Kearny VFW names Fire/Policeman of the Year

Photo 1: VFW Post 1302 Ladies Auxillary President Beverly Sweeny, left, Commander Howard Withers, Police Officer of the Year Robert Turkowsky, Chief John Dowie and Sr. Vice Commander Bob Behson

Photo 2: Ladies Auxillary President Beverly Sweeny, Commander Howard Withers, Firefighter of the Year James F. Carey, Chief Steve Dyl and Sr. Vice Commander Bob Behson
Photo 3: Councilwoman Carol Jean Doyle, left, Mayor Alberto Santos, Patriot's Pen award winner Alexandra L. Colon and Councilwoman Susan McCurry

VFW Wilson-Gugelman Post 1302 honors police/fireman of the year

KEARNY – Kearny Fire Department firefighter James Francis Cary and Kearny Department Officer Robert Turkowsky were named Firefighter and Police Officer of the year by Kearny VFW Wilson-Gugelman Post 1302. Also named were Alexandra L. Colon, Milton Bianchi and Camila B. Scheibe as the winners of the Patriots Pen Essay contest. The Police and Firefighter awards are designated to recognize community service or meritorious performance, above and beyond the call of duty. Firefighter Carey was recognized for outstanding community service including but not limited to his involvement in the Kentucky Cares Project, his outreach work with fellow firefighters and other charitable organizations.
“Jimmy as President of the FMBA (Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association) Local 18 was responsible for the T-Shirts for Troops program. Kearny firefighters shirts were collected and sent overseas to our troops to remind them that we here at home are thinking about and supporting them, his work behind the scenes for his fellow fighters is sometimes confidential but essential and unknown to the rank and file of the department, his interest in the community and concern for his fellow firefighters safety and well being deserves to be recognized, He is an asset to the Kearny Fire Department,” Chief Dyl said.
Patrolman Turkowsky, a past recipient of policeman of the year has been singled out numerous times for valor during his career with the department.
“His concern for the general public, our residents and the safety of other police officers is to be commended, over the course of his career, be it evacuating residents of a burning building, apprehending armed subjects in a multiple stabbing or subduing armed carjacking suspects, Robert’s actions are outstanding in every regard,” Chief John Dowie said.
The Patriots Pen is an annual essay contest open to Kearny seventh and eighth grade and involves a patriotic theme determined at the state level of the Veteran of Foreign Wars. This year’s theme was “Why should We Respect Our Veterans.” Alexandra L. Colon, first place winner was inspired by the actions of her cousin who is currently in boot camp for the United States Marine Corps.
“Their bravery and willingness to fight for our country makes them heroes.” Colon said.
Camila Schibe, the third place winner also wrote of our veteran’s willingness to serve and protect our country. In her essay Schibe noted “The bravery of veterans both past and present who have given us the freedoms we enjoy and who protect our country deserved to be recognized and honored.”
Mayor Santos congratulated the essay winners and both Firefighter James Carey and Police Officer Robert Turkowsky.
“These people are the pillars of our community. Our Police and Firemen respond to danger and the call of duty every day and because of them our community remains safe and strong, we are grateful for their service,” Santos said.

Photos and story by Diane Tilley.

Kearny Fire Department Promotions

Kearny Mayor Alberto Santos, left, Captain Joe Mastandrea and his family, Chief Steve Dyl, Councilwoman Eileen Eckle and Deputy Chief Frank Viscuiso

KEARNY – Two members of the Kearny Fire Department were promoted at the May 26 Town Council meeting. Captain John Harris who joined the department in 1991 reached the rank of Captain in 1998. He was promoted to Deputy Chief to fill the gap created by the retirement of Deputy Chief Anthony Calabrese who retired after thirty plus years on the Department. Firefighter Joseph Mastandrea, a 10-year veteran of the Kearny Fire Department was promoted to Captain. Both promotions take effect on June 1. Chief Steve Dyl commended both men for the drive necessary to achieve their new rank.
“From experience I know it take a lot of time hitting the books to study for a promotional test. I’ve worked with Deputy Chief Harris when he was a firefighter and I am proud to see him get this promotion he worked so hard for. John comes from a fire fighting family. His father George, now retired, was a Deputy Chief and Acting Chief of this department, his brother George is a firefighter. I’m proud to see Joe Mastandrea advance to Captain. Joe always worked hard and had his nose in the books every day. I knew he had the drive to succeed,” Chief Dyl said.
Chief Dyl also took a moment to thank the mayor and council for recognizing the need for the promotions in these tough economic times.
“We owe a debt of gratitude to the Mayor and Council who acted in the best interest for the safety of our citizens and firefighters,” Chief Dyl said.
Mayor Santos congratulated Deputy Chief Harris and Captain Mastandrea on the substantial step in their careers and reaffirmed the high expectations of their role in the Kearny Fire Department.

Photos and story by Diane Tilley.

Rescue in Kearny marsh

Photo and story by Diane Tilley

Lt. Kroop, firefighter Kobuszewski and two North Arlington Firefighters stand next to the NAFD Rescue Boat used to pull two men from the marsh after their inflatable boat sank.

KEARNY – Local police and fire departments rescued a 25-year-old and a 17-year-old from an inflatable boat that was sinking in the marsh waters behind the Keegan Landfill on Monday, March 2. Coordinated efforts between the Kearny Police Department and the Kearny and North Arlington Fire Departments resulted in a successful water rescue.
At approximately 4:20 p.m. Kearny dispatch received a 9-1-1 call from a cell phone belonging to one of the young men stating they were in the open waters of the marsh and their inflatable boat was sinking, according to Kearny police Capt. Greg Reid.
The young men told officials they entered the water by Gunnell Oval off of Schuyler Avenue. A strong easterly wind carried their boat into and across the open water and into a small peninsula far across the marsh. Their exact location was unknown.
“When the 9-1-1 call came in their boat had already sunk,” Reid said.
The castaways were difficult to spot because they were at least a quarter of a mile out in the water and inaccessible to searchers at the marsh’s edge. The Kearny Fire Department notified North Arlington and requested their assistance and to bring their rescue boat. Once the Kearny police was able to narrow down the search area, the rescue boat with firefighters aboard was launched and guided in by Kearny Fire Chief Steven Dyl.
“I was able to locate them through the binoculars and guide the rescue boat by radio to their location,” Dyl said.
The young men received the inflatable boat the day before in the mail and were anxious to try it out.
“Thankfully they had their cell phone. We were in constant communications with the victims and used the longitude and latitude of their cell phones GPS (Global Positioning System) to triangulate their position. If that proved unsuccessful we were prepared to ask the state police to dispatch the helicopter to search from the air,” Capt. Reid said.
The two victims were dressed in camouflage and leather jackets and were standing in chest-deep frigid water for more than 30 minutes before being pulled into the rescue boat at 5:10 p.m. They were treated at the scene by Kearny Emergency Services for exposure and hypothermia and transported to the University of Medicine and Dentistry Trauma Center in Newark.