Newark Police Officers, Firefighters Honored For Valor

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the Newark Department of Public Safety. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Detective Leonardo Guzman Jr. and Police Officer Angel Paro suffered stabbed wounds from a mentally disturbed woman they managed to subdue and get help for her illness.

Battalion Fire Chief William Weidele, who was off duty, pulled an unconscious man from a car that had flipped onto its roof on the Garden State Parkway. And his colleagues - Fire Captain Kelton Hall, and firefighters Juan Arboleda and Ryan Rosetti - were just as heroic when they rescued a child trapped in a house fire with her mother.

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Public Safety Director Brian A. O’Hara said their valor in 2019 sets them apart, bravery that was honored yesterday by the 200 Club of Essex County, an organization that helps families of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.

Every year the organization recognizes officers and firefighters for their sacrifice, but because of the pandemic, the 200 Club was unable to salute them in 2020. The praise, although delayed, was still heartfelt for Newark officers and firefighters, who received plaques for risking their lives.

“We get an opportunity to say thank you, God Bless you, and keep up the great work,’’ Mayor Baraka said. “You put your lives at risk and we appreciate you.’’.

Director O’Hara said the tribute is a big deal for police officers and firefighters, an acknowledgement that should be publicized often. “The biggest fear I always have is that we are not able to recognize as many of our people as we should who are successfully deescalating a situation because when they successfully deescalate, tragedy is averted,’’ O’Hara said. "Officers Guzman and Paro safely took a person in crisis into custody without her being injured, despite both having been stabbed by her. That is in direct contrast to too many tragedies we've seen across the nation. The police officers and firefighters being honored exemplified the values we expect in the Department of Public Safety, and we salute them for their accomplishments."

Despite their injuries – Guzman was stabbed in the arm and Paro in the thigh – the officers were able to arrest the woman and make sure she was transported to University Hospital for treatment on July 4, 2019. University Hospital is also where the child from the fire was taken after firefighters responded to 48 South 12th Street on July 4, 2019. Firefighter Arboleda shared his oxygen with the child after she was located on the third floor. Captain Hall handed the girl out of the window and firefighter Rosetti carried her down to safety.

Battalion Chief Weidele pulled over his vehicle on the parkway on July 27, 2019 when he saw another vehicle on its roof. He crossed over the median and crawled into the vehicle to rescue the unconscious male with help from a Millburn firefighter.

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