Valor Awards
Lifesaving Award
Lieutenant Craig Marino
Sergeant Steven Toy
Detective Thomas Stiansen
Patrolman Gregory Federici
Patrolman Ryan Gerrity
Patrolman Brian Trotter
Cranford Local 52
Window of opportunity
On May 3, Cranford police units respond-
ed to a report of an active fire at a rehabili-
tation and nursing facility with occupants
trapped inside.
Patrolman Gregory Federici and Detec-
tive Thomas Stiansen arrived on scene and
observed heavy smoke billowing from the
Birchwood Avenue facility. They quickly
identified the room in which people were
trapped inside, and they broke through a
window to enter the building. The officers
entered the smoke-filled room and safe-
ly evacuated the two trapped occupants
through the window.
During this time, Lieutenant Craig Ma-
rino, Sergeant Steven Toy, Patrolman Ryan
Gerrity and Patrolman Brian Trotter arrived.
Seeing the heavy smoke conditions, they
worked with Cranford fire units to facilitate
the evacuation of the entire wing of the fa-
cility, leading all the occupants to safety.
Stiansen and Federici were taken to St.
Barnabas Hospital, where they were treated
for smoke inhalation and released. d
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■ DECEMBER 2017 71