Two police veterans with solid service promoted to detective

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

The Jersey City Police Department promoted two officers to detective yesterday - one with 31 years of service and more than three dozen awards, and another who made headlines for off-duty actions that saved a Jersey City resident from a pair of armed robbers last weekend.

Francis J. Laraway was promoted to the rank of detective in recognition of consistently solid police work during his three-decade career, said Jersey City spokesman Stan Eason. Among Laraway's numerous awards is the Combat Cross, which Eason described as Jersey City's second-highest honor for police.

Police brass promoted 13-year JCPD veteran James E. Benko in part because he thwarted a robbery while off-duty late Saturday night, Eason said.

When Benko saw two men mugging a Jersey City resident on Bartholdi Avenue, reports said, he called for backup and jumped to intervene - which involved chasing the culprits the wrong way down a one-way street in his own car and, eventually, the confiscation of a 9mm handgun.

Benko and Laraway will replace two of three detectives expected to retire at the end of this month, Eason said.

N. CLARK JUDD