SHOUT OUTS: It was only after he was killed in an accident that Cliffside Park Police Officer Stephen Petruzzello’s parents learned that he’d saved a woman in a domestic violence incident.
“She escaped with a broken nose. Stephen never told us he did that,” said Ronald Petruzzello, his arm around his wife, Linda, at the borough’s first annual remembrance for people like their son — who rush toward danger and not away from it.
Mayor Thomas Calabrese read a proclamation in Memorial Park outside the municipal building designating the fourth Tuesday of every September “First Responders Day.”
“We’re integrating the whole community in making them aware of the dangers that they face, the sacrifices they make, and that we should be thankful,” Councilwoman Donna Spoto said.”I hope we are going to build on this each and every year,” Calabrese added.
A bell tolled at 11 a.m., and the crowd of students, police officers, firefighters, EMTs and citizens shared a moment of silence.
The Petruzzellos brought their son’s Mustang. It has become a familiar symbol around the state — with his police photo, his #133 police badge and an American flag shrink-wrapped onto it. The car even made the trip to Washington, D.C., as part of the Police Unity Tour. READ MORE….
STORY / PHOTO: Daily Voice Reporter Melissa Heule
