Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada awards officers for exceptional service

Press Release                                                                      Contact:  Sheriff Michael F. Strada

For Immediate Release                                                        973-579-0850

Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada awards officers for exceptional service

Sussex County Sheriff Michael F. Strada presented several members of his staff with awards for exceptional service at an awards ceremony held on October 30, 2025. 

In July, 2025, the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office held its inaugural Junior Sheriff’s Academy.  The success of this comprehensive program that provided Sussex County youths with valuable instruction in law enforcement, civic responsibility, leadership and personal growth could not have been accomplished without the following officers:

Sergeant Joseph Cahill – Exception Duty Medal

Sheriff’s Officer Khanai Powell – Exceptional Duty Medal

Sheriff’s Officer Khanai Powell, Sheriff Strada, Sheriff’s Officer Khanai Powell

Corporal Robert Schilling – Honorable Service Award

Corporal Jennifer Vanderwende – Honorable Service Award

Sheriff’s Officer Joseph Decker – Honorable Service Award

Sheriff’s Officer Robert Washer – Honorable Service Award

Sheriff Strada, Corporal Jennifer Vanderwende, Sheriff’s Officer Robert Washer, Sheriff’s Officer Joseph Decker

Investigator William Cisko – Sheriff’s Achievement Award

Sheriff’s Officer Trevor Floyd – Sheriff’s Achievement Award

Sheriff’s Officer Kurt Miller – Sheriff’s Achievement Award

Sheriff’s Officer Steven Sugar – Sheriff’s Achievement Award

Sheriff Strada, Sheriff’s Officer Kurt Miller, Sheriff’s Officer Trevor Floyd, Sheriff’s Officer Steven Sugar, Investigator William Cisko

Detective Michael Scott – Letter of Commendation

Detective Nicholas Galvao – Letter of Commendation

Detective Justin McCann – Letter of Commendation

Corporal James Aumick – Letter of Commendation

Corporal Jamie Caravaggio – Letter of Commendation

Public Safety Telecommunicator Andrea Wehrenberg – Letter of Commendation

Sheriff Strada,  Detective Justin McCann, Detective Michael Scott, Corporal James Aumick, Corporal Jamie Caravaggio

Sheriff Strada stated: “Their work not only strengthened community trust but also brought public acclaim to this Office and the law enforcement profession”. 

Recently, the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office recognized the need to modernize its duty weapon.  Extensive research was conducted, and this resulted in the Sheriff’s Office obtaining a new duty weapon.  This new handgun featured advanced features such as a red dot sighting system and weapon mounted flashlight.

The following officers were recognized for their work in researching, developing and training with this new handgun.

Undersheriff Matthew Avenatti – Honorable Service Award

Sergeant John Freykar – Honorable Service Award

Sheriff’s Officer Ken Farber – Honorable Service Award

Sheriff’s Officer Christopher Centrelli – Honorable Service Award

Investigator William Cisko – Honorable Service Award

Sheriff’s Officer Christopher Centrelli, Undersheriff Matthew Avenatti, Investigator William Cisko, Sheriff’s Officer Ken Farber

Sheriff Strada acknowledged how proud he was of all of the work the men and women of the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office perform on a daily basis.  He also expressed how supportive our county residents are towards the law enforcement community in Sussex County.