Officers Honored for Exceptional Contributions; Van Saders Promoted to Detective

Police Chief Frank Papapietro honored members of the NMPD for exceptional contributions in the line of duty and promoted Officer Kevin Van Saders to Detective during Wednesday's meeting of the Mayor and Council.

Van Saders, who joined NMPD in 2006, has been working in the detective bureau for approximately one year, but was officially promoted Wednesday evening.

"Van Saders has one of the highest arrest records this year," Papapietro said. "I couldn't be happier with this decision."

In addition to Van Saders' promotion, Papapietro recognized officers for exceptional dedication to their jobs that went above and beyond the call of duty. 

Papapietro honored the following members with departmental citations and plaques:

Det. Lt. Frank Ramaci, Sgt. Brian Clancy, Sgt. John Maroney, Det. Kevin Van Saders and Officer Keith Wester for the arrest of alleged burglar Jeremy Buttigieg at the food court of the Garden State Plaza after eluding police for a month. Buttigieg was wanted in connection with a burglary that occurred on July 12, 2012, in a house on North Park Drive where jewelry and cash were taken from the master bedroom.

Officers Nelson Perez and Bryan Mone received citations for the arrest of 46-year old Paul Andreu in Nov. 2012, on charges ranging from simple assault to carrying a loaded handgun and impersonating a New York City police sergeant.

Det. Sgt Brian Long and Officer Derek Mattessich for the arrest of Jason Gaines, 33, of Ramsey, on charges in connection with the Sept. 29, 2012, robbery of four borough teens in which he had posed as a police officer when he stopped their vehicle. 

Det. Sgt. Brian Long, Sgt. Brian Clancy, Officers Kevin Morris and Scott Petrie for the arrest of Harry Wiltshire, 39, of Teaneck, as the man who allegedly exposed himself twice in one week to the same woman in the laundry room of the Brookchester Apartment complex in March, 2012.

Sgt. Brian Clancy and Officers Morris and Mattessich for the June 2012 arrest of Sheldon Cox, 26, of New Milford for third degree burglary and theft. Cox was already facing charges of conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit theft and employing a juvenile in the commission of a crime stemming from his arrest by New Milford Police on May 20.

CPR lifesaving awards were given to Lt. Kevin Kiene, Det. Kevin Van Saders and Officer Brian Carlino for providing lifesaving CPR to retired New Milford Cpt. Chuck Gerity.

CPR lifesaving awards were also issued to  Lt. John O'Malley and officers Renzo Tripani, Richard Giacoboni Jr., Kevin Morris, Christopher Vinci, George Herrero, Darrell Marshall and Frank Haggerty.