By Cindy Forrest
The Morris Neighbor News
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Going above and beyond their duty and putting first the safety and well-being of the people they are sworn to protect are actions that deserve recognition and praise. And so on July 17 Parsippany Mayor James Barberio and Police Chief Anthony DeZenzo honored six officers who exemplify those standards and did so during an incident in Mountain Lakes last year.
When the call for assistance went out from the adjoining town’s Police Department on Oct. 15, Detective Sergeant Richard Nicolettti, Lieutenant John “Jay” Wieners, Officer Mike Ruggier, Officer Luke Costigan, Officer George Tsimpedes, and Officer Anthony Morelli responded.
Kearny resident Leonardo Parera, 39, had shot and killed co-worker Christine Capone King of Jefferson at her desk at Exit Realty Gold on Route 46 where he was employed as a real estate agent.
After the shooting, Parera calmly called 9-1-1 and said he had “just killed someone.” He went on to detail that he was in the parking lot, that he was armed and dangerous and that he would shoot anyone who approached the car.
Parera continued his shooting spree by turning his gun on police officers as they arrived on the scene, until he was killed by return gun fire.
The officers honored are:
Nicoletti — hired by the township in 1990 and was assigned to the Patrol Division. In 1999 he was assigned to the Investigative Division. He has served the department in the capacity of Firearms Instructor and is also a member of the department’s Honor Guard. He is the recipient of numerous awards including five Exceptional Duty Medals, eight Command Citations, a Lifesaving Award, and two Meritorious Service Medals from the Morris County Detective’s Association. In 2003 he was named Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the Parsippany Rotary Club, and in 2005 the VFW also named him Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Nicoletti was promoted to Sergeant in 2007 and has been assigned to the Investigative Division.
Wieners — hired as a police dispatcher in 1997 and in July of 2000 was hired as a Police Officer. As a Patrol Officer he received a lifesaving award and two exceptional duty awards. He has also served as a Detective and Detective Sergeant with the Investigative Division. A graduate of Parsippany High School, Wieners earned a B.S. in criminal justice from Mansfield University and is pursuing a M.A. in human resources training & development in the New Jersey State Police Graduate Studies Program at Seton Hall University. He serves as the Domestic Violence Liaison Officer and Crisis Response Team supervisor and is assigned to the Patrol Division.
Ruggier — hired in 1986 and has always been assigned to the Patrol Division. He serves the department in the capacity of firearms instructor, Colt M4 Assault Rifle instructor, MP5 Subgun instructor, and Field Training Officer. He is also the department’s Black Bear Officer Coordinator as well as a member of the Morris County Rapid Deployment Team and police department liaison to the Police Athletic League (PAL). Officer Ruggier is a six time participant in the Police Unity Tour and traveled to New Orleans to participate in the Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort. He is a highly decorated officer with awards for Meritorious Duty, Exceptional Duty, Lifesaving and the State PBA Valor award.
Costigan — was hired as a Police Officer in 2004, and as a Patrol officer he earned a Lifesaving Award. Officer Costigan has a bachelor of arts degree in business administration and a second bachelor of arts in psychology from the University of South Florida.
Tsimpedes — hired as a police officer in 2007 and has been assigned to the Patrol Division. Prior to his appointment with Parsippany Police Department, Officer Tsimpedes was a Passaic County Sheriff’s Officer from 2005 until 2007 where he received a Lifesaving award and a Meritorious Duty award. As a Parsippany officer, he has been the recipient of a Lifesaving award and a Unit Commendation. Officer Tsimpedes is a graduate of St John’s University where he earned a B.A. in criminal justice/business. He is currently pursuing a master of public administration from Farleigh Dickinson University.
Morelli — graduated from the Passaic County Police Academy in August 2006 and was employed by the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department. He was hired by the Parsippany-Troy Hills Police Department in 2008 and has been assigned to the Patrol Division where he was awarded two Command Citations as well as an Exceptional Duty award. Married with two children, Officer Morelli has a B.A. in literature from SUNY Purchase College.
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