Eleven Fairfield Officers Commended for Great Work

Fairfield (NJ) At the July 22, 2019 meeting of the Fairfield Mayor and Council, Police Chief Anthony G. Manna commended eleven officers for exceptional police work over the last few months. Nine officers were presented with lifesaving citations, one for having made a substantial marijuana arrest and one with an exceptional duty citation for her work in enhancing the department’s reputation in the community through social media. The following is a summary of the work that took place giving rise to the commendations:

Lifesaving Commendation

Officer Brian Holzmann Officer Steven Ptaszynski Officer Daniel Moran Officer Daniel Kalinowski

On April 8, 2019, at approximately 12:43 PM, these officers responded to a room at the LaQuinta hotel on a report of an unresponsive female. She was not breathing and had no pulse. The officers began CPR, attached an AED and inserted an oral airway. Two shocks were administered. The victim regained a pulse and the officers continued to assist the victim with her breathing until she was transported to an area hospital. Present at the council meeting and representing her daughter was Valerie Gilmore who has reported that her daughter is still recovering from this incident.

Lifesaving Commendation

Sergeant Michael Nyhuis Officer Louis Bisciotti Officer Michael Tilton

On May 5, 2019, at approximately 2:27 AM, these officers were dispatched to a Fairfield residence on a report of a male that was not feeling well. At that time, the victim refused further medical attention and did not want to go to the hospital. At approximately 4:46 AM, these same officers responded to the same residence. This time, the victim was unresponsive. The officers initiated CPR and attached an AED. A number of shocks were administered and he was transported to the hospital. We are happy to report that the victim lived and is still recovering from the incident.

Lifesaving Commendation

Sergeant Christopher Niemiec Officer Steven D’Argenio Officer Daniel Moran Mr. Robert Ragazzo (Civilian Award)

On June 7, 2019, these officers were dispatched to Hollywood Pizza on a report of a male apparently having a heart attack. Upon the arrival of the officers, Mr. Robert Ragazzo was already performing CPR on the victim. The victim had no pulse and was not breathing. The officers were able to attach an AED to the victim and insert an oral airway. They provided one shock to the victim. He regained a pulse and the officers continued to assist the victim with breathing. Happily the victim survived this incident.

Narcotics Commendation

Officer Steven Ptaszynski

On May 5, 2019, Officer Ptaszynski stopped a car on Route 80. When he approached the car, he immediately detected a strong odor of marijuana and observed what appeared to be a large fold of money on the front seat. Further investigation led to the recovery of over a pound and a half of marijuana, $2800.00 in cash and drug paraphernalia related to marijuana distribution. One individual was arrested.

Exceptional Duty Commendation

Officer Stacy Chiarolanza

Approximately a year or so ago, Officer Chiarolanza was re-assigned to the department’s newly created administrative division to assist in handling the ever-increasing volume of administrative work that a law enforcement agency has to deal with on a daily basis. Additionally, this unit was tasked in coordinating the department’s community policing initiatives which also included improving on getting important information out to the community in a timely and memorable way.

Since that time, Officer Chiarolanza has single handedly taken over the important job of running the department’s entire social media campaign, providing citizens with valuable information as well as highlighting the many different things our officers do each day.

For bringing public acclaim to the Fairfield Police Department through our social media accounts and in and by furthering police efficiency and contributions to the welfare and advancement of the profession, she was award the exceptional duty citation.

“As Chief of Police, I am extremely proud of the efforts of all these exceptional police officers and all are deserving of this praise. But insofar as saving lives, it is beyond extraordinary and not by any accident that Fairfield police officers saved the lives of three people during three consecutive months. It is because of their professionalism, dedication and training that this occurs” said Chief Anthony G. Manna.

Authorized by: Chief Anthony Manna