2018 NJSPBA Valor Awards
Meritorious service award
Offi cer Joshua Ruiz
Law Enforcement State Corrections Local 105
Off-duty heroics
At approximately 1 a.m. on Dec. 10, 2017, Officer Josh-
ua Ruiz was off duty in Union City, looking for a place
to park his personal vehicle. As he drove down the car-
lined street, he saw some movement behind a parked
vehicle. It appeared to be a man hugging a woman.
Having a feeling that something wasn’t quite right,
Ruiz drove around the block to get a better look. As he
approached – this time with his car window down – he
heard a woman yell, “Help, he’s raping me.”
Officer Ruiz could now see that the woman’s pants
were down and the man was trying to pull his up. He
jumped from his vehicle, identified himself as an offi-
cer and pulled the man off of the woman. After a brief
struggle, he was able to handcuff the man, maintaining
custody until Union City patrol units arrived.
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NEW JERSEY COPS
■ DECEMBER 2018
State Corrections Local 105 State Delegate Ray Heck accepted the award for
Joshua Ruiz.