At an annual awards ceremony on September 11, at Linden City Hall, Linden Police presented the Officer of the Year Award to Linden Detective Sergeant Brian A. Fech.
On May 6, 2015, at approximately 1:57 p.m. police were alerted to an attempted bank robbery at the Bank of America, 1100 S. Stiles St. After the robber fled the bank and attempted to carjack several vehicles, he ran across Routes 1&9 to a warehouse on E. Linden Avenue.
There, he took a parcel delivery driver hostage and held a loaded gun to his head. As officers arrived at the warehouse, Detective Sergeant Fech was able to sneak up behind the suspect and point his weapon at the suspect’s head, thus surprising him, and convincing him to surrender.
The suspect was wanted by the FBI for several bank robberies in the Union/Middlesex county area and is currently awaiting trial.
Presenting the award to Sgt. Fech was his supervisor in the Narcotics Bureau, Detective Lieutenant Abdul Williams. Also on hand to congratulate Sgt. Fech was Chief Schulhafer and Linden Mayor Derek Armstead.
Photo Caption: (left to right) Detective Lieutenant Abdul Williams, Chief James M. Schulhafer, Detective Sgt. Brian A. Fech, and Mayor Derek Armstead