Carteret police officers honored for life-saving response to apartment fire
Nine Carteret police officers have been awarded the Detective Joseph Seals Valor Award as part of the 2021 Excellence in Policing Awards virtual ceremony, for their life-saving response to the July 2021 fire at the Bristol Station Apartment Building.
The award was announced by acting New Jersey Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck, who said the award honors law enforcement officers who demonstrate an act of extraordinary bravery or heroism in the line of duty.
“Our officers selflessly ran into the burning building without thinking twice to save the endangered residents,” said Carteret Police Chief Dennis McFadden. “Without their brave actions, we may have been looking at a mass casualty situation, but thankfully all occupants exited quickly and safely without injuries.”
The nine officers – Detective Lt. John Kelly, Detectives Louis Maldonado, Raul Martinez, Anthony Ramos, Eric Guzman, Justin Craig, and Officers Michael Kelly, Javier Borrero, and Derrick Clavijo – responded to a fire call at Bristol Station Apartment Building 4 on July 11, 2021.
When they arrived at the building, all nine officers ran inside and evacuated the residents without knowing the extent of the fire. They then evacuated residents from Building 6 and assisted firefighters in their efforts.
READ: Carteret's Bristol Station apartment building destroyed in massive blaze
The responding officers were led by Detective Lt. John Kelly, a 12-year veteran of the force, who recounted the day in a video accepting the award on behalf of his team.
"It’s an honor to be a lieutenant in that situation and being able to tell a group of guys that this is what we have to do, and no one second guessed it. Everyone went in and worked as a team. It’s those guys – the guys that do the work that make us as supervisors proud. We don’t go out and do it seeking awards or for everyone to say thank you. We just go and do it because it’s a job and we love to do it, so it’s a great honor to receive an award like this," Kelly said.
The award is named for Detective Joseph Seals, a 13-year Jersey City Police Department veteran who lost his life in the line of duty in December of 2019 following a gunfight that started in a Jersey City cemetery.
Following the fire, Mayor Dan Reiman, the Carteret Office of Emergency Management and the local community acted quickly to raise money, collect donated personal effects, and helped relocate the affected residents.
“It’s times like these that the heroic nature of our first responders and the generosity of our community are highlighted, said Reiman. “Thankfully the residents affected by the fire are all safe and back on their feet thanks to all who assisted that day and the weeks and months that followed.”
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Carteret NJ police officers honored for life-saving response to fire
