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Accepting the award were several members of the RDF command staff:
New Milford Police Chief Frank Papapietro
Englewood Cliffs Deputy Police Chief Michael McMorrow
Fair Lawn Police Capt. Robert Kneer
Palisades Park Police Capt. Anthony Muccio
Carlstadt Police Sgt. Damir Blagec
Bergen County Police Department Detective Gidget Petry
The RDF, which is run by the Bergen County Police Chiefs Association, was tasked with securing the five-mile rail link between the Secaucus Junction station and MetLife Stadium.
“Several crossings and bridges were manned on a rotational basis throughout the event,” Papapietro told CLIFFVIEW PILOT.
The RDF was established in anticipation of World Cup events in 1994. It operates under its own command structure and is comprised of officers from municipal departments, Bergen County Police and Bergen County Sheriff’s Office.
The unit is activated when a local police chief requires manpower above and beyond his department’s manpower capabilities. The local chief maintains command of the situation and is assisted by the RDF staff.
Besides the Super Bowl, the RDF has been called out for a pair of Garden State Plaza incidents — one involving a gunman and the other a scare caused by panicked shoppers.
“We have also been used for humanitarian and crime scene missions and are often placed on alert when municipalities host events that draw large crowds,” Papapietro added.
NJT Police Chief Christopher Trucillo yesterday thanked all of the agencies that provided assistance during the event.
Also recognized were the Amtrack Police Dept., FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, US Customs and Border Patrol, Hudson County Rapid Deployment Force, New Jersey State Police, NJ Department of Corrections, NJ National Guard, Norfolk Southern Police Dept., Port Authority Police Dept., TSA Screeners, TSA Federal Air Marshals, TSA Science and Technology, U.S Secret Service.
Trucillo also honored several of his officers and civilians for actions above and beyond the call of duty, promoted officers, swore in new officers and graduated a civilian police academy class.
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