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Woodbridge honors officers for April life‑saving response; officer of the quarter spotlights mental‑health co‑response
Summary
Mayor John McCormick read a proclamation recognizing four officers for a life‑saving April 14 response; Officer Sue Ellen Jarena was named officer of the quarter for community outreach and work with the 'Arrive' mental‑health co‑response program.
Mayor John McCormick read a proclamation Tuesday evening recognizing four Woodbridge police officers for a life‑saving response on April 14, 2024, at 2:50 a.m. at 48 West Pond Road in the Hopewell section. The proclamation named Andrew Lisick, George Watt, Jacob Benente and Dipin Nahi for securing the scene, identifying an aggressor and applying two tourniquets that stopped bleeding from a puncture that pierced the victim's femoral artery before transporting him to the hospital.
The recognition extended to Officer Sue Ellen Jarena, who was named Police Officer of the First Quarter for January 1–March 31, 2024. Mayor McCormick said Jarena “has distinguished herself as a role model” for the department and highlighted her work in community outreach and crisis response.
Jarena described the township's Arrive Together program, which pairs officers with mental‑health experts for crisis calls. “The program started about a year ago... it was just one day a week, and now we're up to two days a week,” Jarena said. She said officers often go in plain clothes with a mental‑health expert to de‑escalate situations, offer resources and, when necessary, arrange hospital evaluations. Jarena estimated about 10 officers have the relevant crisis‑intervention training.
Police Director Hubner thanked the mayor and the council for recognizing frontline work and emphasized training as a reason many lives are saved. “We put a high value on preparing our officers to respond to these types of calls,” he said, adding that training and first‑aid skills routinely improve outcomes on emergency calls.
Family members joined officers on stage for photos and brief remarks. Officer Andrew Lisick downplayed the award, saying, “It's just doing our job.” Mayor McCormick closed the recognition by encouraging continued community support for programs that connect police with mental‑health professionals.
No formal vote or policy change was attached to the proclamation; the presentation was ceremonial and the letters of recognition were to be added to the officers' personnel files.
