By LYNDA COHEN
GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP – A man is in jail after two Galloway Township police officers were attacked responding to a 911 hangup Sunday night.
Keith Kiminsky, 30, darted out of the residence and came at Officer Erik Tarnow just seconds after his mother came out of her front door telling the officers he had a knife, video released by police shows.
“My son’s having (muted by video),” the woman tells Tarnow. “He’s got a knife with him right now.”
“He’s got a knife?” Tarnow asks, as the woman confirms.
Just after asking where the son is, Kiminisky quickly walks out of the house toward the officer.
“Hold on. Hold on. Hold on,” Tarnow says, as the body camera footage shows his hand go up to halt the man. “Stop!”
But Kiminsky continues forward as the camera is blocked.
Tarnow was stabbed on the side of his face, and is hospitalized with a “significant cut to the side of his face,” Lt. Mark D’Esposito said.
A violent confrontation ensued, according to the report, with the wounded officer taking Kiminiski to the ground.
Tarnow and Officer Hunter Thomas fought Kiminski for several minutes until additional backup arrived on scene, D’Esposito said.
Both officers were taken to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center’s City Campus in Atlantic City, where Tarnow had surgery for his injuries.
Thomas was treated for a minor head injury and released.
Tarnow was released Monday afternoon, and is home resting.
The officers went to the home in the 300 block of Cresson Avenue after several hang up calls to 911 came from that residence, according to the report.
Kiminski, who does not appear to have a criminal history, was charged with numerous offenses including attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and resisting arrest.
He is in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending his first appearance.
“This incident is another reminder of the dangers that our police officers face on a daily basis,” Police Chief Richard Barber said. “We are grateful that Officer Tarnow is recovering well, and our department will be here to fully support Erik and his family.”
The Galloway Township Police Department thanked the assisting agencies: The Pleasantville, Absecon, Atlantic City, Hamilton Township and Stockton University police departments, Galloway Township EMS, AtlantiCare Paramedics and the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
They also thanked the staff of AtlantiCare “for their professionalism and efficiency with treating our officers.”
“Most of all, we would like to thank our family, friends, and wonderful community for their strong outpouring of support,” the statement said.
According to NJ Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, resources are being made available to the officers involved, their families, and the department to support them as they process yesterday’s events.
New Jersey Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement provides a safe space for officers to talk about the unique stressors of the job.
“I encourage each officer to speak to a Resiliency Program Officer (RPO) on a regular basis because protecting your mental well-being is just as important as protecting your physical safety,” Platkin said in a release.
Any officer can reach out to any RPO in the state for assistance or call the Cop2Cop 24/7 call line, 1-866-Cop2Cop (866-267-2267), where peer counselors are always available.
“While we’re grateful for the brave and swift actions taken by all who responded, we also remember that no police officer – or any member of law enforcement – should ever face this violence when responding to an emergency. Sunday night is a reminder of the enormous risks that our officers take on a daily basis to keep our communities safe. Domestic violence calls are among the most dangerous interactions for law enforcement officers. We must continue to work together to prevent and disrupt this kind of violence so that it doesn’t happen again in New Jersey,” Platkin said.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available 24/7 at 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). If a member of your household is experiencing a crisis of any kind, and you are concerned about the presence of firearms in the home or their ability to obtain access to a firearm, please contact your local police department, County Prosecutor’s Office, or my Office to learn about how you can obtain an Extreme Risk Protective Order.
