Council honors police for armed robbery incident BY TOM CAIAZZA Staff Writer EDISON - More than a dozen members of the Edison Police Department received a commendation from the township council for participation in the arrest of four people suspected of armed robbery on Feb. 19. The officers, two of whom were involved in a car chase along Inman Avenue, were honored by the council after arresting four males, two of whom were juveniles, who allegedly robbed two other men of more than $135 at gunpoint. The suspects allegedly pulled behind a car in a parking lot on Weston Forbes Court, two of them exited the car and while brandishing handguns, robbed two men, one of whom was working on the car while the other sat inside the vehicle. Officers were quick to respond, locating the car traveling west on Inman Avenue, and began a traffic stop. The car pulled away quickly, leading officers Alan Sobo and Robert Urbanski on a chase through Edison, into South Plainfield and back into Edison. The driver allegedly rammed Urbanski's police cruiser three times during the chase and after the third ramming lost control of the vehicle and hit a utility pole. Three of the four occupants ran into a nearby wooded area and the fourth was arrested inside the vehicle. Council President Charles Tomaro honored the men and women who worked on the case, calling it proof of the department's standing as one of the best in the state. Councilman Diehl said it was a "terrific story" and said that the ranking of Edison Township as one of the safest places to live in the nation was a direct result of the quality of the police force. "We're very proud of our police department," Diehl said. "When you hear the statistics that say we are one of the safer places in the United States, you really can't say more than that." Diehl said that while police dramas portrayed on television are not believable because real police work does not always work like that, sometimes it does. "Every once in a while this is a very dangerous job," Diehl said. "Not every day perhaps, but when you're called upon, it can be very dangerous." Councilman Massaro said that from a distance, this episode does look like a movie. However, he said he does not find it exciting. "What I find it filled with is my sense of worry for you gentlemen," Massaro said, "because there is always that risk." Massaro said that while the department performed well under dangerous conditions, he hopes this remains an uncommon occurrence. "I want to remind myself and anyone else that you are employed, you are compensated and you are trained to do a job. It's my hope that you never have to utilize any of those skills." Police Chief George Mieczkowski stoically thanked the council for recognizing the police when they are not often afforded such accolades. He also offered a promise. "We'll go out there tomorrow," Mieczkowski said, "and these men and women will do the same thing."