Three Brick Police Officers Recognized for Heroic Rescue Efforts

A man who was threatening suicide was saved by the crisis intervention abilities of three Brick Township police officers, and one of them was chosen Officer of the Year.

In relation to the event that occurred on September 1, 2025, officers John Daly, Anthony Rossi, and Steven Schocket were recognized at the 11th annual CIT-NJ Center of Excellence awards ceremony. Daly was named officer of the year, according to the police department.

Daly, Rossi, and Schocket received a call regarding a man who was mentally unstable after an argument.

He grabbed a large knife and declared he would prefer to die rather than return to a mental health hospital after his family phoned the police about what they believed was his increasingly violent behavior, according to the police.

According to investigators, the man was outside the residence walking back and forth while clutching the knife when the police arrived. He would occasionally put the knife to his own throat and act aggressively toward the officers, demanding that they shoot him.

Shocket, Daly, and Rossi continued to establish a relationship with the man throughout the 45-minute standoff; at times, the man seemed to be making advances in an attempt to compel a police reaction.

According to an account of what happened at the awards ceremony, "the subject voluntarily dropped the knife and allowed himself to be taken into custody and transported to a mental health facility due to these three officers' extraordinary efforts during a tense negotiation period."

Daly was praised as officer of the year for "his exceptional professionalism, compassion, and dedication to Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) principles" in his handling of the issue.

Daly had just finished the Crisis Intervention Training a few days prior to the event.

In a Facebook post, the Brick Township Police Department stated, "We are pleased to acknowledge the exceptional accomplishments of our officers and the ongoing dedication to excellence in serving our community."

The department also received the 2025 Unit Citation Award from the CIT-NJ Center of Excellence, which was an honor. The police department stated that this award honors the teamwork of officers during a crucial incident in which Officers Daly, Rossi, and Schocket showed exceptional judgment, communication, and de-escalation abilities, guaranteeing a safe and favorable outcome during a high-risk scenario.

These honors demonstrate our department's dedication to saving lives, helping those in need, and providing professional, compassionate service to our community while also reflecting the finest standards of police, the department said.

Brick Township police prevented another suicide in April when a man left his home, telling others he was going to hurt himself. The man was found after a four-hour search including K-9 officers and drones through what police described as highly challenging terrain, including dense woodlands, heavy thorn-covered vegetation, swampy ground, and creek sections. Despite the individual's attempts to elude officers by hiding when he was detected, the search was successful.

According to authorities, the individual was eventually discovered to be safe and sent to a nearby hospital for additional medical assessment and treatment.