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Woodbridge honors EMS teams and police officers; township earns pediatric readiness recognition
Summary
Woodbridge Township presented state and local awards Friday recognizing its emergency medical services for pediatric readiness and lifesaving actions, including a state EMSC 'Always Ready for Children' honor and mayor's awards to EMTs and police officers for recent critical interventions.
Woodbridge Mayor John McCormick opened the meeting by calling state emergency medical officials to the lectern and announcing a series of awards recognizing the township's emergency services. "This is a very, very serious award for Woodbridge Township," McCormick said as he introduced visiting officials and local EMS leaders.
Candace Garner, director for the Office of Emergency Medical Services in the Department of Health, thanked residents and officials for their turnout and support. "I'm absolutely amazed by the turnout that you have here and the support you have," Garner said, describing the partnership between state and local responders.
EMSC program manager Eric Hicken described the "Always Ready for Children" initiative and credited Woodbridge for meeting the pediatric readiness standard. "Woodbridge is only the twelfth agency in the state to achieve this," Hicken said, noting the program's regional development and its dual focus on EMS and hospital emergency departments.
Dennis Patrick, the township's head of emergency services, emphasized teamwork among police, fire, volunteer squads and regional ALS providers. "It really is a team effort and a big but small family," Patrick said, praising cross-agency collaboration that improves outcomes on the scene.
The council presented mayor's awards for emergency response to EMTs Terry Kennedy and Brian Maguire for a Feb. 19, 2026 resuscitation that restored spontaneous circulation in an elderly patient; the proclamation credited coordinated assessment, rapid transfer and timely medical care. The mayor also recognized Police Officer Vincent Snead for rendering life-saving first aid after a homeowner severed several fingers. Snead, who was identified in the mayor's proclamation, thanked his colleagues and supervisors during brief remarks.
Police Director Joe Minsky said the department focuses on training and equipment because officers answer a high volume of first-aid calls. "We answer nearly 1,200 calls a month involving first aid," Minsky said, and he credited the department's training for enabling life-saving interventions by officers on patrol.
The ceremony also included an officer-of-the-quarter award and a promotion to detective for Jim Farris, who thanked the department and his family. The meeting moved on after a flag-raising and a moment of silence for veterans.
