NJ Cops | Page 104

54 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ DECEMBER 2014 2014 Valor Awards – Meritorious Service A brave, swift, hair-raising response When Big Joe Henry Sergeant Todd Kelly read the account of ElizDetective Richard Hernandez abeth Local 4’s Valor Detective Raul DeLaprida Award-winning response Detective Jose Martinez to five males attempting to rob a scrap yard – an PO Leonardo Nunes incident that culminated Detective Manuel Corte with the suspects firing Union County Police Local 73 automatic weapons at officers – an eerie feeling overcame Sergeant Todd Kelly. “Honest to God, I was telling my wife that when he was reading the account, the hair on the back of my neck was standing up,” Kelly revealed. “I think the brazenness of the crime and the time of day they did it – these were the most hardcore guys we ever had to face. That was a scary one.” The bravery, the courage, the swiftness of the response exemplified the valor that runs deep in Local 4 and the Elizabeth Police Department. Officers from all units responded to the incident, including traffic, patrol and even narcotics. “This was one of those jobs, when it does come in, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing or where you are at, everybody drops what they’re doing and shows up together,” Kelly said. “We work well together, and the bottom line is guys just don’t want to lose to the bad guys.