Middlesex Police Department’s Annual Awards Ceremony – November 26, 2019
Tuesday night’s Mayor and Council meeting provided the backdrop for the 2019 Middlesex Police Department’s Annual Awards Ceremony. Police Chief Matthew P. Geist presented awards to officers for their noteworthy accomplishments. Sergeant Thomas Falk, Detective Daniel McCue, Officer Jamie Marczak, Officer James Morley, and Officer Scott Mulford are awarded the Unit Citation Award in recognition of their outstanding work with an investigation involving a suspect possessing prohibitive weapons or devices that were capable of causing or risking widespread injury or damage. Officer Jamie Marczak, Officer James Morley, and Officer Scott Mulford responded to a borough residence for a medical emergency. While treating the patient they observed what they believed to be explosive devices in the residence. After the discovery Sgt. Thomas Falk and Detective Daniel McCue responded to assist with this investigation. The officers were mindful of several reports of unexplained explosions that occurred on Warrenville Road near the border of Green Brook Township in 2017. A search of the residence yielded materials consistent with those used to construct explosive devices. The investigation revealed that, on at least two occasions, the homeowner was responsible for the explosions in the area of Warrenville Road. He was arrested and charged with various arson-related charges. Detective Daniel McCue, Detective Sean Flanagan and Detective Paul Steffanelli are awarded the Unit Citation in recognition of their outstanding work in conducting numerous complex and difficult narcotic investigations that resulted in the successful apprehension of dangerous criminals. Since 2018, the Detectives have brought charges against five separate individuals for Strict Liability for a Drug Induced Death, a crime of the first degree. In each of these cases, the defendants provided drugs to persons that resulted in their overdose deaths. Police Officer Scott Mulford was awarded a Certificate of Commendation and a Stork pin. Officer Scott Mulford responded to a first aid call to assist a pregnant patient. Upon arrival the officer assessed the patient and quickly ascertained expectant mother was in labor and the baby’s birth was imminent. Officer Mulford assisted the mother with delivery of a healthy baby girl. Lieutenant Daniel O’Connor, Sergeant Stephen Johnson, Detective Daniel McCue, Detective Sean Flanagan, and Detective Paul Steffanelli were awarded Certificates of Commendation for their efforts in completing an Evidence and Property Room Reconfiguration, Conversion and Audit Project. Pictured (left to right): Chief Matthew P. Geist, Mayor-Elect John Madden, Sergeant Stephen Johnson, Lieutenant Daniel O’Connor, Sergeant Thomas Falk, Officer Scott Mulford, Detective Daniel McCue, Officer James Morley, Officer Jaime Marczak, Detective Paul Steffanelli, and Detective Sean Flanagan
Middlesex Police Participates in Food Drive – November 4, 2019
Police Chief Matthew P. Geist proudly announced that the Middlesex Borough Police Department helped youth volunteers from the borough collect over 6,400 pounds of food and other essential household items in support of the Middlesex County Food Organization and Outreach Distribution Service’s (MCFOODS) annual food drive. “The response from our citizens, our merchants and our civic organizations was overwhelming;” said Chief Geist, “and our youth volunteers and the adults that guided them are to be commended for their tireless and selfless work. Once again, we have proved that we are a community that cares.” MCFOODS – Middlesex County’s Emergency Food Distribution Network – serves over 120 local food pantries, soup kitchens and social service agencies each week. The donations will directly impact children, seniors, veterans, disabled, and working families struggling to make ends meet. The youth and parent volunteers “took to the streets,” first distributing donation bags to residents then returning to collect them. Collections sites were established throughout town. Middlesex Police Officers distributed and then collected food donation bins and every officer made a donation of their own. The volunteers also accepted donations at Middlesex High School football games. Lisa Chippendale spearheaded the volunteer effort and Police Officer Joleen Auricchio coordinated the police department’s activities.
Members of the Middlesex Borough Police Department attended the 18th Annual Blue Mass held at the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi in Metuchen. The service honors local, county, state and federal law enforcement officials of all faiths who live and work in the diocese, which includes Middlesex, Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren Counties.
We thank everyone who stopped by to share coffee or conversation with us during National Coffee with a Cop Day yesterday! We would also like to recognize 7-Eleven for graciously hosting the event.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Law Enforcement Statewide Recognition Ceremony – June 13, 2019
Officer Anthony Painchaud was honored at the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Law Enforcement Statewide Recognition Ceremony. The ceremony recognized dedicated officers who have shown exemplary efforts in the fight to eliminate drunk and drugged driving in the year 2018. Congratulations to Officer Painchaud for his dedication and commitment to the safety of the residents of Middlesex Borough.
Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics – June 7, 2019
Officers from the Middlesex Police Department participated in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. Known as Guardians of the Flame, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the “Flame of Hope” into Opening Ceremonies of local competitions continuing a tradition that began in 1981. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is an important public awareness and fundraising platform for the Special Olympics program.
The Middlesex Police Department and the Middlesex PBA Local 181 hosted a Fishing Derby on Saturday, June 1st, 2019 from 9am-12pm at Victor Crowell Park. The program offers community togetherness, outdoor fun, and an opportunity to meet local police officers and elected officials!
35th Annual New Jersey Law Enforcement Memorial Service – May 21, 2019
Several of our officers were honored to attend the 35th Annual New Jersey Law Enforcement Memorial Service this morning, held at the historic Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. This emotional and moving ceremony is coordinated and hosted each spring by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP). The service pays tribute to law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty over the past year, as well as all heroes who have been lost over the years. It is the oldest state-wide memorial of its kind in the nation.
Chief Matthew P. Geist announced that Captain Frank DeNick and Sergeant Michael Mastrogiovanni recently participated in the 23rd annual Police Unity Tour. The Police Unity Tour was organized in 1997 with the hope that it would raise public awareness of Police Officers who have died in the line of duty and with the purpose to honor their sacrifices. What started as 18 riders on a four day fundraising bicycle ride from Florham Park, NJ to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., has grown into nine chapters consisting of nearly 2,500 members nationwide who make the trip annually. Captain DeNick and Sergeant Mastrogiovanni, both highly-decorated, 27 year veterans of the police department, joined approximately 300 riders from around the country for the Police Unity Tour Chapter VII Challenge Ride. The pair and their fellow riders departed from Franklin Township Police Headquarters on Friday, May 10 to begin their three day, 250 mile trek to Washington DC. Their journey culminated with the Candlelight Vigil, a signature event of the National Police Week observance in the nation’s capital. This year, 371 names of fallen officers, including 158 who died in the line of duty in 2018, were read aloud. The program also featured special recognition of survivors of fallen officers and concluded with the lighting of candles. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as National Police Week. “Captain DeNick and Sergeant Mastrogiovanni are the first members of this department to participate in this important event” said Chief Geist, “They trained very hard to prepare for this ride and we are very proud of them for their commitment and for their sacrifices.”
Bicycle Rodeo at Watchung Elementary School – May 9, 2019
Officer Jamie Marczak was invited to join Christopher Gonda, a Safe Routes to School Coordinator at Keep Middlesex Moving, Inc., to assist with a Bicycle Rodeo at Watchung Elementary School yesterday. The program was designed to be a fun, interactive way to educate children about bicycle safety.
Thank you to everyone who joined us this morning for Coffee With a Cop! It was our pleasure to share coffee and conversations with so many different members of our great community. We also thank the Middlesex Elks for once again opening their doors to graciously host the event and serve breakfast to all of our guests!
Lieutenant Craig Comiskey, the Patrol Division Commander with the Middlesex Police Department, graduated from the 53rd session of the prestigious New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police (NJSACOP) Command and Leadership Academy on Thursday, January 17, 2019.
Chief Matthew P. Geist presented Certificate of Commendations to Lieutenant Craig Comiskey and Officer George Pilesky for completing 24 and 5 years of service, respectively, without taking a single day of sick leave. We congratulate Lt. Comiskey and Ofc. Pilesky on their outstanding accomplishments and thank them for their dedication to serving the Borough of Middlesex.
#NotEvenOnce Opiate Awareness Program at Middlesex High School – January 2019
Middlesex Police Department Introduces #NotEvenOnce Opiate Awareness Program at Middlesex High School Middlesex Borough Police Chief Matthew P. Geist announced that the Middlesex Police introduced the #NotEvenOnce program to twelfth graders at Middlesex High School this week. The interactive course, developed by the Manchester Township (NJ) Police Department, meets all of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for health classes. “We feel that this program will enable us to get important information to our high school seniors and equip them with the tools they need to make good decisions as they enter this critical period in their young lives,” said Police Chief Geist. Taught by Police Officer Joleen Auricchio and Detective Paul Steffanelli in collaboration with educators from the school district, the program aims to inform students of the dangers posed by opiates and to help them make better decisions as they go off to college or enter the work force. “Two years ago we launched our successful Opiate Outreach Initiative to assist those suffering from opiate addiction in getting the help that they need. This week, we introduced the #NotEvenOnce program to help prevent our kids from becoming victims of the opiate epidemic”, said Chief Geist.
