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Clark Township swears in three officers and honors multiple life-saving awards
Summary
Clark Township on May 18 swore in three new police officers and presented life-saving, exceptional-service and platoon awards to officers and dispatchers for specific rescues and emergency responses. Mayor Angel Albanese and Police Director Patrick Grady led the ceremony and proclamations recognizing National Police Week.
Clark Township formally swore in three new police officers and recognized dozens of department members for life-saving and exceptional service during a ceremony held at the May 18 council meeting.
Mayor Angel Albanese administered the oath to Officer Patrick Thompson, an Army veteran who joined the Clark Police Department in January 2026; Officer Joseph Greenbush, a lifelong Clark resident and recent Union County academy graduate; and Officer Yaya Koulibali, a multilingual officer with prior corrections and patrol experience. The mayor welcomed the officers and their families and asked the council to join in congratulating them.
Police Director Patrick Grady framed the evening as a recognition of "the good, the sacrifice, and the commitment of the police officers who truly make us safe and make Clark stronger," and said the department remains committed to professional policing balanced with accountability.
The council and department presented a sequence of awards tied to specific responses: multiple "life-saving" awards for officers and dispatchers who initiated CPR and deployed AEDs or tourniquets during medical emergencies; "exceptional service" and "valor" recognitions for officers who pulled occupants from burning vehicles and conducted high-risk rescues; and platoon awards for coordinated responses during a flash flood emergency. For example, Council and Department leaders credited Sergeant Andrew Maderos and Officer Brendan Jacobe with coordinated CPR and life-saving use of a LIFEVAC device during a July 9, 2024 incident that led to a full recovery. Several dispatchers, including Charlene Hadley, were specifically thanked for rapid instructions that enabled family members to begin CPR prior to officer arrival.
Christopher Sans, president of the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, presented SAR life-saving awards to three officers and described the society's community programs.
The ceremony also included a mayoral proclamation recognizing May 10'16, 2026 as National Police Week and an EMS Week proclamation recognizing the Clark Volunteer Emergency Squad. Mayor Albanese encouraged residents to attend memorial and community events honoring fallen officers and first responders.
The meeting concluded the recognition portion with applause and a round of photographs; formal council business resumed afterward.
