Hamilton Township Local 66 members and 2016 NAPO Top Cops honorees Devin Hendricksen( left) and Richard Rettzo.
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NEW JERSEY COPS ■ JUNE 2016
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“ I don’ t think you ever stop thinking about it,” Rettzo explained.“ It happened very fast. But I guess with time everything, you know, slows down.”
On the night of April 1, Officers Hendricksen and Rettzo were dispatched to a stabbing in progress; 36-year-old Shawn Clyde had attacked both of his parents with a knife. The injured mother was able to get away and called 9-1-1 while Clyde continued to stab his father.
When the officers arrived at the scene, they found mom in front of the residence covered in blood. She informed the officers that her husband was still inside, and when Officers Hendricksen and Rettzo entered, they observed William lying on the kitchen floor covered in blood. Clyde was kneeling over his father, stabbing him in the back.
Rettzo and Hendricksen ordered Clyde to drop the knife but he refused. Knowing the father’ s life was in imminent danger, Hendricksen and Rettzo each fired one shot. Clyde would succumb to those wounds approximately two weeks later. Both of his parents survived.
This was one of those incidents in which the response saved two lives despite having to take one. Consequently, Rettzo and Hendricksen have tried to accentuate that outcome and move forward with what they have learned from the whole ordeal.
“ No matter how many years you have on the job, whether it’ s one day or 25 years, anything can happen, any time,” Rettzo ascertained.
Added Hendricksen:“ You get the call, and you tend to think it might not be anything but you just never know. This might be the job that’ s something you’ ve never seen before. So expect the unexpected.”
What they did not expect in the end is how they would feel when being at the Top Cops awards and how it would make them feel to be amongst so many law enforcement officers who answered the call at the highest level. After the adulation from their families, that might have been the greatest reward.
“ We keep using the same word: It truly is an honor,” Rettzo emoted.“ These guys are all doing amazing things every day. It’ s really great to be in the same room with them.” d