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Its Detective of the Year is Hackensack’s Niles Malvasia, who was instrumental in one of the largest child pornography cases in the history of the state, and was credited by the association for preventing the continued abuse of children everywhere thanks to his skilled investigative work.
Its Citizen of the Year is the well-known and –respected philanthropist Santo “Sandy” Sorce, who has donated time and money to a variety of well-established charities and causes throughout North Jersey.
The president of Sorce Properties Inc. has given particular interest to Bergen County programs that teach children safety and wellness.
Officer of the Year is Jeff Angermeyer, a nine-year veteran of the Hillsdale department who investigates online crime but also has presented programs to more than 10,000 children, parents, teachers and colleagues in an effort to spread his knowledge, thus making individuals and businesses safer from sexual predators, computer hackers and online scammers.
Angermeyer has a Master’s degree and he is working towards a doctorate from Seton Hall. He is an Adjunct Professor at Farleigh Dickinson University and an instructor at the Bergen County Police Academy, and has written articles on law enforcement and technology for various publications.
He also wrote a 27-page handout for identity theft victims that has circulated throughout the county, speaks to senior groups on various topics and created the six-town “Safe Banks” program, which provides demonstrations to bank employees throughout Pascack Valley on how to prevent or respond to bank robberies.
Hackensack Detective Lt. Jaime Barrios River Vale Detective Sgt. John DeVoe Hillsdale Police Officer Jeff Angermeyer Washington Township P.O. Heather Castronovoa Hillsdale Police Officer William Diedtrich
Angermeyer shared honors with a group of dedicated officers from the Valley who he said are responsible for making “Safe Banks” a success.
They include Washington Township Police Officer Heather Castronovoa, fellow Hillsdale Officer William Diedtrich, River Vale Detective Sgt. John DeVoe, and township Lt. Rich Skinner, who couldn’t attend Thursday’s luncheon. Angermeyer said DeVoe helped him launch the program and continued devoting time to it, along with their fellow officers.
“The fact is that our bank safety program was recognized and all of got an award yesterday makes me happiest of all,” Angermeyer told CLIFFVIEW PILOT this morning.
“Safe Banks” teaches tellers how to deal with everything from an ID scam to a medical emergency to a full-scale holdup.
To make the program more realistic, Diedtrich simulates a robbery, bursting into the training room wearing nondescript clothing while Angermeyer gives his talk. Diedtrich swipes a backpack from a desk and immediately bolts.
Angermeyer then asks the employees for an accurate description of what happened, as well as what the “thief” looked like – an exercise that helps sharpens their skills as reliable witnesses for investigators.
“The program grew the most over the course of the past year or so when Officer Castronova, with assistance from Lt. Skinner, brought the program to Washington Township and received the full support of Oritani Bank, which has its headquarters on Pascack Road,” Angermeyer told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
“Through their diligent efforts, the ‘Safe Banks’ program found a home with Oritani Bank and has since educated more than 60 bank tellers from 15 different banks in five separate towns across the Pascack Valley.”
All five officers were honored with Exceptional Service Awards for their individual and joint work with the program.
Among the others honored Thursday was Sorce.
Lt. Barrios with Santo “Sandy” Sorce
The Hackensack department the past 11 years has run a Youth Academy, which takes nearly 100 kids from 13 to 17 years old from surrounding towns and puts them through a week-long boot camp-styled program. Law enforcement officers from North Jersey give lecture and make presentations to the youngsters, who get their own uniforms and equipment, along with lunch and a closing ceremonies pizza party — in large part thanks to Sorce.
Sandy covers lunch not only for the kids but for the officers, as well. And he’s done it since Day One.
“I know for a fact that numerous juveniles that attended the Youth Academy were affected so greatly that they have pursued careers in law enforcement,” Barrios said. “We have been successful with this program because of the devotion Sandy has to our community and our kids.”
The Detective of the Year, Malvasia, is a 13-year veteran of the Hackensack department has been lead detective on a slew of major cases. His work on the huge child porn seizure — a staggering 1.5 terrabytes of images — led to an 18-year sentence for the trafficker.
Hackensack Police Detective Niles MalvasiaLast year, he helped negotiate the surrender of an escapee who fired at officers and U.S. Marshals. This year, Malvasia, as lead detective, helped shut down a large gambling ring in Hackensack.
“His proactive approach to law enforcement has proven to be an extreme asset to our department,” Barrios said. “He is an exceptional interviewer and has a knack for developing confidential informants.”
Also honored Thursday:
Retired Sgt. Michael Knott of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Department: Appreciation For Years of Service Award.
Passaic County Sheriff’s Department Detective Juan Passano and Sheriff’s Officer Richard Vieira: Exceptional Service awards.
The NJRCPOA, led by Hackensack Detective Lt. Jaime Barrios, aims to unite police officers, security professionals and concerned business owners to help prevent crime and increase public safety.
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