Delran officers earn service awards

Police got a structure fire call on Ridgewood Avenue. Once on scene, officers Christopher Clawges and Ozkan Ozturk – without regard to personal safety – entered the structure and were able to save a man’s life.

For that, the officers each received a lifesaving award for their heroic efforts in December.

Delran police noted those awards and others on its department Facebook page on March 6, during a recent annual departmental in-service training and 2024 awards presentation.

Eleven officers received Exceptional Service Awards:

• Det. Michael Lynch and officers Travis Karpen, Tyler Malia and Nicholas Schipsi were cited for their actions on Feb. 20 of last year canvassing the area of Castaway Cannabis in an attempt to locate an individual linked to multiple lewdness complaints. An individual matching the description was observed walking in the area and ran when he saw police. He was later located in the area of Ott’s restaurant and was identified as the suspect.
• Sgt. William Marshall, Det. Joseph Wagner, and officers Christopher Gonzalez, Daniel Gasper and Brandon Carter were cited for actions on July 5 of last year, when Marshall initiated a surveillance operation after receiving information pertaining to a package theft. The officers then located and initiated a motor-vehicle stop that enabled them to recognize and arrest a suspect sought in previous thefts.
• Sgt. Kevin Ambrose was cited his actions on July 25 of last year, where he observed a grey Dodge driving suspiciously. He saw the same vehicle in the area of Tenby Chase Apartments and observed two suspects wearing ski masks and actively attempting to steal a vehicle. The suspects fled the area without stealing the vehicle when they saw Ambrose.
• Officers Karpen, Christopher Clawges and Schipsi were cited for their actions on Aug. 2 of last year, when they responded to Hunters Glen Apartments for a report of a wanted person. The officers set up a perimeter, entered the apartment and found the suspect hiding in a closet. The individual – who has been known to elude police – was taken into custody without incident.

Karpen and Gasper also earned lifesaving awards for their actions last Oct. 6, when the former observed an unconscious male on an exercise machine covered in vomit. He took the man off the machine and laid him on his side on the floor while Gasper cleared the vomit from the victim’s mouth so his airway wouldn’t be obstructed, saving his life.

Wagner received the 2024 Mayor’s Award for “consistently demonstrating dedication and service to the community and for improving outreach and engagement with the people of Delran.” And Lynch received the 2024 Officer of the Year Award.

“Lynch has displayed a positive and hardworking attitude and has become one of the most reliable officers in the department,” the police posted on Facebook. “Lynch has continued to assist other officers and maintained several lateral duties. His dedication and leadership is a great example for newer officers and officers who have been on the department.”