Woodbridge honors officers for arrests and names Chief Patrick Kenny Day on his retirement
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Summary
Mayor John McCormick recognized three Woodbridge police officers for recent arrests and life‑saving work and proclaimed an April day in 2024 'Chief Patrick Kenny Day' to mark Kenny’s retirement after nearly four decades of local emergency service.
Mayor John McCormick opened the Woodbridge Township council meeting by recognizing multiple members of the police department for recent actions and by proclaiming an April day in 2024 as 'Chief Patrick Kenny Day' on the occasion of his retirement.
McCormick read two proclamations honoring Officer Michael Schneider and his partner, Officer Matthew Murdock, for a Feb. 1 arrest of two adults attempting to force entry into a motel in Avenel and for a Feb. 23 vehicle stop that yielded narcotics and paraphernalia. The mayor said officers recovered psilocybin mushrooms, about 10.5 ounces of marijuana and other THC products, multiple resalable bags and vape cartridges during the second incident. "Officer Schneider and Murdoch ordered the suspects to halt while taking up foot pursuit. The suspects complied and were taken into custody," McCormick read.
Officer Michael Schneider accepted the recognition and thanked his "midnight shift" squad and supervisors, saying, "We get the job done. I have great supervisors, great fellow officers. Couldn't ask for a better team."
The mayor also presented a proclamation honoring Officer George Biotto for responding to an assault at Mamo Joanna Cafe, applying emergency medical care to stop arterial bleeding and helping save a victim’s life. Biotto credited department training and emergency medical technicians for the rescue.
McCormick delivered a detailed proclamation for Chief Patrick Kenny, recounting a 39‑year career across Woodbridge Township emergency services and noting Kenny’s coordination of the township’s responses to Superstorm Sandy, the COVID‑19 pandemic and Hurricane Ida. Kenny, who the mayor described as a lifelong Woodbridge resident and a life member of the volunteer fire department, accepted thanks from colleagues and family present. "It's a long career. Went through a lot of stuff," Kenny said, thanking fellow first responders and family.
Council members and senior department staff offered tributes noting Kenny’s multiple leadership roles and long institutional knowledge. McCormick said the town was "lucky to have Pat" and praised his service during major local emergencies.
The proclamations and the recognitions were presented during the opening portion of the council meeting; separate agenda items and votes followed later in the evening.
