45°
Messina, Cavanaugh, flanked by brother officers (CLIFFVIEWPILOT.COM PHOTO)
“We see members of the public safety community put themselves in harm’s way every day,” Fair Lawn Police Officer and PBA Executive Board Member Michael O’Brien told CLIFFVIEW PILOT. “Kenny and Mike exemplify the true meaning of honor, courage and service to others without regard for their own safety.”
The 200 Club also gave its top honor, the 2011 Valor Award, to Paramus Police Officers Rachel Morgan, who was shot by a fleeing suspect this year, and Ryan Hayo, who came to her rescue. (SEE: Officer publicly thanks friends, family — and her hero)
“Bravery is its own great reward,” Fair Lawn Detective and PBA President David Boone told more than 600 people gathered at the Marriott at Glenpointe in Teaneck for The 200 Club of Bergen County’s 25th annual awards luncheon.. “But recognition helps us realize its full magnitude and sacrifice.”
Morgan, Hayo
Besides the Paramus and Fair Lawn officers, more than a dozen others received awards from The 200 Club. They include:
Carlstadt Patrol Officers John Sanzari and Dominick Parillo, who grabbed a pair of thieves during a gunpoint warehouse robbery, one of whom broke Parillo’s jaw. Thanks to the two suspects, investigators uncovered a ring headed by a group of New York City police officers, both retired and on the job. All were federally prosecuted. (SEE: CLIFFVIEW PILOT COVERAGE)
East Rutherford Police Officer Kevn Felten, who was burned and sustained smoke inhalation in rescuing a resident about to jump from the third floor of a burning building.
Fort Lee Police Lt. Patrick Kissane and Detective Philip Ross, who grabbed a suicidal 13-year-old boy before he could jump from a 32-story high-rise.
Hackensack Deputy Fire Chief Fred Longobardi, Police Lt. Richard Katz and firefighter Michael Oates, who pulled a man from a burning vehicle.
Hackensack Police Detective John Dalton, who found two men carrying a pair of handguns — one with dried blood on it, the other fully loaded — during a motor vehicle stop.
New Jersey State Trooper Joshua Coppola, EMTs Gregory Foley and David Kaczor and MICPs Sean Scott and William Werner of Hackensack University Medical Center, who saved the life of a New York police officer whose jugular vein and corotid artery were severed by an object that hurtled through the windshield of his car on Route 80.
Northvale Police Chief Vincent St. Angelo and Police Officer Michael Graham, who rescued four family members from a house in which deadly levels of carbon monoxide had escaped.
Retired Palisades Park Fire Chief Thomas Cusker, who received the John R. Rinaldi Award for his “outstanding service and dedication” to his department and the Bergen County Fire Chiefs Association.
South Hackensack Police Officer Peter Bongiovanni (now with the county police) and Little Ferry Patrol Officer John Clark, who evacuated a burning spa on Route 46, getting all employees and patrons out safely. (SEE: CLIFFVIEW PILOT COVERAGE)
Teaneck Police Sgt. Scott Tesser, who snatched a pair of scissors from a suicidal pregnant woman so other officers could grab hold of her and have her hospitalized.
Messina headed into the Walgreens on River Road on Sept. 1, 2010 on a call of a woman trying to fill a bogus prescription for Oxycodone.
An employee pointed out 31-year-old Cyrinthia Marlin to Messina, but she ignored the sergeant’s orders to stop and got into the passenger seat of a waiting car.
Cavanaugh, who was in the parking lot on another call, immediately came running.
The driver threw the 2003 maroon Lexus into reverse and the open passenger door knocked down Cavanaugh, with the car nearly running him over.
Then she put it in drive — and headed straight toward Messina.
With the car bearing down on him, the 23-year department veteran aimed and fired twice, then was struck and thrown over the hood.
The 200 Club President Jack Terhune (CLIFFVIEWPILOT.COM PHOTO)The incident came less than a hour after the Fair Lawn PBA concluded a rally to protest the layoffs of four police officers — three of them Iraqi war veterans — following nine 9 retirements and transfers.
Cavanaugh was banged up but OK. Messina had to be treated at The Valley Hospital for his injuries and kept overnight.
Marlin and the driver, Priscilla Coleman, also 31, were later arrested after the car was found in Newark with two bullet holes in the hood. Both from Newark, they are charged with attempted murder, armed robbery, aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, attempted theft by deception and forgery.
(CLICK HERE FOR: CLIFFVIEW PILOT‘s COVERAGE OF THE INCIDENT)
200 Club President Jack Terhune, a former Bergen County sheriff, presented the awards Wednesday to both Cavanaugh, on the force five years, and Messina.
Both proudly held their plaques, which praised “an act demonstrating a high level of courage under perilous conditions that is a credit to him or her and their agency and or being instrumental in saving a life above and beyond the call of duty.”
Several officers, family members and friends of the Fair Lawn officers watched proudly and later posed for photographs.
“Its always an honor to attend such an event and be reminded of the heroic acts that occur around us every day,” Fair Lawn Police Lt. Derek Bastinck said. “For 25 years, the 200 Club of Bergen County has recognized outstanding work by dedicated public servants.”
For more, go to: The 200 Club of Bergen County
Click here to follow Daily Voice Hackensack and receive free news updates.
