Metuchen police officer recognized for volunteerism

Sean Difrenza of Edison takes part in a demonstration held by Bressaw’s Karate during the 19th annual Edison Fall Family Spectacular, held Sept. 10 at Papaianni Park. ERIC SUCAR staff For the members of the Metuchen Municipal Alliance, the decision of who to nominate forMiddlesex CountyVolunteer of the Year was an easy one.

Borough Police Cpl. David Liantonio, who has been the police liaison to the municipal alliance for five years, was their choice.

“Every county nominates an alliance volunteer of the year,” said Irene Morris-Nann, chairwoman of the alliance, which aims to reduce drug and alcohol abuse. “All of our 22 members unanimously voted for Dave.”

Morris-Nann filled out the application for the nomination.

“Dave is just always there,” she said. “When he was appointed police liaison to us, he was not obligated to do anything. He is just a tremendous human being. He loves kids, and he is a strong role model for the anti-drug movement.”

Metuchen Police Cpl. David Liantonio and daughter Dominique attend the annual National Night Out event in the borough in August. Liantonio was selected as Middlesex County Volunteer of the Year and received the award on Sept. 9 at a ceremony in Princeton. The Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse sponsored the ceremony. The police corporal also received a proclamation from state Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex). “It was an unexpected honor,” said Liantonio. “It was a nice event, and [the award is] something I am glad to get. This is what I do normally. If there’s the annual magic show [sponsored by the alliance], I’ll go with my daughter. It’s not something I think about.”

Liantonio, who joined the police department in 1995 and is one of the department’s DARE officers, has attended all alliance meetings and events over the past five years, and has helped organize the borough’s annual National Night Out and Red Ribbon Week celebrations. Earlier this year he helped to organize the alliance’s first annual Unity in the Community walk.

The officer has also been instrumental in securing grants for the alliance.

“I started writing for grants 12 years ago,” he said. “I have received well over a million dollars in grants for the police department, and that does not include the many grants that the alliance has received.”

In conjunction with the Youth Services Board and the Board of Education, Liantonio recently applied for a $500,000 federal grant to fund 12 athletic training programs for public and private schools in Metuchen.

“We should hear whether we received it or not any day now,” he said.