The amazing eight
Mercer County Sheriff’s Office bestows awards upon multiple officers
The Mercer County Sheriff’s Office Local
187 Officer of the Year awards presentation
took place on June 8 at the Mercer County
Civil Courthouse. The Sheriff’s Office hon-
ored its sworn officers, investigators and
detectives who have excelled in keeping
Mercer County safe.
The 2018 Sheriff’s Officer of the Year is
Officer Carmen Gloria Cruz, a five-year vet-
eran of the Sheriff’s Office assigned to the
Courts Division. In addition to providing
security for the judiciary, she administers
and processes the movement and secur-
ing of inmates and those awaiting trial. Her
chief role is to maintain a safe and secure
courthouse environment, with no major
incidents under her watch. Additionally,
she has completed extensive coursework in
physical training for law enforcement and
first responder training. She was selected
by her peers for this prominent award.
“Despite her short time in law enforce-
ment, Officer Cruz has quickly become a
seasoned sheriff’s officer with an impres-
sive dedication to duty and a commend-
able record,” said Sheriff Jack Kemler.
Sheriff Kemler also presented three Med-
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ JULY 2018
al of Honor Awards and four Meritorious
Service Awards.
The Medals of Honor were awarded to
Detectives William Perez, Joseph Tuccillo
and Steven Niederer for their actions when
they were met with gunfire on the morning
of May 10, 2017, while attempting to serve
an arrest warrant related to a Megan’s Law
offense on Centre Street in Trenton. Each
officer sustained gunshot injuries at the
scene as a deadly standoff ensued. All three
detectives currently work out of the Mercer
County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit and
are assigned to the United States Marshals
Service NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.
“Each detective displayed bravery and
heroism in the face of deadly gunfire,”
Kemler said. “Thankfully, all three returned
home to their families that night.”
Meritorious Service Awards were given
to Officers George Dzurkoc III and John
Lyle of the Sherriff’s Patrol Unit for seizing
a loaded 9mm handgun, multiple ammu-
nition clips and a tactical device from a
16-year-old juvenile in August 2017.
In addition, awards were given to Of-
ficers Joseph DiLissio and Joel Adams of
the Sheriff’s Courts Unit for their quick ac-
tion in stopping a criminal defendant who
suddenly and violently struck his attorney
at the Mercer County Courthouse in June
2017.
Years of Service Awards were also pre-
sented to officers with 5, 10, 15 and 20 years
of departmental service and to those who
served in the U.S. military. Kemler person-
ally expressed his unwavering gratitude to
each officer. d