The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | Summer 2024
Hoboken Police Officer Wins NJ Police Chiefs Valor Award
By Jonathan Jaffe , NJSACOP Press Information Officer
One of Hoboken ’ s finest has won the New Jersey Police Chiefs Foundation ’ s prestigious Valor Award , revealed June 26 at the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police ( NJSACOP ) Annual Conference in Atlantic City .
Hoboken Police Officer Ramon Calderon is receiving statewide accolades for his response to an incident on October 12 , when he was dispatched to assist a frantic family missing a loved one who was experiencing a mental health crisis . Throughout the course of a lengthy on-scene investigation , Calderon helped locate the child .
But then the child , in the presence of family members , produced a large folding knife and began to self-mutilate , causing chaotic escalation of the incident . Calderon , using training , experience and leadership , gave instructions to his partner to act as a cover officer and disoriented the individual with oleoresin capsicum spray .
Officer Calderon then rushed the disoriented individual with a ballistic shield disarming them and taking them into protective custody without further incident or injury to officers or the family .
The Hoboken officer was among more than 12 deserving nominees from police departments across New Jersey in competition for this year ’ s Valor Award .
The NJSACOP established its Valor Award in 2000 to recognize New Jersey police officers and private citizens who demonstrate exceptional heroism and commitment to their profession , their law enforcement agency and to the public they serve .
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