Police Officers, Civilians Recognized in Ceremony at County College

The police department's leadership recognized their township brothers and sisters in blue, fellow law-enforcement officers and firefighters from throughout the area, and several civilians during a touching ceremony Wednesday night.

It was the second annual Gloucester Township Police Department Awards Night, held at Camden County College's Dennis Flyer Theater.

"I see so much respect and admiration for every single one of you, and that is because you were called to the vocation of law enforcement," Chief W. Harry Earle said during his opening remarks. "The words that are our foundation for our oath and our mission statement—honesty, respect, fairness, integrity, compassion and courage—these words are part of all of you. It is what you are."

The awards presented Wednesday night included two posthumous honors.

Det. Thomas J. Stollsteimer, who died in February at the age of 34, was named Police Officer of the Year. Sgt. John Stollsteimer accepted the award on his brother's behalf.

Stollsteimer received six commendations during his 10-year career, Earle noted.

Police posthumously awarded K-9 Schultz with the department's Distinguished Valor Award.

Schultz was killed after a robbery suspect allegedly tossed the K-9 into an oncoming car on Route 42 in November.

Cpl. Mark Pickard, who was Schultz's handler, was awarded the Merit Award for his actions that night.

In addition to those posthumous awards, police also recognized 15-year veteran Det. Lt. Eric Quintavalle as Supervisor of the Year, Lauren Wolcott as Dispatcher of the Year, and Officer Justin DiGiacomo as Special Officer of the Year.

The winners of the Gloucester Township Public Schools' "Police and Community Pride" elementary-school poster contest and middle-school essay contest were also announced during the event.

Sgt. Brendan Barton, of the department's community relations bureau, explained the idea behind this year's poster and essay contest.

"We wanted to show how important the relationship is between the police and our community. I believe in the last year and a half, since I've been in this position, we've improved this relationship and solved a lot of crimes, and I believe it's improving our township."

The poster winners are:

• Union Valley: Tessa Murphy and Krystin Lutner
• James W. Lilley: Carly Smith and Suhalia Still
• Erial: Doan Dang
• Blackwood: Stephen Hopkins
• Chews: Brandon Rulli
• Glendora: Robin Deangelis
• Loring-Flemming: Alexandra Marie Craft
• Gloucester Township: Zachary Nocella

The essay winners are Charles W. Lewis Middle's Bella Santosusso and Glen Landing Middle's Katie Morgan.