Mayor McCormick Honors Officers for Bus Hijacking rescue and CPR Save

Mayor John McCormick opened the Woodbridge Township Council meeting by recognizing police officers for two recent life‑saving incidents. He read a proclamation describing how, on June 27, 2026, Officer Matthew Cameron located a hijacked transit bus on the New Jersey Turnpike (southbound at mile marker 90.1), ordered the suspect to drop a knife and took the suspect into custody after passengers were secured. "I haven't started reading this yet, but I read it before, and I'm already getting goosebumps talking about it," McCormick said as he introduced the honor.

The mayor also presented awards to Officers Samuel Duffy and Ryan Rivera for responding to a June 19 medical assist at a Gordon Avenue residence, where an unconscious 68‑year‑old woman had no pulse and was not breathing. According to the proclamation read at the meeting, officers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation, restored a pulse, coordinated with arriving EMS, and the patient later recovered from pneumonia and a blood infection. Officer Samuel Duffy thanked the mayor and council and said he was "very grateful for this award" and glad the patient had made a full recovery.

Police Director Joe Nisky praised the officers and their training, noting one officer's prior experience in NYPD and Essex County and saying the actions "took the suspect into custody without shooting him, and, saved the bus driver's life." The council and public applauded the three officers; the recognitions were ceremonial and no formal council action was required.