Police chiefs honor officers, citizens
The Police Chief’s Association of Ulster County on Wednesday will honor several men and women who have gone above and beyond to protect their community and make it a better place to live.
Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra, the association’s president, said this year’s honorees run the gamut from lifesaving work performed by everyday citizens to heroic actions by law enforcement officers faced with life-threatening situations, including two state troopers confronted by a person armed with a shotgun.
“They deserve the recognition and support from the community and their peers,” Sinagra said of the honorees. He said it has been a difficult time for law enforcement and he encouraged the public to attend the awards dinner to show their support.
The Police Chief’s Association of Ulster County 2017 Awards Banquet will start at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour at Novella’s, 2 Terwilliger Lane, New Paltz. Tickets, at $40 per person or $70 per couple, can be purchased by contacting any Ulster County police chief. Sinagra can be reached at the Saugerties Police Department at (845) 246-9909.
The guest speaker will be New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II. Sinagra said this year marks the 100th anniversary of the state police, whose first superintendent, Col. George Chandler, was a Kingston resident and a surgeon at Kingston Hospital. Beach is also an Ulster County resident, which brings it full circle, Sinagra said.
Following is a list of award recipients, along with summaries of the actions for which they are being honored. The information is from Saugerties police Capt. Stephen Filak Sr., other law enforcement officials, court records, and Freeman files and interviews.
Meritorious Police Service: Heroism
NEW YORK STATE POLICE TROOPERS KEVIN A. DONOHUE AND JOHN M. SOUTHARD
On May 23, 2016, Donohue and Southard responded to a violent call, exchanged gunfire with a dangerous suspect, and responded in a fashion that brought the situation to a conclusion with no loss of life.
The incident began at about 12:04 a.m. with Ulster County 911 receiving a call reporting a suspicious person outside a residence at 58 Vista Maria Road in the town of Wawarsing hamlet of Cragsmoor. The homeowner, Cory Larson, 32, told dispatchers he was armed with a .12-gauge shotgun and was inside the residence.
While Donohue and Southard walked up the driveway, they heard a shotgun being fired inside the home. Larson, who was still on the phone with Ulster County 911, fired several more rounds and told the dispatcher an unknown person was in his bedroom and was trying to kill him.
Donohue and Southard identified themselves to Larson and commanded him to drop the weapon. During the incident, a female civilian stopped her car in front of the residence and got out. Donohue, at risk to himself, left cover and ran to get her to safety.
Larson refused commands to drop the weapon and then moved toward a different part of the residence. He returned a short time later and approached Southard toward the rear door of the residence. Southard told him to drop the weapon, but Larson again refused to comply and instead pointed the shotgun in the trooper’s direction. Southard then fired three rounds at Larson, with one striking the butt stock of the shotgun.
Southard and Donohue repeatedly gave verbal commands to Larson, who eventually surrendered and was taken into custody.
Larson was later indicted by an Ulster County grand jury on felony charges of menacing a police officer and reckless endangerment, as well as a misdemeanor charge of possession of a weapon. He pleaded “not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect” in March and was placed in state mental health custody for treatment and further assessment.
Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright had said a psychiatric examination of Larson determined he had been suffering from drug and alcohol withdrawal, hallucinations and a pre-existing brain injury.
Meritorious Police Service: Community Service
NEW YORK STATE POLICE TROOPER CRAIG VEDDER
In the fall of 2016, Vedder and Dr. Kevin Smith presented several school training seminars together. During those seminars, Vedder gave a presentation on drugs, while Smith presented his “Sad Persons” risk assessment method for identifying individuals at risk of behaving dangerously.
During that time, Vedder called Smith regarding a situation with a 9-year-old student at school threatening to kill his parents by extremely specific means. Vedder asked Smith to speak with the school administration about the case, and passed on the doctor’s recommendations to local police officers to make sure they took steps to protect the parents and address the safety of the officers, school personnel and other students.
Vedder followed up with Smith the next day and the two reviewed several options to reduce or mitigate the student’s risk of behaving dangerously. Follow-up requirements for the school administration and the student’s counselor were also reviewed, and they helped coordinate care with local children’s mental health providers.
Throughout the situation, Vedder demonstrated his professional training and demeanor, constantly reassessing and reviewing prior decisions, and addressing the emotional needs and safety concerns of the other people involved. Due to his dedication and training, Vedder was able to effectively intervene in the case and ensure the safety of the student, his parents and everyone at his school. Vedder’s actions also connected the child with treatment services.
Meritorious Police Service: Community Service
KINGSTON POLICE DETECTIVE SPECIALIST HARRY WOLTMAN
Woltman is a school resource officer at Kingston High School and has served with the city police department for nearly 30 years. Over the years, Woltman has developed a rapport with students and is frequently seen talking with them on a wide range of topics. He takes a genuine interest in the students and takes time to speak with them regarding their academic progress.
In 2016, Woltman spent time and energy raising funds and organizing bus trips for students to see the New York Mets play at Citi Field. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Kingston Boys and Girls Club and was one of the organizers of the Kingston Police Explorer Program. Woltman is also part of the Youth Bureau, which helps guide and lead youth in the community.
Meritorious Police Service: Investigation
ELLENVILLE POLICE CHIEF PHILIP S. MATTRACION, LT. MICHAEL A. DORIA, SGT. ROBERT MORSE, AND OFFICER RICHARD JACOBS
On Jan. 7, 2016, at about 11:06 p.m., Ellenville police responded to a 911 report of an armed robbery and home invasion at an apartment on Backman Avenue in the village. When they arrived, Doria and Jacobs determined that three men wearing ski masks had displayed two revolvers and a shotgun, forced their way into the apartment, and tied up two adults and four small children. The suspects also reportedly pistolwhipped an adult male and a child before stealing cellular phones and cash. The men then fled on foot.
Doria contacted Mattracion and an investigation was started. The initial manhunt lasted through the night, with a number of interviews being conducted.
On Jan. 11, 2016, Mattracion, Doria, Morse and Jacobs continued their investigation. Later that day, a person was identified and brought to the state police barracks in the town of Ulster for a polygraph test. The person was then taken to the Ellenville Police Department where he asked to speak with Mattracion. The interview led to information being developed that identified the people involved in the home invasion and the location of physical evidence. Mattracion and Jacobs then obtained search warrants for various residences and people in the village.
The following day, village police and members of the Ulster County Emergency Response Team executed the search warrants, recovering significant physical evidence. Two suspects were also picked up and interviewed. As a result of those interviews, both suspects gave full confessions and identified the third suspect. The third suspect had fled the area, but a search warrant was issued for his phone records.
On Jan. 16, 2016, Mattracion reviewed the records and recognized that one came back to a location one of the other suspects had spoken about. The chief then contacted the Norwich Police Department, which revealed the suspect who fled the area had been involved in a domestic dispute at a residence there.
The following day, the United States Marshal’s Office, along with Norwich police, arrested the third suspect without incident, turning him over to Ellenville police.
Arrested were Lonnie “Ru” Taylor, 35, of Park Street, Ellenville; Nickolas “Slick” Torres, 22, of Tuthill Avenue, Ellenville; and Davonte Jones, 19, of Kingston. The three were indicted in February 2016 on four counts of burglary and 11 counts of robbery, all felonies. They were also each indicted on three counts of criminal use of a firearm, four counts of endangering the welfare of a child and assault, all misdemeanors.
All three later pleaded guilty, with Torres and Taylor each being sentenced to 18 years in state prison. Jones was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Meritorious Police Service: Investigation
NEW PALTZ POLICE DETECTIVE SGT. SCOTT BUTLER AND DETECTIVE JOSEPH JUDGE AND ULSTER COUNTY ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY KATHERINE VANLOAN
The coordinated investigative efforts of Butler, Judge and VanLoan led to the arrest of an activeduty Marine who later pleaded guilty in connection with three assaults on sleeping SUNY New Paltz students in off-campus housing.
The investigation began in the early morning hours of Sept. 4, 2016, when New Paltz police responded to a residential apartment in the village to investigate a burglary. A female victim reported she was raped by an unknown man who fled the scene prior to police arriving. Patrol units and detectives learned through investigation the suspect had entered another apartment, forcibly subjecting a second woman to sexual contact.
While Butler was still processing the crime scenes, information was developed that the suspect, later identified as Lance Cpl. Kevin Guerrero, had illegally entered a business after fleeing the apartment building. He had also forced entry into another residence, subjecting a third victim to forced sexual contact before fleeing on foot. Judge and Butler ultimately processed four separate crime scenes, collected evidence and took statements from witnesses and victims. In the days that followed, detectives continued to follow leads.
After comparing witness statements and area video, a suspect was targeted in the investigation. Judge focused on a credit card purchase made prior to the crimes reported and determined the suspect was Guerrero, who was stationed at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh.
Guerrero was arrested Sept. 7, 2016 and later indicted by an Ulster County grand jury in November on four counts of burglary and three counts of sexual abuse, all felonies. He pleaded guilty to the felonies on March 31.
Meritorious Police Service: Investigation
SAUGERTIES POLICE DEPARTMENT, NEW YORK STATE POLICE, ULSTER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, KINGSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND AMTRAK POLICE
At 3:23 a.m., May 26, 2016, Saugerties police responded to a 911 call reporting an assault at 8A Malden Avenue in the village. When they arrived, police found 40-year-old Rameen Perry lying on the floor of a bedroom on the second floor of the residence, suffering from a stab wound to his chest. He was unresponsive and later died from his injuries at HealthAlliance Hospital’s Broadway campus in Kingston.
Police quickly identified a suspect based on information from another person who was present when Perry was stabbed. Working with several other agencies, police were able to determine Earl T. Edwards had fled prior to their arrival at the Malden Avenue home. Shortly after 2:30 p.m., Edwards was found sitting on an Amtrak passenger train in Washington, D.C. He was taken into custody by Amtrak police.
Edwards was charged with fatally stabbing his estranged wife’s lover. He pleaded guilty to seconddegree murder in February, but later attempted to withdraw his plea. The case is still pending.
Prosecutors said Edwards and his wife had been separated for the better part of a year and that Edwards was upset because he believed she had started seeing someone else. Edwards and his wife spoke several times on the night of May 25, 2016, while he was at work, but shortly after midnight on May 26, 2016, the woman stopped taking his calls.
Edwards reportedly broke into the Malden Avenue home and entered a bedroom, where he saw Perry sleeping naked next to his estranged wife, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said Edwards then plunged the blade of a folding knife he had brought with him into Perry’s chest. After stabbing Perry, Edwards began beating him with a chair and then a table, prosecutors said.
During the struggle, Edwards’ wife called 911.
Meritorious Police Service: Investigation
SHAWANGUNK POLICE SGT. GERALD MARLATT AND OFFICER ERIC CUSSICK AND ULSTER COUNTY ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY CARLY WOLFROM
On Dec. 12, Marlatt and Cussick received a walk-in report of a possible domestic dispute involving a man and woman. The com- plainant said that while she was driving home from work, she was flagged down by a distressed woman looking for a ride and a cell phone to use. The woman alleged her boyfriend had broken her phone. The complainant let the woman use her phone and started to drive her toward town. While driving, another vehicle cut them off and stopped the complainant’s vehicle in the middle of the road. A man got out of the other vehicle and demanded the female passenger get out of the car and go with him, or he would smash the complainant’s vehicle.
The female passenger went with the man against her will to prevent any damage being done.
After taking the initial report, Marlatt and Cussick went to the home of Joshua Degroodt, which the complainant had identified as being the residence where the man and female victim had come from. Degroodt was then detained while an investigation was conducted.
The female victim refused to cooperate, though she showed signs of physical abuse. Degroodt, however, was identified by the complainant, and charged for the earlier incident since no domestic abuse could be proven without the female victim’s cooperation.
At arraignment, Degroodt attempted to escape from custody, but was subdued by officers. He was then taken to the Ulster County Jail, where he remains incarcerated without bail.
Wolfrom joined the investigation and the initial victim eventually came forward with additional information, along with two other previous victims of Degroodt’s abuse. The investigation quickly took a turn toward a pattern of violent domestic abuse. That led to a 22-count indictment against Degroodt, with a number of those indictments being for violent felony charges, including assault and aggravated family offense.
Meritorious Police Service: Lifesaving
NEW YORK STATE POLICE TROOPERS TYLER CARROZZO AND MICHAEL BURDICK, SENIOR INVESTIGATOR RUDOLPH SIMMONS, AND SGT. STATION COMMANDER ERIC NICLAUS
On Jan. 13, 2016, Ulster County 911 reported a suicidal male on top of a water tower at the Samaritan Village Drug Treatment Facility in Ellenville. Carrozzo went to the scene and encountered the man, who had made his way to the top of the 30-foot tower. The man had tied one end of a scarf around his neck and the other end to the railing of the tower. The man was dressed only in a long-sleeved shirt and
had been exposed to the 20- degree weather for an extended period of time.
Carrozzo, along with members of the facility staff, tried to talk with the distraught man. They repeatedly attempted to convince him to remove t he makeshif t noose from his neck and come down f rom t he t ower, to no avail. The man repeatedly told people to stand back, stating he did not want to go back to jail.
Simmons, Niclaus and Burdick arrived at the scene to assist, with Burdick getting a ladder in case the man attempted to hang himself.
Continued attempts to talk the man down were met with repeated refusals. The man eventually jumped off the side of the water tower, hanging himself by the makeshift noose. He immediately showed signs of respiratory distress and his body began to violently convulse.
Niclaus climbed t he water tower ladder, while Burdick scaled the ladder on the rear side of the building. When he reached t he man, Niclaus grabbed him under his left shoulder and hoisted him up to release the pressure on the man’s neck. Simmons and Carrozzo scaled the ladder behind Niclaus and, along with Burdick, helped in bringing the man up so the noose could be cut.
The man, who was barely conscious, was secured on top of the snow- covered tower. He was then lowered to the ground and taken to HealthAlliance Hospit a l’s Broadway c ampus f or evaluation.
Meritorious Citizenship: Heroism SALVATORE TOSCO
On May 5, 2016, Shawangunk police received a call reporting what appeared to be a medi cal emerg e nc y on state Route 2 08 ne a r Tosco ’s Pizzeria. The caller said she saw a person bleeding on the side of the road and what looked like a tourniquet being applied to the victim by another person. Police arrived on t he scene and found a truck driver being t r eated on t he side of the road by the Wallkill ambulance crew for a serious arterial bleed that could not be controlled. The ambulance crew applied a proper tourniquet and took the man to St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital i n Newburgh.
Investigation showed t he victim had pulled over to cross the street to go to the pizzeria to eat. As he got out of his dump t r uck, t he man sl i pped a nd s everely cut his femoral artery. Tosco, t he owner of Tosco’s Pizzeria, saw the man was critically injured and left his business to go to his aid.
Although he had no formal medical training, Tosco realized the victim’s injury was severe with uncontrolled bleeding, so he used items from his shop to fashion a makeshift t ou rn i que t , c ont r ol - l i ng t he bleeding unt i l emergency medical personnel arrived. Tosco then returned to work, unaware his action saved t he other man’s li f e. Emergency medical personnel said the victim had lost a lot of blood and, i f Tosco had not c ontrol l ed t he bleedi ng, l i kely would have bl e d to de at h before reaching the hospital.
Meritorious Citizenship: Heroism PATRICK CARROLL
Carroll is being honored for confronting a man who s t ole t wo purses off a table i n Uptown Kingston on Aug. 9, 2016.
T w o women were sitt i ng at an outdoor table at an establishment on Wall Street at about 8 p.m. with their purses on the table in front of them. Carroll, 18, was sitting on a bench nearby. At the same time, Christopher Hasenflue, a convicted violent felon, walked past and stole the women’s purses, running away with them.
Carroll jumped up, ran into the street and tackled Hasenf lue. As a result, Hasenf lue dropped the purses. After a brief struggle on the pavement, Hasenf lue was able to break free, pull a switchblade f rom his pocket, and chase one of t he victims.
Minutes later, Hasenf lue confronted a third victim on John Street and robbed her of her purse at knife point. He then fled up Fair Street, where he was chased by additional witnesses. Kingston police officers were able to catch Hasenflue on Saint James Street about 15 minutes after the initial crime. There were no injuries to the victims and all their belongings were recovered.
In March 2017, Hasenf lue was sentenced to 20 years in state prison and five years of post-release supervision. He had pleaded guilty to a charge of felony robbery on Dec. 21, 2016.
Meritorious Citizenship: Justice JENNIFER IPPOLITO
Ippolito is being honored for rendering assistance to a bicyclist who had been struck by a vehicle and for being able to provide police with enough information to make an arrest.
On Sept. 11, 2016, at about 6: 25 p. m., New Paltz police responded to an accident in which a cyclist was struck by a vehicle on state Route 299 in the area of Butterville Road. Police said Ippolito had been driving on Route 299 when she saw a vehicle strike the cyclist from behind. The cyclist was thrown more than 100 feet into a wooded area, where she was i mpaled on a tree.
Ippolit o i mmedi - ately stopped her vehicle and rain to the victim who was critically injured, unconscious and unresponsive. She began to aid the victim, but as other bystanders came to offer assistance, the scene became chaotic. Ippolito quickly assumed a leadership role and organized tasks for others to complete, directing them to contact 911, to stay with and talk to the victim without moving her, and to preserve t he scene until emergency f i rst responders arrived.
The driver of the other vehicle stopped at some distance from the point of impact, exited her vehicle and walked toward the cyclist. Ippolito confronted the woman, who was later identified as Amy Ashkenas of New Paltz.
After being confronted, Ashkenas got back into her vehicle and fled the scene. Ippolito was able to describe her and her vehicle to police, which authorities said helped lead to the arrest. Ashkenas was later charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury mot or vehicle accident, a felony.
The cyclist was flown to Westchester Medical Center, where she was treated for her injuries.
Meritorious Police Service: Police Service ELLENVILLE POLICE SGT. KRYSTAL MORSE
From October 2015 through May 2016, Morse was out of wor k on medical leave af t er being diagnosed with a serious condition that af fects t he brain a nd eyes, causing fluid build up and severe headaches. It appeared she would never return to duty. Morse went through a series of spinal taps and various other procedures, but she repeatedly said she would return to duty as a sergeant. She eventually did, returning to full duty in June 2016.
Throughout her career, Morse has been involved in c ommunity- r elat ed events. This year, though, she went above and beyond the call of duty. On more than one occasion, Morse would take money from her own pocket to provide assistance to needy families and crime victims in the village of Ellenville. She would purchase food, toys, clothes or whatever else they needed on her own time and with her own money.
During the fall, Morse volunteered to provide transportation to the local soccer field for children who were unable to get r ides. She also helped raise f unds for one of the local nursery schools.
In November 2016, Morse raised f unds and donated her own money to purchase meals and turkeys for needy families. And in December 2016, she organized and hosted a Christmas party so needy children could have a memorable and happy holiday.
Morse has also worked to help her fellow employees. In one case, she worked to raise money for the family of a village employee who was diagnosed with l at e - stage cancer. Morse also organized a weight loss competition with other members of the police department to improve their collective health. The money raised from the competition was donated to a local child whose mother took her own l ife on Christmas Eve.
Special Recognition Award THE REV. CHRIS BEREAN
Berean has been a Roman Catholic Priest for the past 30 ye ar s , serving parishioners mostly in Ulst e r County. He has been a police chaplain in Ulster County for nearly 29 years, with part of that time serving as chaplain for the Woodstock t own police under the administration of then- Chief John Salters. Berean also assisted other local police agencies during that time.
In 1995, Berean became the chaplain of the Saugerties Police Department and continues to serve in that capacity. He can usually be found at the department on Fridays, the day he has devoted to the men and women of the department. Berean usually meets with officers at police headquarters, but has gone on patrol with them. He is also frequently called to provide counseling to those in despair and has assisted officers with making death notifications, among other services.