A YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENT
Police stories must be told, says mayor
TROY, N.Y. » Police who worked a quadruple homicide case last year were among those honored Thursday at the Troy Police Department 33rd Annual Awards Ceremony.
On Dec. 26, 2017, Troy Police responded to 158 2nd Avenue where four people had been killed. An investigation led to the arrest of two Schenectady men, James White, 36, and Justin Mann, 24, who were ultimately indicted for the murders of Shanta Myers, 36, two of her children, Jeremiah, 11, and Shainse, 5, and Shanta’s partner, Brandi Mells, 22.
The incident was among many harrowing circumstances police have encountered.
“Over the past year, our members and partners have faced danger and distressing events,” said Troy Police Chief Brian Owens. “You will soon hear accounts of exceptional bravery, dedication, and steady resolve. Their actions and efforts have contributed greatly to a better Troy.”
Besides the widely reported homicide investigation, other Troy police exploits included hopping onto boats to apprehend a hit-and-run suspect, acting swiftly and appropriately when facing down the barrel of a rifle, and using their technical knowledge and sharp memory to arrest a man accused of stabbing another on the street.
Commendations and unit citations
• Officer Nicholas Colaneri was commended for his response to a heroin overdose on June 10, 2017. He arrived at a home on 2nd St. where he found a male not breathing with no pulse. Since he arrived before medics, he began CPR on the male and was able to revive him.
• Officer Michael Gordon was commended for his action during an incident on July 17, 2017, where he’d been monitoring a group of “raucous individuals” near 276 3rd St. He recognized one of them and found the person’s Facebook profile, where the group was broadcasting themselves waving around a handgun. Members of the arresting unit were also recognized, they being Officers Martin Furciniti, Robert Gaudette, Donald Marble, William Fitch, Joseph Fazioli, Kristopher Daurio, Owen Conway, and George Slagen.
• Officer Philip Milano was commended for arresting an individual suspected of armed robbery. On Oct. 21, 2017, it was reported that someone tried to rob another person at gunpoint. Milano caught up with the person while they hid in an alley behind a pole. The suspect pointed a rifle at Milano, who ducked beneath his cruiser’s dashboard
and backed up. Milano exited the cruiser and was able to arrest the person without a problem.
Milano was also commended for a burglary investigation on July 29, 2017, where he noticed a partially open door on 2nd Avenue, along with a bicycle leaning nearby. Upon investigation, he found a male inside crawling inside an open studded wall. Copper piping, wires, and extension cords were recovered along with some heroin, drug paraphernalia, and a knife.
• Officers Greg Kehrer and Robert Gaudette were commended (Division members Officers Christopher McDonald, David Dean, Michael Gordon, Michael Merola, and John DeRubertis were cited) for dealing with an emotionally disturbed person threatening to jump from the third floor of the Samaritan Hospital parking garage. Though a gun was never displayed, the person at times spoke and acted as if they had one. Kehrer developed a rapport with the person, whose mood swung between calm and angry several times, while Gaudette directed other officers. Eventually the person was taken into custody after police used pepper-balls and 40mm foam baton (foam bullets) on them.
Gaudette, and Kerher were also commended, along with Officer Jacqueline DiCarlo, for their work investigating a stabbing incident on March 18, 2017. A man and woman were walking at 2:25 a.m. near Congress and 3 rd when they encountered a panhandler asking for money. The pair kept moving, but the panhandler assaulted the male, stabbing him several times and knocking out some of his teeth.
An image of the suspect was caught in city street cameras. Kerher recognized the suspect, having seen him earlier in the evening at a pizza place. They got better pictures of him there, and officers went searching for him, ultimately locating and arresting him. The suspect pleaded guilty to attempted second degree murder and on Nov. 17, 2017, was sentenced to 12 years in prison. Members of the involved unit were also cited, they being: Officers Kristopher Daurio, David Dean, William Fitch, and Michael Gordon.
• Patrol 1st Platoon (Officers William Fitch, Michael Merola, Brent Fane, Brandon Galligan, Timothy White, Jacqueline DiCarlo, and John DeRubertis) was cited for a burglary arrested it made on Dec. 29, 2017. Two burglary suspects were confronted by property managers. One of the managers was assaulted. Members of the patrol unit tracked down and arrested the two suspects.
• Patrol 3rd Platoon (Officers Michael Bourdon, Philip Milano, Jeff Solomon, Timothy White, and Michael Gordon) received a unit citation for their response to a shooting on Jan. 4 of this year at a store near Jefferson Street. The shooting victim said the shooter and four other males had gone north and may live near Middleburgh Street. Police caught up with four males, determined they hadn’t been involved with the shooting, but did find that one had a warrant out for his arrest and was in possession of a loaded gun.
• Third Platoon members (Sgts. John Ryan, Salvatore Carello, and Peter Montanino, and Officers Nicholas Laviano, Jeremy Morris, Kristopher Daurio, Owen Conway, David Fera, Nicholas Bevevino, Michael Bourdon, Brandon Cipperly, and Robert Smith) also received a unit citation for a hit-andrun incident that occurred July 20, 2017. A driver fleeing from police struck a motorcyclist, then crashed. They fled on foot into the Hudson River and swam to Adams Island. Police use a fire department boat and one they borrowed from a fisherman to catch up to the subject, who was trying to hang himself. He ran from police, saying he’d rather they kill him than take him back to prison. Police ulti- mately convinced the person to surrender.
• The Neighborhood Conditions Team (Sgts. Robert Hayden and Brandon Cipperly, and Officers Justin Ashe, Christopher Parker, Louis Perfetti, and Kyle Jones) received a unit citation for their work improving the quality of life for Troy residents.
Homicide
Troy Police Department Evidence Technicians were given a Unit Citation for their work on the homicide. Troy Police Assistant Chief Dan DeWolf said the team (Officers William Fitch, Arthur Hoffman, William Gladysz, and Joseph Fazioli) “... worked long hours away from their families during the holiday season,” spending two days at the Troy crime scene while also working scenes in Schenectady.
The Detective Bureau was also honored with a Unit Citation. Det. Sgts. Timothy Colaneri, Michael Parrow, Adam Mason, John Becker, Randall French, Stephen Seney, Anthony Conyers, Jack McMahon, Steven Barker, and detectives Colleen Goldston, Mark Mason, Aaron Collington, Russell Clements, Ralph Southworth, and Joshua Comitale, worked to interview witnesses, gather video evidence, and ultimately build a case leading to arrests.
The New York State Police Major Crimes Unit, Fo- rensic Investigation Unit, and Computer Crimes Unit, received Merit Awards for their role in the homicide case, as did Federal Bureau of Investigation Supervisory Special Agents Michael Dwyer, and Matt Fountaine, along with Katherine Mooar, an intelligence analyst with NewYork State Police Special Investigations Unit.
Cop of the year
Winner of the John J. Givney Memorial Award (Officer of the year) was Troy Police Sgt. John Keeler.
The award goes to a police department member who “Demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to integrity, exceptional work in connection with their assignment, highly creditable acts of police service over a period of time and department esprit de corps.”
“Det. Sgt. John Keeler is a well respected, dedicated member who has displayed great initiative in development training, promoting officer health and safety, and building relationships within our community,” said Owens.
Keller thanked those who nominated him, and those in the training unit for the extra work they do. He also recognized the other officers who fill in for the trainers when they’re out.
“If you want to know how good a department is, you have to look no further than its commitment to training its officers,” said Keeler. “A commitment to training by a police department allows officers to accomplish the department’s mission. I truly believe that we as a department have the capability to make Troy PD’s training program a benchmark for training programs in New York State, and I’m honored to be a small part in reaching for that goal.”
Telling stories
Mayor Patrick Madden said it’s important that the city do more to tell the story of its police officers.
“In my limited time in government, I’ve come to understand the unfortunate fact that we are quicker to acknowledge behavior that does not measure up to standards then we are at recognizing action that exceeds standards,” he said. “It’s important that we share these stories today, and congratulate each other on a job well done. But it’s equally important that we share these stories with the broader public. I’ve come to believe that there has never been a more challenging time to serve the public, nor a more dangerous time to be a police officer.
He said people in general are unaware of the issues police confront on a daily basis, and that their stories must be more widely shared.
“If we don’t get our stories told, someone else will be makinguptheir own, and that will get told,” he said.