Two Hundred Club of Essex County

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200 Club of Essex County
Annual Valor Awards Luncheon

On May 12th, 2011, The Two Hundred Club of Essex celebrated 45 years of dedicated service to the dependents of police and Firefighters in Essex County and state troopers in New Jersey who lose their lives in the line of duty. The Club celebrated this milestone at its Annual Valor Awards luncheon at Mayfair Farms in West Orange with an extensive program.

As you know, the purpose of this luncheon is, and has always been, to honor our police officers and Firefighters of Essex County, who demonstrate exceptional courage and fortitude while performing their duties throughout the year.

This year, we were grateful to acknowledge thirty-four individuals who exemplified outstanding on-the-job performances.

Our luncheon began with the Newark Firefighters Pipe Band leading in this year's Valor Award and Special Commendation recipients. Arthur S. Guida, Director of External Affairs for PSE&G and President of the Two Hundred Club, gave a warm welcome and introduced Newark Police Detective Vanessa Davis-Strange, who afforded the luncheon guests with a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. Mr. Guida continued his welcome message and inspired us with an encouraging overview of the Club's achievements and its future goals.

The Invocation, which was delivered by Reverend Monsignor Christopher J. Hynes, Assistant to the Archbishop for Public Affairs, Archdiocese of Newark, was uplifting to all of us.

As our program continued we were able to receive words from Essex County Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura, Honorary Trustee of the Two Hundred Club. Sheriff Fontoura spoke of September 11, 2001 and how it will live forever in our hearts and minds and that the 200 Club of Essex County salutes our finest and bravest.

He informed the audience that beyond the ceremonial salute and in an effort to best help the families of police officers and firefighters who died as a result of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, the 200 Club is proud to note that we donated monies to the WTC Police Disaster Relief Fund, the New York Firefighters 9/11 Disaster Relief Fund and the Port Authority World Trade Center Disaster Survivor's Fund. Sheriff Fontoura ended by saying that our prayers are with all those who lost their lives during this tragic event. He then proceeded to inform the audience that 2010 was another costly year in terms of lives lost by brave law enforcement officers and courageous firefighters. Representing public safety departments across our nation, 161 law enforcement officers and 87 firefighters died in 2010 while performing their duties and protecting those they had sworn to serve.

Sheriff Fontoura stated that since we last met, three New Jersey police officers and two firefighters sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. He informed the audience in great detail of the three (3) New Jersey police officers and two (2) firefighters and asked everyone to stand and offer a moment of silence as we remember the fallen police officers and firefighters.

The Two Hundred Club of Essex County was honored to have Paul J. Fishman, United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, as its guest speaker. U.S. Attorney Fishman observed that the firearms killings of police officers were on the rise. Mr. Fishman added that the layoffs of officers were making a hard job even more difficult. "The truth is," Fishman said, "this is a very challenging time for law enforcement." The U. S. Attorney also said that he was hopeful that initiatives, such as the recent effort undertaken in Newark to bust a carjacking ring, by local officers in concert with state and federal agencies could reap public confidence rewards and help ensure the health and safety of first responders.

Reverend Reginald T. Jackson, Pastor of the St. Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Church, was gracious to provide us with a warm and inspirational Benediction. In closing, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the following organizations for their participation as 2011 Corporate Luncheon Sponsors:

Essex County College Police Academy
Essex County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Armando B. Fontoura
Gateway Group One
Lisbon Cleaning, Inc.
Mayfair Farms
Newark Fire Officers Union Local 1860
PSE&G
Prudential Financial
Verizon

2010 Public Safety Valor Award Winners
(Click on the department to read stories)

New Jersey State Police
Detective Sergeant Dennis Buoye
Detective Timothy Hackett
Detective II Mark Hanselman
Detective Thomas Kelshaw
Detective II Yevgeniy Redko
Detective Sergeant Thomas Ryan
Detective Sergeant Tanya Schultz
Trooper Stephen Spitaleri
Detective David Valente

The 2012 Valor Awards luncheon will be Thursday, May 10, 2012 at Mayfair Farms in West Orange, NJ. The event begins with a cocktail reception at 11:30 a.m., followed by the luncheon and awards program at 12:00 p.m. For questions and/or reservations, contact Nancy B. Poloso/Administrator:

As of December 2003, for a fee $500.00, you will have the opportunity to take advantage of a new level of membership called our Platinum Membership.

All Platinum member participants will receive a metal platinum identification membership card, platinum member decal, which can be displayed on your vehicle, office window, etc. and a platinum member certificate, which will all display the year of participation.

Be advised that if you decide to join, or remain, in the Standard Membership category, for the current fee of $250.00, you will receive a gold plastic identification membership card and our gold member decal, which will also display the year of participation.

On August 8. 2006, the Club provided a cash stipend to the survivors of Detective Kieran T. Shields of the Orange Police Department. Detective Shields was killed-in-the-line-of-duty on August 7, 2006 while responding to reports of gunfire when he was shot and killed.

On March 3, 2007, the Club provided a cash stipend to the survivors of Sergeant Tommaso Popolizio of the Newark Police Department. Sergeant Popolizio was killed-in-the-line-of-duty on March 3, 2007 during a crash while pursuing another patrol car that had been commandeered by a handcuffed suspect.

On April 5, 2007, the Club provided a cash stipend to the survivors of Special Agent Barry Lee Bush of the FBI-Newark Division. Special Agent Bush was killed-in-the-line-of-duty on April 5, 2007 while investigating a string of bank robberies in Central New Jersey.

On September 9, 2008, the Club provided a cash stipend to the survivors of Police Officer Kenneth Santucci of the Belleville Police Department. Officer Santucci was killed-in-the-line-of-duty on September 6, 2008 while responding to a report of a suspicious person, when his police cruiser collided with a car at the intersection of Union and Hancox Avenues.

Also on September 9, 2008, the Club provided a cash stipend to the survivors of Detective Sergeant First Class-Dwayne M. Kelley of the New Jersey State Police. Det. Sgt. First Class Kelley was killed-in-the-line-of-duty on June 24, 2008 in Iraq – "Operation Iraqi Freedom".

In an effort to best help the families of the police officers and firefighters who died in the September 11, 2001 World Trade Center Attack, the Two Hundred Club of Essex County donated monies to the WTC Police Disaster Relief Fund, New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund and the Port Authority Police World Trade Center Disaster Survivor's Fund.