Police Officers Honored For Retrieving Rifle, Arresting Alleged Burglars

Three officers were honored at Thursday's Kinnelon Council meeting, each for having worked diligently during two separate arrest incidents this year.

Sgt. Christopher Burns was honored for his work in retrieving a Bushmaster assault rifle, loaded with 22 rounds of ammunition in its magazine and a round in its chamber, from the home of a Kinnelon man who was being served a traffic warrant on Feb. 27.

Kinnelon Police Chief John Finkle said this is an illegal weapon and that by following the man to his apartment when he allegedly said he needed to gather his belongings to follow Sgt. Burns to the police station, he was able to see the rifle in the man's closet.

"Kinnelon has one less gun that we have to worry about," Finkle said.

Sgt. David Crouthammel and Det. Patrick McDonnell were also honored for their work in arresting two individuals allegedly involved in a burglary on Orchard Road on Jan. 28. When police arrived at the scene, the homeowner of the home that was being allegedly burglarized was involved in an altercation with one of the alleged burglars.

"My last day of my family officially living in Kinnelon was the first time we needed the Kinnelon Police Department," the resident wrote in an email to the department that was read aloud by Councilman Andrew SanFilippo. The homeowner was moving out of town the following day, but wrote how appreciative he was of the police officers' efforts in the arrest.

After apprehending the alleged burglar, Det. McDonnell pursued leads of the second alleged burglar, who had escaped the scene by car. About 45 minutes later, police had apprehended the second alleged burglar as well.

Mayor Bob Collins thanked the officers and Finkle and said that the hard work of the Kinnelon Police Department is not only recognized in town, but by others in surrounding communities as well.

"I can't tell you enough that our police department is so well respected," he said.