Spitzer & Mcmahon Present Law And Order Awards
Attorney General Spitzer and State Police Superintendent James McMahon today recognized 12 members of New York’s law enforcement community for outstanding police work and public service. The annual awards recognize acts of bravery, dedication to duty, and outstanding performance.
"The men and women we honor today have dedicated themselves to protecting the public regardless of the sacrifice, risk or danger they endured," said Spitzer. "We owe them a great debt for keeping our communities safe and the awards we present today are but a small token of our deep appreciation."
State Police Superintendent McMahon said: "I salute all the award recipients who deserve our thanks for their heroic actions without regard to their own personal safety. Their actions speak volumes for their commitment and dedication to the communities in which they proudly serve."
This year’s Law and Order Award recipients include two state troopers who dove into frigid water to save a woman trapped in a car; a local police chief who ran into a burning building to save a man; and two investigators whose work led to the conviction of a nurse’s aid for repeatedly raping a 91-year old nursing home resident.
Each recipient was nominated for the award by peers in his department or agency, which then forwarded the nominations to the Attorney General’s office for consideration.
Attached is a list of honorees receiving the 2000 Law and Order Awards and a description of their heroic acts and service.
2000 LAW AND ORDER AWARDS
Detective Stanley J. Nadoraski and Detective Thomas P. Shea, Albany Police Department
In the early morning hours of November 13, 1999, Detectives Nadoraski and Shea were on patrol in Albany’s Arbor Hill neighborhood when they were both shot in a violent struggle while trying to arrest a man. Both detectives recovered from their wounds and have returned to service with the police department.
Police Officer Alfredo Rodriguez, Nassau County Police Department
On July 4, 1999, officer Rodriguez was off duty in Norwich, Conn., attending a fireworks demonstration with his wife and four children. During the event, local police officer Peter Camp was attacked from behind by a man who tried to take his weapon. Officer Rodriguez raced to help. He freed Officer Camp from a choke hold grip and helped him recover his weapon, thus averting a potentially tragic incident.
New York State Parole Officer Paul Rice
After a day-long training course in Peekskill on October 13, 1999, Parole Officer Rice was heading for the Bronx while following a vehicle containing two fellow parole officers. With no warning, the lead car smashed into a highway divider and rolled over. The driver was thrown from the car and died while Parole Officer Barbara Sherrod was trapped in the overturned vehicle. With no regard to his own safety, Parole Officer Rice ran to the vehicle which was about to burst into flames and rescued his colleague, Parole Officer Sherrod, who escaped with scratches and bruises.
NYS Police Trooper Arno Lippassaar and NYS Police Investigator Anthony Bailey
On November 18, 1999, Trooper Lippassaar and Investigator Bailey repeatedly dove into the near freezing waters of the Salmon River near Malone in a valiant effort to save a woman trapped in a car that had driven off the road and plunged into 15 feet of water. While some cold water drowning victims have been resuscitated after as long as 90 minutes under water, the woman, who had been under for 50 minutes, could not be saved.
Jimmy Warren Jr., Police Chief of Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County
Last fall, Police Chief Warren came upon the scene of a burning building. With no regard to his own health and safety, Chief Warren ran into the flames and saved the life of a man who was disoriented and overcome by smoke.
Lt. J. Michael Cindrich, Mamaroneck Police Department
In April 1999, Lt. Cindrich disarmed a distraught woman who was holding a loaded shotgun and threatening to harm herself and possibly others. After a lengthy negotiation, Lt. Cindrich convinced the woman to open the door. As the woman started to lower her gun toward the officers at the door, Lt. Cindrich rushed her, grabbed the barrel of the gun and deflected it away from the woman and other police officers. In the ensuing struggle, the woman pulled the trigger, causing a round to be fired into the floor.
Detective David P. Mitchell, Jamestown Police Department
On September 15, 1999, Detective Mitchell was shot in the head as he sat in a police car with his partner while on duty with the Southern Tier Regional Drug Task Force. The 14-year old suspect was wounded in an exchange of gunfire and fled. He was apprehended, underwent surgery for his wounds and was later charged with two counts of Attempted Murder in the First Degree. Detective Mitchell was airlifted to the hospital and treated for his wounds. Detective Mitchell, the father of two young sons, is convalescing at home.
Special Investigators Patrick Lynch and Thaddeus Kaczor, Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Syracuse
The detective work of Investigators Lynch and Kaczor led directly to the conviction last week of a nurse’s aid for repeatedly raping a 91-year old female resident of the Oneida Health Care Facility, Madison County, where he worked. Their painstaking investigation revealed that the rape suspect had an extensive criminal record, including a prior conviction for having sexual contact with a child.
Investigator Peter J. Talty, Team Leader, Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force
Investigator Talty earned the Law and Order Award by virtue of years of service to the Organized Crime Task Force in the Rochester/Buffalo region. His career with the Task Force -- including more than five years as a team leader where he supervised five investigators -- has been marked by successes in arrests, seizures and convictions. Investigator Talty’s ability to foster cooperation with state, county, local and federal law enforcement agencies led directly to the breakup this spring of a major cocaine trafficking ring in Rochester.