Cops, firefighters praised for handling of summer emergencies
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose thank first responders during a ceremony Aug. 31 in Newark (Photo: Dept. of Public Safety)
The ceremony held at Newark's 5th police precinct recognized members of the city public safety department for outstanding service from June through August, officials said. Mayor Ras Baraka, and Public Safety Anthony Ambrose held the event along with Police Chief Darnell Henry and Fire Chief John Centanni.
"Mayor Baraka and I wanted to personally thank the men and women who heroically risk their lives on a daily basis for the good of the people of Newark," Ambrose said in a statement. "Public safety can sometimes be a thankless job, but the police and firefighters of this city should be reminded that they are both appreciated and respected for the sacrifices they make to preserve the safety and quality of life in our city."
Fourteen firefighters, who were injured containing an electrical fire at Essex County College, were credited for their efforts to bring the flames under control June 12, according to officials.
"Firefighters responded and removed all the occupants inside the location and extinguished the fire," Ambrose previously said.
Among those honored were members of the police division's tactical unit, called the Emergency Response Team. The officers arrested a man who authorities say stabbed his wife several times and barricaded himself inside an apartment on Dillard Court July 29.
Man subdued after allegedly stabbing wife, ending 4-hour police standoff
The ERT officers fired what was called a "less lethal" weapon at the 64-year-old man and subdued him after an approximately four-hour standoff. At the time, Ambrose told NJ Advance Media the officers intervened just as the man tried to stab himself. The couple's 9-year-old grandson was in the apartment, but escaped uninjured.
Police said the woman survived the knife attack after undergoing emergency surgery for critical injuries.
Thirteen ERT officers were honored for rescuing four adults and a 14-year-old boy from a gunman who held them hostage in an apartment on the 200 block of South Street early Aug. 6, according to officials. Yucef Shabazz Rogers, 32, of Newark, was charged in that incident. Police say they recovered an AK-47 assault weapon in the residence.
1 in custody after reports of armed man at Newark building
Officials honored 11 members of the SWAT team for rescuing two men from the roof of a Victoria Street industrial building Aug. 5 after the pair encountered what they initially thought was a gun-toting squatter. The weapon, police said, later turned out to be a realistic-looking BB gun.
Five police officers also earned accolades for seizing guns, drugs and making an arrest at a building on Muhammad Ali Boulevard Aug. 1. Three officers were recognized for a robbery arrest Aug. 8 after the injured victim showed up at the 3rd Precinct and police quickly chased down the assailant.
Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.