We have some exciting things going on here at the Toms River Police Department. This month we honored our retirees, Officer Frank Bopp, Officer Mark DeGrandis and Officer David Lazaro. We welcomed our newest officer, Officer Henry Farnkoph III. And we honored Sergeant Daniel Sysol and Officer Christopher Raia (Ret.) with Life Saving Awards, Officer David Talty and Officer Michael Rienstra with Class B Awards, Officer Thomas Elwood, Officer Kyle Lamar and Officer Mark DeGrandis with Class A Awards and Officer Frank Bopp with a Valor Award.
On January 27, 2018, in response to an unresponsive party not breathing at St. Joseph’s Church, Sergeant Daniel Sysol and Retired Corporal Christopher Raia rendered critical basic life support in the form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation to a 61 year old victim. Lifesaving efforts were continued until the victim regained a pulse and began to breathe on his own. The victim was then transported to Community Medical Center for further treatment. Both officers are commended for their quick response and for using their training and experience to save a person’s life.
On June 3, 2018, in response to a structure fire on Lancaster Lane with residents trapped inside, Officer David Talty and Michael Rienstra entered the heavy smoked-filled residence without any fire or breathing apparatus and located an elderly couple in the bedroom. The female resident who was bedridden was carried outside as her husband was escorted to safety and both were administered basic life support. Officer Talty and Officer Rienstra displayed a high degree of initiative, courage, and ability in an extremely dangerous situation where there was a threat to life and property. Both officers are commended for taking immediate action by entering the burning structure and saving two lives.
On June 7, 2018, in response to an alert from Lakewood Police Department for a vehicle involved in a shooting in their town, Officer Kyle Lamar located the vehicle at Route 9 and Cox Cro Road. The vehicle fled from the police and the pursuit was terminated due to the suspect’s recklessness. The suspect vehicle was later found on fire in Lakewood at the scene of a serious one car accident. Officer Lamar and Officer Thomas Elwood placed their lives in danger to remove the driver from the burning vehicle. Both officers displayed a high degree of courage, professionalism, and initiative in an extremely hazardous situation and are commended for taking immediate action in an attempt to save a person’s life.
On March 14, 2017, in response to a well being check and psychiatric evaluation screening on Edgewood Drive, Officer Bopp and Officer DeGrandis were confronted with a male subject who suddenly exited a closet, attacked and attempted to disarm one of them. Both officers displayed extraordinary courage, professionalism, and initiative in an extremely hazardous situation where there was a threat to the life of the officers. Officer Bopp and Officer DeGrandis are commended for taking immediate action by discharging their duty weapons, neutralizing the threat, and taking control of a highly volatile scene.