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Valo
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AWAR
Group hug
Honoring giving life to a brother officer
A moment came during the 2015 NJ State PBA Valor Awards when
the ballroom at Caesar’s erupted in a collective hug.
The accounts of Vineland Local 266 member Domenic Ferrari’s
heroics that led to a Lifesaving Award had just been read to the 800plus in the room about how Ferrari donated a kidney to Local 266
Brother Fred Demary. Ferrari was making his way back to the Local
266 table when Demary jumped up, and the two men locked in an
embrace that grew tighter as the applause grew more thunderous.
“Dominic in my opinion is what a true hero is,” Demary
exclaimed. “He did something for me that frankly most people’s
family members wouldn’t do for them. I’m trying to find the words
for a guy like this. In all honesty, it means that much.”
As Demary fought back the tears, Ferrari fought off the credit. He
said he was inspired to donate his kidney because his mother is also
a kidney donor.
“I’m very humbled by it all. And thankful,” Ferrari expressed. “I
feel like I don’t deserve it. I knew Fred needed it. I didn’t think twice.
I did it for him. And for my mother.”
In December 2014, Demary, who is 44 years old and 17 years on
the job, learned at a visit to his doctor that his kidneys were in renal
failure. Most of the officers from Vineland stepped up to be tested as
potential donors. Ferrari was the one who matched. In March,
Demary had the transplant surgery, and in November he returned
to work.
“I’ve been smiling ever since the day I returned,” Demary confided. “I can’t tell you what it means to have Domenic lay down on that
table for me. I’m here today because of him. There’s something
about the job that makes us brothers, and we will be brothers for life.
Again, I cannot find the words.”
Life is the operative word here, and Ferrari, who is 14 years on the
job, was able to find the words to explain what that means.
“When Fred came back to work, that was a win,” he said. d
LIFESAVING AWARD
DOMENIC FERRARI
VINELAND LOCAL 266
Stair-ing at danger
Cranford cops rescue man from
burning high-rise
For Cranford Lieutenant Edward Davenport and Detective Russell Luedecker, the same recurring theme in these acts of valor is
the constant: They said they acted without an expectation of being
honored.
“It’s something I do every day – it’s my job,” said Luedecker who
has served as a volunteer firefighter for more than 12 years.
But on Aug. 20, 2014, Cranford police received a report of a fire
in a high-rise complex. When Davenport and Luedecker arrived at
the scene, they saw heavy smoke and fire pouring out of a fifth
floor window. Davenport and Luedecker moved to action, and
without regard for their safety, ran into the building to save lives.
The two men went up to the fifth floor of the building where
they met a confused resident who was panicked and attempting
to extinguish the fire. By that time, the man was suffering from
LIFESAVING AWARD
LIEUTENANT EDWARD DAVENPORT
DETECTIVE RUSSELL LUEDECKER
CRANFORD LOCAL 52
smoke inhalation and the officers ha