Chatham Police Officers Injured in Arrest Receive Service Awards

During an incident last April in which police received a call that a man was attempting to commit bank fraud, the scene turned into a scuffle and two officers were assaulted. With the help of a retired NYPD officer, the suspect was subdued and taken in to custody.

On Monday, Chatham Borough Police Chief Philip Crosson and the Chatham Borough Council presented the Meritorious Service Award to officers Jeffrey Battiloro and Matthew Belcastro and Brian Hart, the retired NYPD officer who came to help, with the Civilian Service Award.

When Barriloro responded to the April 9 bank-fraud call, he tried to speak to the 22-year-old Bronx man, who assaulted him and fled. Belcastro chased after the man and was also assaulted. He caught up to the man on the corner of Dunbar Street.

The officers apprehended the suspect with the help of Hart, who was simply passing by, and arrested. Belcastro had a broken collarbone and Battiloro had leg, hip and back injuries as a result of the struggle.