Morris Township Honors its Top Cops of the Year

Four Morris Township police officers were honored at last week's meeting for their dedication and commitment to the police department. Each year, the department honors officers at the June meeting.

The Officer of the Year Award was presented to Ptl. Steve Summerer by Acting Chief John McGuiness. Summerer was nominated by Sgt. Sean O'Hare.

Summerer was commended for his dedication and involvement with school programs as the school resource officer in the Crime Prevention Unit. He has helped develop a number of programs such as D.A.R.E., student mentoring, Alive @ 25, a drinking and driving program for high school students and parents, and gang awareness education and training.

"Whenever there is an issue with a member of our student population Steve is our first point of contact to resolve the matter or gather intelligence," McGuiness read from a prepared statement. "Ptl. Summerer has developed a unique rapport with the students, teachers and school administration which has allowed him to become a recognizable voice and face of law enforcement in our schools."

"Our schools are filled with successful stories each and every year but when a tragedy strikes 'Officer Steve' is the person the school and law enforcement relies on to mediate a situation."

Two officers received Honorable Service Awards, Ptl. Stan Witczak and Ptl. Steve Crump. These officers were also nominated by O'Hare.

Witczak was recognized for his diligence to duty. In January of 2012, a woman reported to the Chatham Township Police Department that she was sexually assaulted by the driver of a transportation service.

Witczak reviewed police information bulletins about the individual and his vehicle, and 18 days after the incident, Witczak stopped one of the companies' vehicles on East Hanover Avenue. It led to an arrest in the sexual assault incident.

"His alertness and attention to detail identified the suspect vehicle in which resulted in a suspect being charged with a serious criminal offense," McGuiness said.

Crump received the Honorable Service Award for leading the agency in DWI arrests after making 23 arrests of 2011. His arrests represent 21 percent of the total number of arrests made by the department. Crump has also for the second year in a row.

"Steve is recognized tonight for his dedication and effort to identify motorists who operate vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and/or drugs," McGuinness said. "While making our streets safer Ptl. Crump has potentially saved many lives."

O'Hare nominated Ptl. Clay Boeninghas as the Letter of Recognition recipient. The award goes to an officer who had made an outstanding performance.

Boeninghas was recognized for an incident that took place on January 12. He stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation, but when he approached the vehicle, he recognized several indicators that are common with drug couriers. He searched the vehicle and found 3.5 pounds of marijuana in a hidden spot.

His arrest stopped the suspects from making a drug deal in New Jersey that would have netted $28,000.

"Ptl. Boeninghaus is commended for awareness to subtle clues and indicators that the suspects presented as well as making a sizable seizure of narcotics that were kept off the streets of a New Jersey community," McGuinness said.