STAFFORD – The local governing body began a recent meeting by shining a spotlight on the people who answer calls most residents hope they’ll never have to make.
Before ordinances and resolutions were introduced, Mayor Robert Henken stepped to the podium with a proclamation recognizing a group of police officers, EMTs, paramedics and telecommunicators whose actions in 2025 directly saved lives.
“We’re going to start off tonight with a proclamation recognizing first responders for lifesaving efforts,” Henken said, as he announced names and described a series of different events. The proclamation honored multiple emergency responses throughout the year, each one a reminder of how quickly an ordinary day can turn into a fight for survival.
The First Life Saved
On January 8, 2025, Officers Kenny, Caporrino, Rauch and Barnett were dispatched by Public Safety Telecommunicator Thomas Scherzer to a report of an unresponsive man at a local business.
While officers were en route, Scherzer provided pre-arrival CPR instructions over the phone. When officers arrived, they quickly determined the man had no pulse and took over CPR from another employee, stabilizing him and ensuring transport to the hospital.
Their coordinated efforts, Henken read, resulted in the gentleman surviving.
Swift Action After A Fall
On April 18, 2025, Patrolman Moslowitz responded to a call for a resident who had fallen. After the patient was placed on a stretcher, EMTs determined she was no longer breathing.
Moslowitz assisted with lifesaving CPR and provided an emergency escort to the hospital. His prompt action led to the patient regaining consciousness.
Calm Guidance For A Panicked Parent
One of the most emotional moments described in the proclamation took place on October 12, 2025, when Public Safety Telecommunicator Matthew Shaffery answered a 9-1-1 call from a distraught parent whose 9-month-old infant was choking and had stopped breathing.
Shaffery remained calm, giving clear, step-by-step instructions and guiding the parent through two rounds of infant CPR. His composure and direction directly contributed to saving the child’s life.
Saving One Of Their Own
Just four days later, on October 16, 2025, Stafford Township Police Communications received an emergency call from within their own department reporting that an employee was suffering a medical emergency.
Telecommunicators Dan Rooney, Frank Ciraulo and Chloe Iverson immediately recognized the seriousness of the situation. Officers Luna, Reed, Bush, Caporrino and Walker, along with Head of Communications Tim Cunningham, responded to render assistance.
They determined the employee had no pulse, applied an AED and administered CPR. Their unified response saved the life of a colleague.
A Welfare Check That Turned Critical
On November 2, 2025, Officers Gallagher and Sura responded to a welfare check and found a resident lying on the floor, weak and disoriented.
When the resident’s breathing became severely labored, Officer Gallagher alerted EMTs and began assisting with care. During transport, Gallagher remained in the back of the ambulance, continuing rescue breaths. Together, the officers’ quick and decisive actions saved the resident’s life.
A Community’s Gratitude
After recounting each incident, Henken formally commended the officers and telecommunicators for their “professionalism, compassion and unwavering commitment to the community”
The honorees gathered at the front of the council chambers for photos, shoulder to shoulder. The applause was sustained and heartfelt.
In a town where emergency calls numbered in the thousands last month alone, the ceremony served as a reminder that behind every statistic is a story, and often, a second chance.
