at 540 Mill St, Belleville, New Jersey. The event begins at 11:30 a.m.
Established in 1966, The 200 Club of Essex County has raised nearly $2 million to support the spouses of fallen officers and to fund scholarships for their children through membership dues and the annual luncheon.
The 200 Club of Essex County, comprised of regional business and civic leaders, has spawned 18 similar organizations throughout New Jersey. Lori Hennon - Bell, vice president and chief security officer for Prudential Financial and The 200 Club president said, “This special organization is dedicated to the principle of caring for those who care for us. Each year, our support from business and community leaders has dramatically increased.”
“The job of a police officer or firefighter is tougher today than ever before,” stated Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, a member of The 200 Club’s board of trustees. “Law enforcement and firefighting are extremely hazardous professions which are performed at tremendous personal risk. The work of The 200 Club of Essex County is greatly appreciated by the entire public safety community and their families.”
According to Hennon - Bell, seven local law enforcement officers and 34 local firefighters will be recognized for bravery, dedication to duty, courageous vigilance and selflessness with individual Valor Awards and Meritorious Service Awards during the luncheon.
Mayor Ras J. Baraka who has made public safety his highest priority for New Jersey’s largest city has recently implemented a host of initiatives and reforms to better serve and protect Newark residents and visitors.
Nominations for The 200 Club’s Valor Award are made by chiefs of Essex County’s municipal fire and police departments and the commanding officers of federal, state and regional public safety agencies. Valor Award recipients are selected by The 200 Club’s Executive Committee.
This year’s individual Valor Award recipients are:
East Orange Police Officers Christopher Kyer and Segundo Marquez for the capture of an armed suspect; Millburn Police Detective Lieutenant David Bonney for the rescue of an 8-year-old autistic boy who had fallen into the Rahway River.
Newark Police Lieutenant Darrell White and Essex County Sheriff’s Detective Abdullah Holmes for the capture of an armed murder suspect; Essex County Prosecutor’s Detectives Rashaan Johnson and Phillip Read for the capture of two armed suspects; Millburn Fire Department Captain Christopher Beady and Firefighter Edgar Echavarria for the high angle rooftop rescue of an emotionally distraught 8-year-old boy with functional challenges from a residential fire; Newark Firefighter Jeremy Larena for the rescue of an unconscious male victim from a residential fire; and, Newark Fire Captains Carl Carpenter and Helder Fonseca, and Firefighters Kevin Daniel, Ivan Encarnacion, Jerome Fernandes, Louis Maisonave, Carlos Martinez and Hilton Reynolds for the rescue of three adults, an infant and a dog from a residential fire.
Montclair Fire Chief John Herrmann, Battalion Chief Greg Murray, Captain Chris Russo, Lieutenants Anthony Acocella, John Grapes, Dave Hill, Bill Morrison and Kevin Sweeney and Firefighters Scott Bowman, Sebastian Covello, Adam Duchinsky, Keith Ferenz, John Fierro, Chris Herrmann, Dave Jones, Artie Karydes, C. J. Miller, Kevin Palek, Kurt Reinhardt, Bill Roth, Jeffrey Testa and Levar Washington, and Millburn Fire Battalion Chief James Boyle will be presented with Meritorious Service Awards for the trench rescue of a male victim who became entombed when a residential oil tank and its support dirt walls collapsed on him during their removal.
Individual tickets for the 51st Anniversary 200 Club Valor Awards luncheon are available at $75 each. For more information and to purchase tickets contact 973-694-4982.
