The above photo depicts (left to right) Lacey Township Mayor Timothy McDonald, Lanoka Harbor Fire Company President Edward Barker, Forked River Firefighter Edward Barker, Jr., and Police Chief Michael C. DiBella, during the July 11, 2019 Lacey Township meeting. The police department recognized the efforts of both men related to a December 2018 water rescue.
On the morning of December 15, 2018, Lanoka Harbor Fire Company President Edward Barker and his son, Forked River Firefighter Edward Barker, Jr., were at their residence in Lacey Township when they heard the police department being dispatched to the Mill Pond on Parker Avenue in Forked River, for a report of a vehicle submerged into the water with persons entrapped. Without hesitation both of these men left their residence and responded directly to the lake where they observed the vehicle submerged approximately 50 feet in from the shoreline. They also observed at least one occupant in the vehicle. Both men entered the frigid water and made their way to the vehicle. Edward Barker, Jr., assisted the 18 year-old driver out of the vehicle through the sunroof and also ensured the vehicle did not contain any additional occupants. Edward Barker, Jr., and his father, Edward Barker, assisted the driver back to the shore without injury.
The 200 Club of Ocean County also honored both of these men this past June for the December 2018 water rescue. They each received the Valor Award.
I would like to thank both of these men for their hard work and dedication to the community and their respective fire departments.
Thank you,
Chief Michael C. DiBella