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Newark Life

Newark Police Officers Honored by Knights of Columbus

Apr 30, 2015 01:05PM ● By Kevin

L/R: Francis M Denver, Grand Knight, Lt. Michael VanCampen, Officer Aaron Olicker, Officer Nate Graber, Cpl Robert Vernon, Captain John Potts, & Albert Ware, St. Michael Council 4548 Council Director for Officer of the Quarter Program. Photo taken by Carmelo Palazzo

On April 27th, Knights of Columbus St. Michael Council #4548 presented the Officer of the Quarter Award to Newark Police Officers Corporal Robert Vernon and Officer Nate Graber for outstanding performance during the third quarter of 2014, and to Officer Aaron Olicker for outstanding performance during the fourth quarter of 2014.

Cpl. Robert Vernon and Officer Nate Graber were both nominated for their actions leading to the apprehension of suspects responsible for a string of armed robberies in September.  On September 23rd, 2014, following another armed robbery, Cpl. Vernon and Ofc. Graber responded to the area of the robbery.  Right away, Cpl. Vernon and Ofc. Graber located a suspicious vehicle with a sole occupant matching the description of the outstanding suspect.  The officers conducted a registration check on the vehicle and determined that the owner was wanted on active warrants.  The officers were also aware that a similarly described vehicle may have been involved in the previous robberies.  Ultimately the operator of the vehicle was arrested and charged with multiple robbery related offenses. The immediate stop and seizure of the motor vehicle proved instrumental in the detectives investigation into the robbery spree. 

Officer Aaron Olicker was nominated for his actions on October 31st, 2014.  Officer Olicker responded for a robbery that was later determined to have occurred on University of Delaware property.  Officer Olicker observed individuals that matched the suspect description and stopped them. The suspects he stopped proved to be the individuals responsible for the robbery and confessed to their actions.  Also noted by the committee was Officer Olicker’s total body of work for this quarter. Officer Olicker was one of the officers who represented the police department at the funeral of a slain NYC officer. Officer Olicker additionally led his platoon in proactive policing for the quarter.

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