Police Week
Troy Police Department celebrates officers during awards ceremony
TROY, N.Y.>> Members of the Troy Police Department celebrated Police Week Thursday morning, during its 32nd annual awards breakfast ceremony at the Troy Hilton Garden Inn.
Various awards were given to police officers for exceptional police work during the previous year. The centerpiece award given is called the Chief John Givney Award and indicates that the recipient has been named the Most Outstanding Officer of the Previous Year and this year that award went to Officer Ralph Southworth Jr.
The ballroom in the Hilton was filled with members of the Troy Police Department and the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department along with Deputy Mayor Monica Kurzejeski, Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen Jimino and various members of the Troy City Council.
“Please know that the respect and pride for all of you runs deep,” Kurzejeski said to all the officers and their families in the room. “The knowledge, the community, the passion and the dedication within each of you comes together to create a department that exemplifies honor, courage and expertise.”
Chief John Tedesco said that 2016 was a good year for his department and that all of his officers worked hard to perform their duties.
“2016 was a year of good fortunes for the men and women in the Troy Police Department,” said Tedesco. “Please note that when I write of good fortunes, I do not mean to imply that the outcomes of our officers’ efforts were perchance. The good fortunes enjoyed in 2016 were the derivates of bravery, extraordinary efforts and a fervent desire to aid those in need.”
During the ceremony the department handed out awards for commendation, unit citation, Division Citation, the Chief’s Appreciation Award, a Merit award, along with the officer of the year presentation.
A commendation may be presented to a member of the de- partment who distinguishes themselves by a meritorious act of service the department performed in a manner substantially beyond normal expectations in similar circumstances or highly creditable, unusual police accomplishment. One of the commendation awards went to Officers Justine Ashe, Isacc Bertos, Brandon Cipperly and Kyle Jones for their work during a drowning investigation at the Poestenkill Gorge in June, 2016.
Unit citations are awarded to a unit of the department to recognize outstanding performance over a sustained period of time. One of the unit citation awards went to the 1st Platoon unit for an attempted abduc-
tion in September of 2016. Another unit citation and a merit award went to numerous members of the department and members of the Sheriff’s department for an October, 2016 homicide investigation into the murder of Troy resident Javier Gomez.
Before Tedesco presented Officer Southworth with the John J. Givney Award, he spoke as to why he believes Southworth is the right person to be honored with this award. Southworth was nominated for this elite award by Troy Police Department Evidence Technician Angela Meliski.
“You’re probably the person this award was writ- ten for,” Tedesco said to Southworth. “You’re from the Troy Police Department from the heart and I don’t think we could ever give you a salary or anything to provide the motivation that you have; you’re here because you want to be and you really truly are a public servant to the highest degree.”
After receiving his plaque, Southworth then took to the podium to give a brief acceptance speech and thank his colleagues and family.
“I think police officers in general are not well regarded nowadays; it’s important that the public knows that we are putting in extraordinary effort out there for everybody,” said Southworth. “I appreciate the recognition and I am in good company.”