Acting Attorney General Andrew J. Bruck today announced that Correctional Police Officer Chad Ammerman has been selected as the inaugural “NJ Officer of the Week.”
The new initiative is designed to identify and highlight acts of exceptional courage, leadership, or service by a New Jersey law enforcement officer, with recipients announced on a weekly basis.
Officials said Officer Ammerman was recognized for his effort to save an 82-year-old man whose boat sank approximately 300 yards off the coast of Ocean County.
After a fisherman alerted Officer Ammerman to the man in distress, the off-duty officer emptied a cooler, swam through choppy waters, and helped the man using the cooler as a floatation device until a boat could rescue him.
“Every day, law enforcement officers in New Jersey perform acts of extraordinary courage,” said Acting Attorney General Bruck. “But too often, these acts are overlooked or forgotten.
I can think of no better way to kick off our ‘NJ Officer of the Week’ initiative than by recognizing Officer Ammerman for his ingenuity and courage. I look forward to highlighting other acts of service in the weeks and months to come.”
Under the new initiative, law enforcement agencies and organizations can nominate officers for “NJ Officer of the Week.”
The Office of the Attorney General will select recipients each week and then highlight the officer’s accomplishment on its social media channels and website.
Acting AG Bruck will personally congratulate Ammerman and each Officer of the Week moving forward.
The New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association nominated Officer Ammerman for the inaugural “NJ Officer of the Week.”