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by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com Published 6:41pm  From left: Verona Police Chief Chris Keirnan, Detective Sergeant Timothy Banta, Mayor Kevin Ryan, Sheriff Armando Fontoura PHOTO: Kevin Lynch VERONA, NJ - Yesterday, the 200 Club of Essex County presented their Valor Award to Verona Police Detective Sergeant Timmy Banta for his role in protecting his fellow officers, and a woman in crisis, from any harm while he himself suffered injuries. On Jan. 3, 2017, the woman called Verona Police from her Bloomfield Avenue residence saying: Get the fire department ready. According to police, when the Verona Police officers responded, Banta immediately took charge of the scene and forced open the locked door of the woman's apartment. Inside, the officers found that the woman had severed the gas line from her stove, turned the hose into a flame thrower, and was armed with a knife. While she strongly resisted, Banta managed to subdue the woman while the other officers evacuated the building. During the struggle, the woman lunged at Banta with a knife and he suffered injuries. 200 Club Trustee Sheriff Armando Fontoura stated: Throughout this life-threatening incident Banta was ultimately able to take the woman into custody and escort her downstairs to safety and much needed psychological attention. 200 Club of Essex County
Its sole purpose is to help provide for dependents of police and firefighters in Essex County and state troopers in New Jersey who lose their lives in the line of duty by way of a cash stipend to the surviving spouse or dependent with no conditions and by providing educational assistance to each surviving child prior to its 26th birthday. Annually, The Club holds a Valor Awards luncheon where it pays tribute to a number of brave Essex County police officers, Essex County firefighters and NJ State Troopers who distinguished themselves by acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. The Valor Award recipients receive a cash award, an engraved medallion, and a 200 Club Valor ribbon to be worn on their uniform. by Carolyne Volpe Curley / Carolyne@WestEssexNOW.com Published 2pm  Essex Fells Sgt. Darren Volker ESSEX FELLS, NJ - During the month of November, officers from the Essex Police Police Department will be raising awareness and monies for mental health and suicide prevention. Essex Fells Sgt. Darren Volker initiated the fundraising effort utilizing the Movember Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit global charity which advocates for men's health. Volker explained that he approached Chief Vincent Kulik with the idea of focusing on mental health issues and suicide prevention particularly because of the high rate of suicide among law enforcement officers. "The rate of suicide worldwide, particularly with men, is alarmingly high, " commented Volker. Volker's team page has already surpassed its $1000 fundraising goal and the group is now hoping to get the public involved with their efforts. Anyone interested in making a donation of any level can click through here. Those who choose to use Visa Checkout and donate $50 or more will be matched by Visa with an additional $20 donation. All monies donated are processed through the Movember Foundation and will go to the Prevention Institute, a national non-profit dedicated to improving community health and well-being. One hundred percent of monies raised go directly to delivering health initiatives. The National Institute of Mental Health asserts that Men are more likely to die by suicide than Women, and have found that the highest rate of depression is in Men aged 40 to 59. The Suicide Prevention Resource Center states that men between the ages of 35 and 64 have a suicide rate that is more than double the national average. Men are believed to be less likely than women to connect with those who offer them support. For both men and women, there are specific factors which are believed to create an increased risk of suicide:
Volker has focused his team members on communicating about the high rate of suicide and depression among law enforcement officers. According to a 2012 National Surveillance of Police Suicide study, while the general public experienced 11 out of every 100,000 suicides in 2012, law enforcers committed suicide at a rate of 14 for every 100,000 suicides. "The men will be growing a beard, or mustache, or goatee Mental health experts agree that the most important first step for someone experiencing mental health pain is to talk to someone about the situation.
To speak with someone immediately, anyone can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 Warning Signs of Suicide The Lifeline site lists the following signs and cautions that, while the suicidal individual may display them, police officers in effect are trained to hide them.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Movember initiative should feel free to contact: Essex Fells Sgt. Darren Volker at 973-226-3000. Further Information Essex Fells Police Department Chief: Vincent Kulik 255 Roseland Avenue Essex Fells, NJ 07021 973-226-3000 Website |
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