Police departments everywhere work tirelessly to keep communities safe,
but they rely on the citizens they serve to report crimes, accidents
and incidents. On October 29, the Saratoga Springs Police Department
awarded the citizen heroes that helped local officers solve crimes and
apprehend criminals.
"It is with great pleasure that the police department recognizes a number of individuals in our community's safety chain. It is through the distinguished level of professionalism of the various public safety organizations and our most important link, our citizens, that I believe Saratoga Springs is one of the safest communities in our nation," Chief Edward Moore said in a statement.
Twenty-nine people were honored during the ceremony under four award categories:
oThe Civilian Service Commendation is awarded to a civilian for personal assistance in apprehending a criminal or in extending oneself beyond one's own safety to provide prompt action to aid an officer or other person who is in danger.
oThe Distinguished Service Commendation is awarded for exceptionally meritorious service and outstanding contribution to law enforcement and legal process in cooperation with members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department, making the people of the community safer.
oThe Samaritan Award is awarded for an act of humanity as a friend to those in need, by attending to them in a time of crisis, accident or danger and providing them with understanding and confidence.
oUnit Citation is awarded for a team effort under unfavorable conditions or in a combat situation including all participating staff members, who in support of departmental operations distinguished themselves to effectuate the protection of life and property.
The following are the recipients:
Jay DeRusso was the recipient of the Civilian Service Commendation. On Feb. 10, 2005 he provided key information to members of the police department investigating a reported hit and run fatality on Clinton Street. That information resulted in the arrest of the offender.
Lindsey Ferguson received the Distinguished Service Commendation, and Ray Harrington, Art Kranick and his wife Linda Kranick received the Civilian Service Commendation in their roles in apprehending John Regan in the attempted abduction of Ferguson on Oct. 31, 2005. They also directly aided police in the rapid apprehension of Regan, who was out on bail on unrelated sexual assault and kidnapping charges from two separate cases in the state of Connecticut. Regan was convicted in this case for attempted kidnapping and sentenced to prison. Publicity from this attack aided Connecticut authorities and Regan was subsequently convicted in Connecticut and sentenced to additional prison terms.
William Whiting received the Civilian Service Commendation for his role in apprehending a man who robbed Saratoga National Bank on June 7, 2007. His action led to the arrest of the suspect and recovery of $13,250.00 in cash taken during the robbery. The offender was convicted and sentenced to prison.
On Sept. 5, 2007, a number of individuals came to the aid of the Saratoga Police Department, specifically Officer Adam Baker who was injured in the line of duty after his jugular vein was slashed by a perpetrator with a razor. Actions by the following individuals collectively are credited with saving Officer Baker's life: Netasha Carleton (age 13 at time of incident) received the Civilian Service Commendation and the following individuals received the Distinguished Service Commendation: Jaimi Comar, Walter Gould, Thomas Walsh, Lisa Burke, Chad Demania, Jared Gilston, Tonya Rooke, Keith Snyder, Captain Pete Shaw, Mike Evans, Brian Moran and Joseph Cook. Saratoga Springs Police Dispatchers Sue Green and Joseph DeCrosta received a Unit Citation for excellence in coordinating the emergency response communications for the entire police department during that critical incident.
Holli Mulholland and Robert Bullock received the Civilian Service Commendation for their involvement in alerting emergency services and residents of an apartment complex of a fire on Nov. 7, 2007. This resulted in the safe evacuation of all residents.
David Hesselfeldt and James Tino received the Samaritan Award and are credited with saving the life of a three-year-old child following a swimming accident on Nov. 21, 2007. They were employees of the Saratoga Hotel who responded to calls for help in the pool area and performed CPR on the child, resuscitating him before arrival of EMS personnel.
Matthew Sowden received the Civilian Service Commendation for his involvement in helping a lone officer at the scene of a vehicle accident on Nov. 23, 2007. An unresponsive injured victim was trapped inside a burning vehicle with flames moving into the passenger compartment. Sowden and the officer are credited with pulling the victim to safety just before the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames.
John Boyd, VP & Chief of Security for the Adirondack Trust Bank received the Distinguished Service Commendation for his decades of assistance to the members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department towards maintaining a safe community through proactive security measures at the bank. Boyd's work has been instrumental in solving numerous crimes of larceny, fraud and a bank robbery that occurred at the Adirondack Trust Bank in August 2007.
Department of Public Safety civilian employee Mark Benecquista received the Distinguished Service Commendation for his assistance since 1997 in the Investigation Division with his expertise in electronics to build and repair equipment that is instrumental in police investigations. As a result, the arrest and conviction of many dozens of career drug traffickers has occurred over the last decade.
Finally, Sandra Arpei received the Distinguished Service Commendation. Arpei is the lone civilian clerical employee of the seventy-two officer police department. Since taking this position in 2002, she has single-handedly overhauled the department's records systems while handling an assortment of administrative duties related to police department record requests, fingerprinting of civilians and criminal defendants, crime reporting to FBI and DCJS, and many other tasks above and beyond her title.
"We believe it is extremely important to publicly recognize citizens who choose to involve themselves in community safety; our police department's success in this mission is linked closely to the level of community support we receive. Each of these honorees is a working example of a great citizen and partner to the Saratoga Springs Police," Chief Moore said.
Twenty-nine people were honored during the ceremony under four award categories:
oThe Civilian Service Commendation is awarded to a civilian for personal assistance in apprehending a criminal or in extending oneself beyond one's own safety to provide prompt action to aid an officer or other person who is in danger.
oThe Distinguished Service Commendation is awarded for exceptionally meritorious service and outstanding contribution to law enforcement and legal process in cooperation with members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department, making the people of the community safer.
oThe Samaritan Award is awarded for an act of humanity as a friend to those in need, by attending to them in a time of crisis, accident or danger and providing them with understanding and confidence.
oUnit Citation is awarded for a team effort under unfavorable conditions or in a combat situation including all participating staff members, who in support of departmental operations distinguished themselves to effectuate the protection of life and property.
The following are the recipients:
Jay DeRusso was the recipient of the Civilian Service Commendation. On Feb. 10, 2005 he provided key information to members of the police department investigating a reported hit and run fatality on Clinton Street. That information resulted in the arrest of the offender.
Lindsey Ferguson received the Distinguished Service Commendation, and Ray Harrington, Art Kranick and his wife Linda Kranick received the Civilian Service Commendation in their roles in apprehending John Regan in the attempted abduction of Ferguson on Oct. 31, 2005. They also directly aided police in the rapid apprehension of Regan, who was out on bail on unrelated sexual assault and kidnapping charges from two separate cases in the state of Connecticut. Regan was convicted in this case for attempted kidnapping and sentenced to prison. Publicity from this attack aided Connecticut authorities and Regan was subsequently convicted in Connecticut and sentenced to additional prison terms.
William Whiting received the Civilian Service Commendation for his role in apprehending a man who robbed Saratoga National Bank on June 7, 2007. His action led to the arrest of the suspect and recovery of $13,250.00 in cash taken during the robbery. The offender was convicted and sentenced to prison.
On Sept. 5, 2007, a number of individuals came to the aid of the Saratoga Police Department, specifically Officer Adam Baker who was injured in the line of duty after his jugular vein was slashed by a perpetrator with a razor. Actions by the following individuals collectively are credited with saving Officer Baker's life: Netasha Carleton (age 13 at time of incident) received the Civilian Service Commendation and the following individuals received the Distinguished Service Commendation: Jaimi Comar, Walter Gould, Thomas Walsh, Lisa Burke, Chad Demania, Jared Gilston, Tonya Rooke, Keith Snyder, Captain Pete Shaw, Mike Evans, Brian Moran and Joseph Cook. Saratoga Springs Police Dispatchers Sue Green and Joseph DeCrosta received a Unit Citation for excellence in coordinating the emergency response communications for the entire police department during that critical incident.
Holli Mulholland and Robert Bullock received the Civilian Service Commendation for their involvement in alerting emergency services and residents of an apartment complex of a fire on Nov. 7, 2007. This resulted in the safe evacuation of all residents.
David Hesselfeldt and James Tino received the Samaritan Award and are credited with saving the life of a three-year-old child following a swimming accident on Nov. 21, 2007. They were employees of the Saratoga Hotel who responded to calls for help in the pool area and performed CPR on the child, resuscitating him before arrival of EMS personnel.
Matthew Sowden received the Civilian Service Commendation for his involvement in helping a lone officer at the scene of a vehicle accident on Nov. 23, 2007. An unresponsive injured victim was trapped inside a burning vehicle with flames moving into the passenger compartment. Sowden and the officer are credited with pulling the victim to safety just before the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames.
John Boyd, VP & Chief of Security for the Adirondack Trust Bank received the Distinguished Service Commendation for his decades of assistance to the members of the Saratoga Springs Police Department towards maintaining a safe community through proactive security measures at the bank. Boyd's work has been instrumental in solving numerous crimes of larceny, fraud and a bank robbery that occurred at the Adirondack Trust Bank in August 2007.
Department of Public Safety civilian employee Mark Benecquista received the Distinguished Service Commendation for his assistance since 1997 in the Investigation Division with his expertise in electronics to build and repair equipment that is instrumental in police investigations. As a result, the arrest and conviction of many dozens of career drug traffickers has occurred over the last decade.
Finally, Sandra Arpei received the Distinguished Service Commendation. Arpei is the lone civilian clerical employee of the seventy-two officer police department. Since taking this position in 2002, she has single-handedly overhauled the department's records systems while handling an assortment of administrative duties related to police department record requests, fingerprinting of civilians and criminal defendants, crime reporting to FBI and DCJS, and many other tasks above and beyond her title.
"We believe it is extremely important to publicly recognize citizens who choose to involve themselves in community safety; our police department's success in this mission is linked closely to the level of community support we receive. Each of these honorees is a working example of a great citizen and partner to the Saratoga Springs Police," Chief Moore said.
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