Union County Sheriff's OfficeUndersheriff Amilcar “Mickey” Colon, Captain Jeffrey Coon (28 years), Sergeant Erik Finne (25 years) and Sergeant Vincent Powers (25 years) retired today from the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
Their retirement is marked with a traditional walkout ceremony on the steps of the historic Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.
Video of the ceremony is on the bottom of this page.
Sheriff Peter Corvelli announced the appointment of Victor Manata as an Undersheriff of Union County, effective February 15, 2022.
Undersheriff Manata served with the City of Newark Police Department for twenty-five years, retiring as a Lieutenant in 2020. He began his career in 1993 with the Essex County Sheriff’s Office, serving two years before his transfer to Newark PD.
Undersheriff Manata had a distinguished career with Newark, having served and led in some of their most high profile units, to include 12 years with their Emergency Services Unit/SWAT. He additionally served with the Union-Essex Auto Theft Task Force, the NPD Auto Crimes Unit and a seven year assignment to the FBI’s Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force. As a supervisor, the Undersheriff served as the Commander of the NPD Robbery Division and as an Investigative Lieutenant for the Internal Affairs Unit.
Sheriff Corvelli stated, “Undersheriff Manata’s well rounded career and successes within the largest municipal police agency in NJ provide the right type of experience I am looking for to further the goals of the Union County Sheriff’s Office. His leadership and interpersonal skills align with our vision of community oriented law enforcement services.”
Undersheriff Manata will be sworn into Office on February 15, 2022 at 3:30 P.M. in the Courtroom of Union County Vicinage Assignment Judge, the Honorable Lisa Miralles Walsh. Undersheriff Manata will join current Undersheriffs Amilcar Colon and Dennis Burke and Director Ronald Charles as the executive management team for Sheriff Corvelli.
Contact: U/S Dennis Burke
The Union County Sheriff’s department participated in the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), a series of 5K and relay races that is also the largest national grassroots fundraising movement for the Special Olympics.
Detective Edward Suter (25 years) and Investigator Marybeth Gray (25 years) retired today from the Union County Sheriff’s Office. Their retirement was marked with a traditional walkout ceremony on the steps of the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.
Union County Sheriff’s Office K9 Milo has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Milo’s vest was sponsored by Dr. Julie Tropeano and Family of Elizabeth, NJ and embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of Angelo Tropeano”.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and NIJ certified. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 4,033 vests to K9s in all 50 states at a value of $6.9 million, made possible by both private and corporate donations.
The program is open to U.S. dogs that are at least 20 months old and actively employed and certified with law enforcement or related agencies. K9s with expired vests are also eligible to participate. There are an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount, while a single donation of $960 will sponsor one vest. Each vest has a value of $1,744-$2,283, weighs an average of 4-5 lb., and comes with a five-year warranty. For more information, or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts donations at www.vik9s.org, or you may mail your contribution to P.O. Box 9, East Taunton, MA 02718.
Union County Freeholder Christopher Hudak and Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski joined Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli, Union County Manager Ed Oatman, Deputy County Manager Amy Wagner, Office of Veteran Services Coordinator Janna Williams, Brigadier General Edward Chrystal, Berkeley Heights Mayor Angie Devanney and members of local veterans groups at the Union County Prisoners of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Remembrance Day ceremony on the steps of the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth.
The annual event is sponsored by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders to honor and remember prisoners of war and those missing in action. The National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed each year on the third Friday of September.
(Photos by Jim Lowney/County of Union)
This week we swore in 5 new Sheriff’s Officers and 2 new Sheriff’s Security Guards. The new Sheriff’s Officers are all military veterans: Briana Hall of Elizabeth (US Army Reserve), Josue Jaramillo of Elizabeth (US Navy), Francisco Estrada IV of Union (US Army National Guard), Alphonso Davis Jr. of Elizabeth (US Army National Guard) and James J. Duffy of Summit (US Army National Guard).
The new security officers are Sheriff’s Security Guards are Naomi McNeill of Linden and Jonathan Schulz of Union.
On behalf of the Union County Sheriff’s Office, I would like to thank StringKing for donating 250 surgical masks and Tree City – A Good Place To Be for donating hand sanitizer to our office.
Today the Union County Freeholder Board, Sheriff Peter Corvelli and his officers assisted in the distribution of 14 pallets of fresh and shelf-safe food in partnership with United Way of Greater Union County. The food, donated by Amazon Logistics, was provided to United Way and transferred to 20 local social service agencies that will give it to individuals and families in need throughout Union County.
“On behalf of the Freeholder Board, I thank Amazon, United Way, and our local partners for working together to bring relief to families who are struggling with the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis,” said Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The need is great, and I hope this generous donation inspires other acts of giving in our community.”
“Today’s effort builds on our longstanding, collaborative efforts with business leaders, nonprofits and local relief agencies. Thanks to Amazon and United Way, we are able to redouble our efforts to provide assistance to our residents during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados, who organized the distribution with Freeholder Angela R. Garretson.
“The invaluable partnership with the United Way of Greater Union County and our local municipalities benefit from so many acts of kindness. The Amazon donations are greatly appreciated, as each substantially advances support for individuals and families in Union County,” said Freeholder Garretson.
“This is a very important milestone in our charge to ensure Union County residents continue to have access to food during this time of the pandemic. Thanks to the continued support of Amazon Logistics, the partnership with the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders and our community partners, we will be able to help alleviate some of those barriers families face as result of the Coronavirus,” said James W. Horne, Jr., President and CEO of United Way of Greater Union County.
Organizations and businesses and that wish to donate food in Union County can contact Nathalie Hernandez, coordinator of the Union County Office of Diversity and Community Engagement, at nhernandez@ucnj.org.
For more information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including guidance on the Union County Drive-Through Test Center at Kean University, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update.
For general information about COVID-19 and phone contacts for 24/7 assistance with questions, visit the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.
Union County Sheriff Peter Corvelli and Sheriff’s Officer Nelson Agurto thank Dr. Julie Tropeano for sponsoring a bullet and stab protective vest for Union County Sheriff’s Office K9 Ceasar.
Union County Sheriff’s Office K9 Ceasar has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. The vest was sponsored by Dr. Julie Tropeano of Lincroft, NJ and embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of Mark Hratko”.
Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 3,500 U.S. made, custom fitted, NIJ certified protective vests in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a value of $6.9 million dollars.
The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.
The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $950.00. Each vest has a value between $1,744 – $2,283, and a five-year warranty and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.
(Photo by Jim Lowney/County of Union)