Woodbridge Police Officers Honored for Heroic Rescue
Five Woodbridge officers were praised for saving four residents from a burning Avenel apartment as the department earned both state and national accreditation.
From left: Sgt. Jorge Quesada, Det. Owen Sharkey and Officers Robert “RJ” McPartland, Ryan Trudel, and Michael Cronacchia were honored for saving four residents from an October 4 apartment fire in Avenel.
November 11, 2025
Five Woodbridge Police officers credited with saving multiple people from a burning apartment building were honored by the township at Monday’s council meeting.
Mayor John McCormac said the rescue demonstrated the courage and professionalism that define the township’s force.
The mayor presented Life-Saving Citations to Sgt. Jorge Quesada, Det. Owen Sharkey and Officers Robert “RJ” McPartland, Ryan Trudel, and Michael Cronacchia for their actions during an October 4 fire on St. George Avenue in Avenel.
The officers crawled through heavy smoke and flames to reach four trapped residents on the second floor, carrying them to safety before the structure became fully engulfed.
“Four people are alive because of these five guys putting their lives at risk,” McCormac said. “It was incredibly courageous.”
The mayor encouraged the officers to say a few words and share details about the rescue.
“When we got out there, the residents that were outside immediately started screaming that two people were inside the top left apartment and two other individuals were on the other side,” Officer Cronacchia said.
The officers said firefighters set up an extendable ladder so that the officers could rescue the residents from the roof of the burning building while the firefighters doused the flames.
“We were able to get up there, onto the roof, and help the two people out while they worried about putting the fire out,” said Officer McPartland.
Sgt. Quesada praised the multiagency response, sharing credit with the fire department and EMS.
“It was really a group effort with all the officers that responded with fire first aid,” Sgt. Quesada said. “We all did a great job, and we all came together to make this possible.”
Police Director Joseph Nisky praised the officers’ teamwork and said they will also be recognized by Middlesex County next month. He added that Sharkey has been promoted to full detective following a successful rotation in the bureau.
The mayor also recognized Traffic Investigator Christopher Estevez as the department’s Officer of the Quarter.
Mayor John McCormac presents Traffic Investigator Christopher Estevez with the township’s Officer of the Quarter award during the Nov. 10, 2025, Town Council meeting. Estevez was honored for leading the enforcement of Woodbridge’s new e-bike ordinance.
A 10-year veteran, Estevez was commended for his leadership in enforcing Woodbridge’s new e-bike ordinance, issuing 100 summonses and impounding 29 bikes during the third quarter of 2025.
“He’s shown what proactive policing looks like,” McCormac said. “These bikes were getting out of control on sidewalks and streets, and Officer Estevez made sure our new rules were meaningfully applied.”
The evening concluded with a milestone moment for the entire department. Harry Delgado of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police presented Woodbridge with its state law-enforcement accreditation, placing it among an elite few agencies in New Jersey to hold both state and national (CALEA) accreditation. Only South Brunswick and Evesham Township share that dual status.
Delgado described the Woodbridge Police Department as “highly professional and committed,” praising its transparency and strong community relationships. McCormac called the dual accreditation “independent proof” that Woodbridge operates one of the best police departments in the state.