NEW ROCHELLE, NY — In observance of Police Memorial Week, the New Rochelle Police Department held its annual Memorial and Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 15 at the Greentree Country Club. The event honored the memory of those officers who sacrificed their lives in the service to the City as well as department members for their outstanding contributions.
Nearly 100 members of the department were recognized for their heroic accomplishments and extraordinary work in the community with Lifesaving, Commendation and Investigation awards and Unit Citations. Police Officer of the Year was presented to Police Officer Paul D’Erasmo and Systems Engineer Derek Ortiz was named Civilian Employee of the Year. A full list follows below.
Mayor Noam Bramson also presented an award to three elementary students for their Police Memorial Essays. First place winner, Lea Cohen from Webster Elementary School read her winning piece. City Manager Chuck Strome presented the Citizen of the Year award to Emilio Betim Jusufaj and Niko Tamburo.
“Medal Day is a day of celebration where the Department recognizes, thanks and awards active members who have done exceptional work over the past year,” noted Commissioner Joseph Schaller. “It is also a solemn day where the Department remembers and honors those officers of the Department who are no longer with us who, in the course of doing their exceptional work, made the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives in the performance of their duty. We thank all, those here and those gone before us, for their service.”
Recipients of Awards
Police Memorial Essay Award
Lea Cohen, Webster Elementary School
1st Place
Juliette Thomas, Ward Elementary School
2nd Place
Pasquale Rossignuolo, Davis Elementary School
3rd Place
New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce Investigator Award
Detective Dwayne Jones
Empress Ambulance Lifesaving Award
Police Officer Patrick Lunn
One-Year Attendance Award
Police Commissioner Joseph F. SchallerPolice Officer Christopher Carelli
Detective Lieutenant Brian FaganPolice Officer Timothy Childs
Detective Sergeant Kevin PerriPolice Officer Steven Conn
Detective Sergeant Robert TorrPolice Officer John Lynch
Sergeant Steven D’OnofrioPolice Officer Oisin McGloin
Sergeant Keith MurphyPolice Officer Anthony Scarnati
Detective Vincent MarionCommunity Service Officer Sergio Lopez
Detective Dario NavarreteCommunity Service Officer James Sheehy
Police Officer Melissa Bird
Two-Year Attendance Award
Captain J. Collins CoyneDetective Dwayne Jones
Lieutenant Gorge RosenbergenDetective Sean Kane
Sergeant Timothy KellyDetective Michael Vaccaro
Detective Steven GeertgensPolice Officer Samuel Goldman
Three-Year Attendance Award
Detective Christopher GuglielmoPolice Officer Michael Dassler
Detective Vincent Pisano
Four-Year Attendance Award
Detective Yadilene MachadoPolice Officer Nicholas Zuzulo
Police Officer Scott Wallach
Six-Year Attendance Award
Detective Gregory Herring Police Officer Anthony D’Angelo
Police Officer Anthony Colotti
Seven-Year Attendance Award
Detective Lieutenant Christopher HearleDetective Luigi Amico
Detective Sergeant Myron Joseph
Nine-Year Attendance Award
Police Officer Gary Lehning
Eleven-Year Attendance Award
Lieutenant Daniel Conca Detective Claudio Carpano
Thirteen-Year Attendance Award
Lieutenant Edward HayesDetective Michael Ciafardini
Lifesaving Award
Lieutenant Neil K. ReynoldsPolice Officer Samuel Goldman
Sergeant Lawrence BornholzPolice Officer Emmanuel Gonzalez (2)
Sergeant Ryan DownsPolice Officer Carlos Jimenez
Sergeant Mark TrezzaPolice Officer Patrick Lunn
Detective Timothy AdrianPolice Officer Jeffrey Marello
Detective Luigi Amico (2)Police Officer Michael Martins
Police Officer John CarePolice Officer Gary Moss
Police Officer Christopher CarelliPolice Officer Louis Trangucci
Police Officer Stephen Correale (2)Police Officer Marc Weinerman
Police Officer Victoria Ferraro
Commendation Award
Lieutenant Adam CastigliaPolice Officer Christopher DelGrosso (2)
Lieutenant Daniel Conca (2)Police Officer Matthew Glass
Sergeant Edward AustinPolice Officer Samuel Goldman
Sergeant Christopher CastigliaPolice Officer Emmanuel Gonzalez (2)
Sergeant Matthew BradyPolice Officer John Lynch
Sergeant Kimberly Diniz (3)Police Officer Robert Mansfield
Detective Kevin GeertgensPolice Officer Alec McKenna
Detective John LadeairousPolice Officer Melvin Molina
Detective Michael McKennissPolice Officer Jose Pena (2)
Police Officer Matthew AlbericoPolice Officer Jason Redner (2)
Police Officer Timothy Childs (2)Police Officer Marc Weinerman
Police Officer John ConklinPolice Officer William Zapata
Police Officer Stephen CorrealePolice Officer Nicholas Zuzulo
Police Officer Jose Diaz (2)
Class C Citation
Detective Lieutenant Brian Fagan (3)Detective Vincent Pisano
Detective Sergeant Kevin PerriDetective Glen Spinner
Sergeant Francis FlaniganDetective Michael Vaccaro (4)
Detective Christopher Guglielmo (4)Police Officer Marisa Bird
Detective Dwayne Jones (5)Police Officer Hung-Haw Chern
Detective Sean Kane (2)Police Officer Samuel Goldman
Detective Vincent MarionPolice Officer Robert Johnson
Detective Michael McKennissPolice Officer Nicholas Zuzulo (2)
Detective Rocco Oppedisano
Unit Citation
Detective Lieutenant Brian Fagan (2)Detective Dario Navarrete
Detective Sergeant Kevin Perri (2)Detective Isabel O’Rourke (2)
Detective Kevin Geertgens (2)Detective Michael O’Rourke
Detective Christopher Guglielmo (2)Detective Joseph Savoca (2)
Detective Dwayne Jones (2) Detective Glen Spinner
Detective Sean Kane (2) Detective Michael Vaccaro (2)
Detective Vincent Marion (2)Police Officer Marisa Bird
Detective Michael McKenniss (2)Police Officer Melissa Diniz
Citizen of the Year
Betim Jusufaj
Niko Tamburo
Civilian Employee of the Year
Systems Engineer Derek Ortiz
Police Officer of the Year
Police Officer Paul D’Erasmo
Police Commissioner’s Award
Captain J. Collins Coyne
Sergeant Ryan Downs
Sergeant Kyle Wilson
Detective Steven Geertgens
Police Officer John Lynch
Police Officer Nicholas Zuzulo