At a ceremony today at the State Police Training Academy in Meriden, State Police Troopers and others received awards for service in Troop A, B, G and L area towns.
The Connecticut State Police honors Troopers who demonstrate exceptional service in the line of duty. The ceremony also honors men and women serving in local and federal law enforcement agencies, those serving as first responders, and civilians.
Award winners received medals and certificates from Commissioner Dora B. Schriro and State Police Colonel Alaric J. Fox. Governor Dannel Malloy and Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman also attended and addressed the recipients.
Awards were presented in seven categories:
- The Medal for Bravery is awarded to a Trooper who demonstrates exceptional heroism in the performance of duty while exposed to life-threatening danger.
- The Meritorious Service Medal is awarded to those who render service with a high degree of alertness, perseverance and superior judgment in the performance of a difficult task resulting in the protection of life, recovery of property, the prevention of – or solving of – a major crime or the apprehension of an armed or dangerous person.
- The Lifesaving Award is presented to those who save a human life or make a valiant attempt to save a life.
- The Outstanding Service Award is given to those who successfully perform an extreme, complex or difficult investigation. The Trooper may demonstrate exceptional skill or ingenuity in the apprehension of a wanted person, provide outstanding service to the public and/or continuously achieve excellence in performance over an extended period of time.
- The Unit Citation is awarded to members of a department, a command or group who combine their resources to achieve success in an investigation or event. The citation recognizes exceptional collective efforts.
- The Commissioner’s Recognition Award is presented by the agency commissioner to a person who has been instrumental in helping the State Police accomplish their job of public safety for all. This is generally presented to civilians (non-law enforcement).
- The Trooper James W. Lambert Award is presented to any person under age 21 who has exhibited exceptional courage and extraordinary decision making. The award is named for Trooper Lambert, who was killed in the line of duty on October 29, 1960.
Awards were presented to:
Trooper First Class Christopher Sorrell
On February 15, 2017, at 2:50 p.m., Troop B was notified of a bank robbery in Canaan committed by a male and female who escaped in a red car on Route 7 southbound. Troop B Troopers converged on the general area.
Trooper Sorrell was patrolling Salisbury and believed the perpetrators would likely flee west toward New York State. Within minutes, Trooper Sorrell observed a red car matching the description of the suspect vehicle traveling on Route 44. The driver of the suspect vehicle accelerated after passing Trooper Sorrell, who initiated a pursuit. The pursuit ended when the suspect vehicle became disabled after striking another vehicle, losing control and striking a tree head on. Trooper Sorrell held the male and female occupants at gunpoint for several minutes until backup Troopers arrived.
Both occupants were taken into custody and transported to a local hospital for injuries sustained in the crash. The male provided a false identity but was later positively identified, as was the female. The suspect vehicle was a rental vehicle out of Rhode Island which had been reported stolen. A handgun was subsequently found in plain view partially beneath the front passenger’s seat. The male had active felony arrest warrants for other bank robberies which occurred in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Trooper Sorrell earned the Medal for Meritorious Service.
Trooper First Class Michael Houle
On May 11, 2016, at 1:42 p.m., Trooper Houle was on the exit 30 on-ramp on Route 8 in Waterbury conducting traffic enforcement when he heard the sound of a vehicle’s racing engine. He observed a motor vehicle approaching from behind at a high rate of speed, being operated in a reckless and aggressive manner as it was abruptly changing lanes.
The vehicle operator lost control of the car, nearly striking Trooper Houle’s cruiser. The vehicle continued across the gore area and entrance ramp lane, striking the concrete barrier on the right side of the highway. The vehicle deflected off that concrete barrier, traveled back across all travel lanes and struck the concrete barrier on the left side of the highway.
Trooper Houle quickly approached the vehicle and discovered the driver was incoherent and trapped inside. He found the operator bleeding from a severe injury to his wrist. Believing the operator was suffering from an arterial bleed, Trooper Houle quickly applied a tourniquet to bring the bleeding under control. He remained with the motorist and continued to monitor him until an ambulance arrived for transport to the hospital. Trooper Houle earned the Medal for Lifesaving.
Trooper First Class Michael Reidy
On Nov. 27, 2016, Trooper Reidy of Troop B responded to a call for an unconscious male at a residence in New Hartford. While en route, Trooper Reidy was told that the male was blue and unresponsive. Upon arrival, Trooper Reidy was advised by the Troop B desk trooper that the victim had been chopping wood in his backyard and had apparently suffered a heart attack.
Trooper Reidy joined a member of the New Hartford EMS in providing CPR for more than ten minutes until a pulse was restored. The victim was then transported to a local hospital, where he recovered from this life-threatening medical emergency.
Trooper Reidy earned the Medal for Lifesaving.
Trooper John List
On March 9, 2017, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Trooper List was picking up dinner at a restaurant in Bridgeport when an elderly man approached him signaling that he was choking and could not breathe.
Trooper List instantly and successfully performed the Heimlich Maneuver on the elderly man, dislodging a large piece of food from the man’s throat. An ambulance responded and treated the man following Trooper List’s lifesaving actions. Ambulance personnel, as well as restaurant staff, praised Trooper List for his immediate response.
Trooper List earned the Medal for Lifesaving.
Trooper Jeremy Ribadeneyra, Trooper First Class Joshua Holcombe
On May 17, 2016, Trooper Ribadeneyra was assigned to investigate two non-active residential burglaries in Sharon which occurred earlier that day. A laptop computer was stolen from one home, while jewelry was stolen from the second home.
The next day, Trooper Ribadeneyra observed a pickup truck on the side of a road with three occupants – two females and a male suspect who was a known narcotics user with a history of criminal activity. Trooper Ribadenayra questioned the occupants and observed in plain view a laptop matching the one reported stolen.
Trooper Holcombe arrived as backup as Trooper Ribadeneyra detained all three occupants, removed the laptop and matched its serial number to the one on the stolen laptop. Interviews with the females implicated the male in the stolen laptop; the females also indicated that the male threw oxycodone pills into the pickup when Trooper Ribadenayra approached. One of the females showed Trooper Holcombe the residences to which she drove the male the previous day and another residence where she picked him up earlier that day. Trooper Holcombe checked with the resident of that house who discovered oxycodone pills missing from a prescription container.
Troopers arrested the male suspect on multiple charges. The Troopers continued their investigation of the burglaries/larcenies and Trooper Ribadenayra subsequently obtained arrest warrants for the burglaries and larcenies. Both Troopers earned the Medal for Outstanding Service.
Lieutenant Francis Conroy, Sergeant Arthur Derderian, Sgt. Wilfred Blanchette, Trooper First Class Sean Connelly, Trooper First Class Brian Faughnan, Trooper First Class Joe Lombardi, Trooper First Class Ben Langevin
On November 18, 2016, members of the Emergency Services Unit Bomb Squad responded to an incident at a pharmaceutical research laboratory where, during overnight hours and for unknown reasons, a violent eruption of a vessel containing a propriety mixture had undergone an exothermic reaction, causing minor damage.
An additional vessel containing an identical mixture was in close proximity to the first vessel. It was determined that the contents of this second vessel posed a danger due to its sensitive make-up and needed to be removed from laboratory.
Using a robot and hands-on techniques, ESU members carefully removed the vessel to outside the building, where it was safely disposed of by detonation. This operation was extremely complex due to the unknown nature of how the mixture would react to being removed from the laboratory environment.
All ESU members played a key role in this precarious laboratory incident by demonstrating exceptional skill in the removal of the vessel and by transporting the mixture to a disposal site. Each earned the Medal for Outstanding Service.
Trooper First Class Gregory Fascendini
On February 7, 2017, at 3:02 p.m., a New Hartford homeowner called 911 to report that he had interrupted two males stealing tools from his garage. The two men took off in a vehicle and the homeowner reported that he was in his truck following the suspect vehicle.
The chase went into Harwinton, where the suspect vehicle lost control, drove onto a private lawn, struck a culvert and became disabled. The man confronted the two males, who returned his stolen property. One male remained with the disabled vehicle exchanging words with the homeowner while the second male took off into the woods. The suspect was placed in handcuffs and identified the second suspect as being the one who stole the property from the homeowner’s garage.
Several Troopers from Troops B and L formed a perimeter as Trooper Fascendini and his K-9, Ale, conducted several dog tracks with other CSP K-9 handlers, with negative results. The suspect’s family members informed Troopers of his general whereabouts in Torrington.
At 10:10 p.m. that evening, Trooper Fascendini spotted the suspect on a street in Torrington. The suspect took off running with Trooper Fascendini and Ale immediately following. After a brief foot pursuit, Trooper Fascendini took the suspect into custody. Both suspects were charged with burglary, larceny and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Trooper Fascendini earned the Medal for Outstanding Service.
Detective Brian Marino, Detective Rachel Van Ness, Detective Edmund Vayan, Western District Major Crime, Emergency Services Unit Dive Team
On November 3, 2015, at approximately 6:30 a.m., Detectives with the Western District Major Crime Squad were requested to respond to a Middlebury untimely death, which an initial review identified as a homicide.
Detectives and van personnel showed meticulous persistence in documenting the scene by seizing hundreds of pieces of evidence. In the 30 hours after responding, Detectives conducted dozens of interviews, which identified several persons of interest. During one such interview, Detectives Marino, Van Ness and Vayan ultimately obtained a confession from a subject.
Dive Team members searched two bodies of water and recovered the murder weapon, as well as clothing worn by the suspect. During the next 18 months, followup work required additional search and seizure warrants to be executed and arrest warrants to be completed. In the end, three more arrests were made on unrelated crimes. Each Trooper and Detective involved played a critical role in identifying and apprehending a violent perpetrator.
Detective Laura Kraus, Detective Jeremy Combes, Detective Andre Roy, Western District Major Crime
On April 8, 2013, 12:25 a.m., Troop B received a 911 call reporting that a residence had been robbed at gunpoint by three masked males. The victim reported that he was approached by the gunmen, who forced him into the residence demanding money. The residence was burglarized and the men left with multiple electronic devices, credit cards and two long guns.
Patrol troopers and detectives from Western District Major Crime responded and secured the crime scene. The incident information was provided to neighboring agencies as well as CTIC.
Major Crime personnel, including primary Detectives Kraus, Combes and Roy, conducted an extensive investigation. Through the use of the CTIC bulletin, video surveillance and assistance from several local law enforcement agencies, they ascertained the identity of the three suspects. The detectives diligently prepared and executed numerous search and seizure warrants, reviewed hours of surveillance footage, interviewed dozens of witnesses and ultimately prepared arrest warrants for the three perpetrators leading to the arrest of each one.
During the next four years, their comprehensive investigation, in depth court preparation and detailed report writing led to one suspect pleading guilty to a wide variety of charges, encouraged a second suspect to plead to reduced charges, and enabled a jury to convict the third suspect on all charges.
Detective Kraus, Combes and Roy earned the Medal for Outstanding Service; members of the Western District Major Crime Squad earned the Unit Citation Award.
Trooper First Class Keriann St. Germain
In late winter and into spring of 2016, Troop L – along with local police departments in the Waterbury area – experienced numerous thefts of motorcycles and quads.
Trooper St. Germain initiated an investigation into the thefts. She developed leads that connected the cases to individuals who delivered newspapers at night in the Troop L area. The individuals would observe the property while on deliveries and then return to make the thefts. The group of individuals was identified as a theft ring from Waterbury.
The leads uncovered by Trooper St. Germain led her to contacting and working with the State Police Auto Theft Unit, the Western District Major Crime Squad, the National Insurance Crime Bureau and Waterbury and Newington Police. Trooper St. Germain was instrumental in leading this investigation and solving five cases for Troop L and assisting in solving cases for both Waterbury and Newington Police
Through many interviews and search warrants, her investigative efforts were responsible for the recovery of nearly $50,000 worth of stolen off-road motorcycles, quads, parts, along with a motorcycle and a trailer. Five co-conspirators were arrested.
Trooper St. Germain earned the Medal for Outstanding Service.
Bridgeport Police Officer Carlos Vazquez, Statewide Narcotics Task Force, Bridgeport Police Department
During September 2016, Officer Vazquez initiated a narcotics investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in the Bridgeport area and dealing in large amounts of cocaine, heroin and prescription medication. Officer Vazquez worked with detectives from the Statewide Narcotics Task Force, Southwest Office. They utilized a variety of investigative techniques including 14 confidential informant narcotics purchases, dozens of surveillance operations of suspects and locations, trash pulls and two GPS search warrants in order to obtain six arrest warrants and nine search warrants for residences and businesses.
On March 8, 2017, detectives from the Task Force, from the Statewide Urban Cooperative Crime Control Task Force and the Bridgeport Police Narcotic Unit executed these warrants throughout Bridgeport and Seymour. As a result, detectives seized 4.5 pounds of cocaine, 11 grams of heroin, more than a quarter pound of marijuana, three handguns, a sawed off shotgun, scales, packaging material, a cocaine press and $132,514 in cash. Three people were arrested by warrant and three were arrested for on-site narcotics charges. Two children were identified as drug-endangered and turned over to the Department of Children and Families.
Due to his leadership as the primary investigator, the work of Officer Vazquez resulted in a significant quality of life improvement through the removal of a drug trafficking organization in and around Bridgeport. This extremely lengthy, detailed and complex investigation was conducted by the Statewide Narcotic Task Force Southwest Office, assisted and directed by personnel from the Connecticut State Police
Officer Vasquez earned the Medal for Outstanding Service; members of the Statewide Narcotics Task Force and Bridgeport Police earned the Unit Citation Award.
Detective Frank Mugavin
On July 5, 2011, detectives from Western District Major Crime responded to a suspicious residential fire in Burlington. Detectives found that accelerants were used on two front entrances and both garage doors of the residence. At the time the fire was set, the residence was occupied by the homeowners.
After several years of investigative stagnation, Detective Mugavin was re-assigned the case and, almost immediately, he developed a suspect. It was learned that the suspect had promptly fled Connecticut to avoid law enforcement contact during the initial phase of the investigation. Det. Mugavin tracked the man through several states and found him living in Wisconsin.
During the course of this lengthy investigation and through the innovative and persistent efforts of Det. Mugavin, numerous pieces of corroborative evidence were collected. He coordinated with several different out-of-state law enforcement agencies and conducted dozens of interviews. He served as a liaison between the different courts involved, which led to the issuance of an arrest warrant.
In March 2016, the accused was arrested by local authorities in Wisconsin, extradited back to Connecticut and charged with arson in the first degree. On Feb. 22, 2017 – based in large part on the strong case developed by Det. Mugavin – the accused was convicted, providing the victims long-awaited justice. In May 2017, the accused was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Detective Mugavin earned the Medal for Outstanding Service.
American Legion of Connecticut
Since 2000, State Police have teamed up with the American Legion to conduct the annual “State Police Youth Week” program open to 16- and 17-year-old high school students throughout Connecticut. Youth Week is modeled after State Police recruit training and provides students a unique opportunity to gain insight into the training, duties and expectations of Troopers. This program is a mini State Police Academy and a national model for the American Legion.
Students participate in mental and physical challenges including patrol techniques, use of laser speed measuring equipment, accident investigation, emergency vehicle driving, firearms training, and criminal investigation. They also participate in physical conditioning, daily inspections and drill & ceremony on a daily basis. They learn about the core values of the Connecticut State Police and law enforcement officers everywhere.
The week concludes with a physically and mentally challenging exercise followed by a graduation ceremony. The final day is a culmination of the knowledge, skills and abilities they learned during the week, designed to emphasize the importance of teamwork and overcoming adversity.
In these challenging fiscal times, the American Legion has gone above and beyond by raising the funds necessary to run the Youth Week program, providing the support required to offer 25 teens a chance to explore a law enforcement career. Since 2000, many graduates have been hired in federal and Connecticut law enforcement agencies, including at least 16 State Troopers.
Troopers hold the partnership between State Police and the American Legion in the highest regard. Special thanks go to Jack Monohan, Gerry Deirman and Chuck Berry for their hard work since the inception of the program. The American Legion of Connecticut earned the Commissioner’s Recognition Award.
Danielle Wildman
On February 1, 2017, at 8:30 p.m., Danielle Wildman, a student at Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury, was engaged in a “Facetime” conversation with a friend who is a fellow classmate. Suddenly the friend retrieved a loaded handgun located within her household and displayed it to Danielle. The friend started to express her depressive thoughts, holding the loaded handgun up to her head and making statements such as “I can’t do this anymore.”
Danielle spent the next very stressful moments trying to calm her friend down and convince her that she had a lot of things to live for. She eventually convinced her friend to move the gun from her head and put it away. Danielle spent additional time talking with her friend to make sure she was safe and had calmed down.
Subsequently, Danielle reported this incident to the school social worker who took immediate steps to ensure the safety of the student.
Danielle Wildman handled a very stressful event with courage and compassion. She prevented a teen suicide and reported the incident to the proper authorities. She earned the Commissioner’s Recognition Award.
Auxiliary Trooper Paul Laskowski
Since 1988, Paul Laskowski has been a Connecticut State Police Auxiliary Trooper at Troop G in Bridgeport.
His commanding officers report that Auxiliary Trooper Laskowski is a pleasure to work with, always has a positive attitude and exhibits a great amount of pride as an Auxiliary Trooper.
Auxiliary Trooper Laskowski is available to assist Troop G Troopers, Command and Supervisory Staff by arriving every Tuesday and Thursday morning to make the department “runs” for the Troop. This includes traveling to Headquarters, Fleet, Western District Headquarters or Quartermaster. He also assists with shuffling cruisers to be repaired and with delivery of packages that need to be relayed to and from Troop G throughout the state.
Demonstrating outstanding reliability, dedication and commitment, Auxiliary Trooper Laskowski has an outstanding work ethic and pride in the Connecticut State Police. He is extremely respectful toward all personnel – all of whom have come to rely on him to complete assignments in a timely manner.
He is an outstanding Auxiliary Trooper and an integral part of the State Police family. He has set a high standard for others to follow and has proven himself a genuine asset to Troop G.
Paul Laskowski was named Auxiliary Trooper of the Year.