Honoring cops in line of fire

State’s Hanna awards recognize acts of valor

Slain Auburn police officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. and other cops who traded fire with violent criminals last year were honored for bravery in a State House ceremony yesterday — along with a state police K-9 dog who tackled a gun-wielding man.

Tarentino was ambushed in a traffic stop May 2016 by Jorge Zambrano, a career criminal who fired on him with a stolen handgun, fatally striking the officer under his bulletproof vest. Tarentino was able to radio in information about the suspect, who was subsequently killed in a gun battle with state troopers.

Gov. Charlie Baker awarded Tarentino’s posthumous Trooper George L. Hanna Medal of Honor to the officer’s family.

“These are dangerous jobs and anybody who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves,” Baker told the gathering.

Three state troopers who tracked down Zambrano were also awarded the medal yesterday. Zambrano was killed when Trooper Albert Kardoos and state police Sgts. Michael Baker and Scott McDonald cornered him in a house, and he emerged from a closet, shooting Kardoos in the shoulder before he was shot dead.

Trooper David Stucenski and his K-9 partner Frankie received the Medal of Valor for chasing down an armed suspect in Springfield on April 30, 2016. As the man opened fire with a revolver, Frankie charged him and wrestled him to the ground.

Boston police officers were honored for a dramatic confrontation in East Boston in October 2016 with a heavily armed and armored suspect who critically injured officers Matthew Morris and Richard Cintolo. Officer Clifton Singletary and Sgt. Norberto

STAFF PHOTOS BY PATRICK WHITTEMORE; COURTESY PHOTO, RIGHT HONORING BRAVERY: The family of slain Auburn police officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. (inset), from left, wife Tricia, son Kyle, mother Sharon and father Ronald Sr., receive the George L. Hanna Medal of Honor yesterday at the State House.

ANSWERING THE CALL: Boston police officers recognized for their roles in a firefight with a heavily armed man in East Boston last fall attend the awards ceremony.

— jules.crittenden@bostonherald.com Perez tended to the downed officers as Officer Eric Schmidt traded fire with the suspect, actions credited with saving Morris’ life.Medals of honor and valor were also awarded to other police officers from Boston, Lynn, Lowell, Fall River and Everett who confronted violent suspects.