MAYOR PRESENTS 2008 POLICE AWARDS
Harrisburg, PA – Mayor Stephen R. Reed today presented official recognition for the outstanding efforts of more than 100 city police officers, citizens, public employees and others for actions ranging from saving lives to the capture of armed and dangerous criminals. The awards program was begun by the Mayor in the 1980s as a way for the city to recognize the many contributions to public safety of the city’s police officers, private citizens and others.
"The awards we present today cover a wide range of circumstances, from the capture of armed and dangerous suspects to the quick and selfless actions of private citizens whose only thought was to assist another person.
"We give our thanks to each of the individuals being recognized today. They have our gratitude, respect and admiration. The City of Harrisburg and the region are both better places because of the concern they have shown.
"All, by their service, bring honor to the memory of those who have given their lives in law enforcement service to this city and this nation," said Reed.
The following awards were presented during ceremonies in the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. City Government Center:
Citizen Commendations
• To Debra Baker for professional assistance provided to Harrisburg police to locate a suspect’s vehicle on January 16, 2007 which fled the area of Cameron & Herr Streets with an arresting vice officer inside the moving vehicle.
• To Kevin Stoltzfus for actions taken to relay information observed at the scene of a robbery on S. Front Street on February 17, 2007 which led to the quick apprehension of the two suspects.
• To Shakira N. Clark and Joyce L. Walker for courageous actions taken to assist police in locating a stolen firearm hidden by a suspect on July 10, 2007, despite repeated threats of retaliation before and after the suspect’s incarceration.
• To Daniel W. Jones and Gretta B. Morsberger for heroic actions taken during pursuit of a suspect involved in a multiple-victim robbery during the early morning hours of September 6, 2007.
• To Telecommunicator Janice Clea for invaluable assistance by recognizing an unidentified female officer’s voice through radio transmissions and initiating an immediate search when she was unable to respond due to a physical confrontation with a suspect at 17th & Market Streets on September 21, 2007.
• To Acting Technical Services Administrator Helen M. Solivan, Telecommunicators Mattea L. Macri, Janice Clea, Elsie Miller and Keisha S. George-Williams for excellent teamwork in handling a multitude of critical situations throughout the City during the same timeframe as the Third and Chestnut Streets officer-involved fatal shooting on September 23, 2007.
• To Telecommunicator Michael Dalton for invaluable assistance provided to officers on the scene at Sixth & Curtin Streets while monitoring and coordinating assistance to another officer in foot pursuit of car vandals on Schuylkill Street on December 7, 2007.
• To Dhyshamier Holmes for heroic and selfless actions to pursue and restrain an assumed purse-snatching suspect in Kline Plaza on January 6, 2008 who in actuality had just robbed the bank in a grocery store under the guise of a bomb threat.
• To Tony Plasic and Larry Liskey for courageous and selfless actions to assist in the restraint of the fleeing suspect who issued a bomb threat during a bank robbery within a grocery store on January 6, 2008.
• To Nicole L. Hook for heroic and lifesaving actions to staunch the loss of blood of a victim whose throat was severely cut on January 22, 2008 until professional medical assistance arrived on scene.
• To Richard Jennings, Jr., and Troy McGraw for lifesaving actions rendered to a choking victim in the cafeteria of the John Harris Campus of Harrisburg High School on February 29, 2008.
The Officer of the Year Award
To Patrol Officer James T. Galkowski who joined the Harrisburg Police Bureau in May of 1996. He was previously employed with the Virginia Beach Police Department. Officer Galkowski has received numerous decorations over his eight year career with the Harrisburg Police Bureau. He is one of the original members of the highly-successful Community Policing Power Shift Unit which was created in July of 1998. Officer Galkowski graduated from Mercyhurst College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Law Enforcement Studies.
The Detective of the Year Award
To Sgt. Dennis J. Sorensen who joined the Harrisburg Police Bureau in May of 1992. Sgt. Sorensen has received numerous awards over his sixteen year career with the Police Bureau. This includes a Bravery Award. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal in July of 2000 and then to the rank of Sergeant in August of 2004. He is currently assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division as the section leader of the Special Operations Unit. Sgt. Sorensen is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration. He also continues to serve in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard at the current rank of Major.
The Award of Merit
• To City of Lancaster Detective Carlos Luciano for exemplary undercover work from January to May of 2005 to identify and stop a heroin trafficking ring operating between Harrisburg, Philadelphia and New York which netted the arrest of 40 suspects and the seizure of $6,000 in drugs and $1,600 cash.
• To City of Lancaster Police Officer David Shell for intelligent two-month undercover operation during which 38 drug purchases were made, which led to the arrest of 23 suspects and the confiscation of drugs valued at $5,000 and $1,200 in cash in December, 2005.
• To City of Lancaster Detective Gareth Lowe for intelligent two-month undercover operation in December, 2006 during which 90 drug purchases were made, which netted the arrest of 53 suspects, the confiscation of two vehicles and three handguns, and information leading to the arrest of a suspect involved in an armed bank robbery.
• To Detective Libertad Ramos for diligent and persistent investigation of two brutal rapes that occurred in an isolated area near the Mulberry Street Bridge which resulted in the suspect’s arrest in February, 2007.
• To Detectives Sean D. Cornick, Levell Jenkins, Ryan J. Neal, Police Officer Tyron E. Meik & K9 Zeus and Dauphin County Probation Officer Larry Muza for intelligent and quick actions which resulted in the vehicle stop and arrest of two drug trafficking suspects and confiscation of over $15,000 worth of heroin, $5,000 in cash and a handgun on January 11, 2007.
• To Joseph A. Zimmerman for diligent and persistent investigation that led to the arrest of two suspects involved in a purse snatching from an elderly woman on January 17, 2007 in the 1900 Block of Derry Street.
• To Detectives Sean D. Cornick, and Levell Jenkins, Police Officer Stephanie F. Barrelet & K-9 Dantes, Dauphin County Detectives Ronald Soutner, Keith Ocker and Dennis Morris for intelligent team work which led to the arrest of a drug dealer who arranged for the delivery and pickup of 20 pounds of marijuana smuggled through the Harrisburg Transportation Center on February 20, 2007.
• To Corporal Deric E. Moody, Detective Sean D. Cornick, Detective Ryan J. Neal, Officers Milo G. Hooper, Quinten E. Kennedy, James T. Galkowski, John A. Salvadia & K-9 Sammy, Dauphin County Probation Officers Timothy Kinsinger and Jason Groff and Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agents Keith Kierkowski and William Cook for quick and professional teamwork which resulted in the March 1, 2007 arrest of two New York drug dealers and confiscation of over one-half kilo of crack cocaine with a street value of $45,000.00.
• To Detective David A. Lau for intelligent investigative skills which led to the identification of an armed burglary suspect initially thought to be a victim of the March 23, 2007 home invasion in the 2000 Block of Swatara Street.
• To Detective Sean D. Cornick, Detective Levell Jenkins, Dauphin County Drug Task Force Detectives Dennis Morris, Ronald Soutner, Keith Ocker, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Hugh Earhart, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent William Cook, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agents Bruce Doupe, Jeffery Blaney and Christopher Nawrocki for exemplary teamwork which led to the arrest of three suspects attempting to buy a half kilo of crack cocaine from a confidential informant on March 29, 2007.
• To Detective Timothy M. Carter and Detective Richard J. Iachini, Jr. for diligent and persistent investigation into illegal counterfeit clothing merchandise operations which resulted in the arrest of 17 suspects and the confiscation of hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise in March, 2007.
• To Detective Christopher Krokos and Detective Donald E. Heffner, III for quick and intelligent actions during pursuit of a suspect who disposed of drugs and a weapon before jumping several rooftops in the 2400 Block of North Sixth Street on April 17, 2007 and who was apprehended as he reached the ground.
• To Corporal Michael S. Lamonto & K-9 Vegas, Detective Sean D. Cornick, Detective Levell Jenkins, Detective Ryan J. Neal, Officer Stephanie F. Barrelet & K-9 Dantes, Dauphin County Drug Task Force Detectives Shawki Lacey, Keith Ocker and Todd Johnson, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agents Bruce Doupe, Jeffery Blaney and Christopher Nawrocki for intelligent teamwork which resulted in the arrest of a suspect who attempted to purchase two kilos of cocaine and the confiscation of $40,000 in drug money on April 26, 2007.
• To Corporal Michael S. Lamonto & K-9 Vegas, Detectives Sean D. Cornick, Levell Jenkins, Ryan J. Neal, Officers Tyron E. Meik & K-9 Zeus and Jason J. Paul for diligent investigation initiated April 26, 2007 upon receipt of complaints from neighbors in the 2600 Block of Jefferson Street of drug activity which resulted in the confiscation of $15,000 in crack cocaine, two firearms and $5,000 in cash.
• To Corporal Deric E. Moody, Officers James T. Galkowski, Milo G. Hooper, Jennie Jenkins, Clark T. Godusky, Edward V. Grynkewicz, III, Susan J. Crouser, Scott T. Johnsen, Paula A. Trovy, Christopher M. Silvio, Matthew A. Nordstrom, John A. Doll, Joseph C. Marshall and Michael P. Sanderson, Dauphin County Adult Probation Officers Gretchen Anderson, Timothy Kinsinger, Jason Groff, Christopher Burnell and Larry Muza for intelligent and quick teamwork to locate and arrest the suspect who had fired a gun into the air at 14th and Vernon Streets on May 22, 2007 and the subsequent retrieval of the stolen weapon.
• To Detective Rodney A. Shoeman for diligent investigation of the circumstances into the death of an infirmed ten year-old girl who had burns over the majority of her body in the 500 Block of Camp Street on April 20, 2007.
• To Detective Shawn M. Donofrio for intelligent investigatory work which resulted in the arrest of a suspect involved in 22 stolen vehicles cases throughout five surrounding municipalities during the warm weather months of 2007.
• To City of Reading Police Officer Jose Martinez for excellent undercover work during which 45 drug purchases were made, 40 suspects were arrested and over $3,800 in drugs were confiscated from June to August, 2007.
• To Corporal Deric E. Moody, Officers James T. Galkowski, Milo G. Hooper, Quinten E. Kennedy, Mark S. Fulton and Daniel L. Peiper for excellent teamwork during pursuit of a handcuffed drug suspect who bolted from custody during transport to the police booking room on August 15, 2007 and who was quickly apprehended from the Susquehanna River.
• To Police Officers Jeffrey D. Marsh and Peter Rivera for keen investigative skills during a routine traffic stop on August 19, 2007 in the 400 Block of Daisy Street which resulted in the suspect’s arrest and confiscation of a weapon, cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, cell phones and cash.
• To Corporal Deric E. Moody, Police Officers James T. Galkowski, Milo G. Hooper, Quinten E. Kennedy, Tyron E. Meik & K-9 Zeus, Dauphin County Adult Probation Officers Danny McIntyre, Timothy Kinsinger, Chad McConnell, Jason Snyder, Jason Groff, Christopher Burnell and Larry Muza for keen investigative skills in response to a call for assistance that resulted in a search warrant for a property in the 1300 Block of Vernon Street, the arrests of two suspects and the confiscation of a weapon, cocaine, marijuana, heroin, drug paraphernalia and $3,500 in cash on August 22, 2007.
• To Sergeant Thomas C. Carter for intelligent police work on August 27, 2007 to locate and apprehend a 2006 homicide suspect in the 2100 Block of Jefferson Street without incident.
• To Sergeant Steven L. Novacek, Patrol Officers Jacob B. Pierce, Chad A. Sunday, Dennis M. Simmons, Robert J. Minnier, Teresa K. Covey, Atah H. Akakpo-Martin, Michael P. Sanderson, Garrett R. Miller, Joseph C. Marshall and Christopher M. Silvio for excellent and rapid teamwork in locating the suspect of a multiple-victim robbery which occurred during the early morning hours of September 6, 2007.
• To Detectives Grant C. Steele, Michael J. Savel and Shawn M. Donofrio for intelligent police work which led to the identification and arrest of a juvenile responsible for four house robberies and the recovery of the owners’ stolen vehicles during the month of September, 2007.
• To Detective Jarrett J. Ferrari for excellent investigative skills which led to a suspect’s confession of sexual assault of an 11 year-old child at a local youth club over a two-year period which had occurred four years earlier.
• To Detective Jeffrey M. Schriver for skillful interview techniques used during the investigation of the October 24, 2007 fatal shooting in the 1900 Block of Brookwood Street which led to information on the identification of the suspect and his subsequent arrest.
• To Corporal Deric E. Moody, Detective Donald E. Heffner, II, Police Officers James T. Galkowski, Quinten E. Kennedy, Tyron E. Meik & K-9 Zeus, and Dauphin County Probation Officers Danny McIntrye, Andrew Cooper, Chad McConnell, Jason Snyder, Gretchen Anderson, Matthew Hernandez, Larry Muza, Kathy Cook and Aaron Harvey for excellent teamwork which led to the arrest of 5 drug trafficking suspects and the confiscation of multiple weapons, crack cocaine, marijuana, two-way radios and over $4,000 in cash on October 31, 2007 from the 700 Block of N. 18th Street.
• To Detective Jason J. Paul and Patrol Officer Matthew A. Nordstrom for keen investigative skills which led to the rapid identification and arrest of a suspect who had shoplifted from two businesses in the Uptown Plaza on November 23, 2007.
• To Corporal Gabriel Olivera and Detectives Grant C. Steele, Michael J. Savel and Shawn M. Donofrio for exemplary team work which led to the identification and arrest of two adults and four juveniles responsible for viciously beating a victim before stealing his vehicle on November 30, 2007.
• To Detective John C. O’Connor for intelligent police work in tracking a cell phone left behind at a Greenwood Street burglary which led to a suspect’s arrest for multiple burglaries in the Allison Hill area in November and December, 2007 and recovery of some of the stolen items.
• To Detective Grant C. Steele for exemplary efforts to identify and arrest a suspect involved in an armed robbery of a stolen vehicle on December 12, 2007, and who was also wanted in other jurisdictions for various criminal activities.
• To Sergeant Luis A. Rodriguez, Corporal Gabriel Olivera, and Detectives John C. O’Connor, Timothy M. Carter and Richard J. Iachini, Jr. for diligent and exemplary team work to locate and arrest the suspect involved in a January 6, 2008 homicide that occurred in the 2100 Block of Penn Street.
• Patrol Officers Paula A. Trovy and Timothy G. Brooks for quick and intelligent actions to identify a suspect involved in two prior robberies at a business in the 1900 Block of Derry Street and his subsequent pursuit and apprehension on February 21, 2008.
Distinguished Unit Citation
• To the Parking Enforcement Unit, including Supervisor Todd C. Gilcrist, Sr., Sandra L. Patry, Nanette S. Burnett and Parking Enforcement Officers Maurice N. Baskins, Blanca I. Quinones, Robin C. Terry, Hector D. Lopez, James M. Grant, Edward R. Proctor, Wilfred Anthony, Jr., Jorge Navarro-Garcia, Carmelo F. McGarvey and Christopher McMillen for exemplary team work performed throughout 2007 which resulted in a 22.69% increase in parking enforcement activities over the previous year.
• To the Dauphin County Crisis Response Team, including Officer in Charge Susquehanna Township Police Chief Robert Martin, Williamstown Borough Police Chief Ronakd Frederick, Steelton Borough Police Chief Kenneth Lenker, and police officers from the following municipalities:
-Dauphin County Criminal Investigation Division, including Detectives Brian Walborn and Todd Johnson
-City of Harrisburg, including Corporals Deric E. Moody, Gabriel Olivera and Terry D. Wealand, Detective Michael J. Savel and Police Officers Thomas F. Ryan and Kirk E. Aldrich
-Derry Township, including Lt. David Holl, Sergeant Kenneth Condran, Detective Gregory Day and Police Officer Tom E. Pavone
-Lower Paxton Township, including Lt. David Johnson, Corporal Timothy J. Hicks, Detectives Joseph Allegrini, Gary Flythe and Gordow Goodrow and Police Officers Thomas Bell and Walter Cook
-Lower Swatara Township, including Sergeant Scott Young
-Pennbrook Borough, including Police Officer Brant Maley
-Susquehanna Township, including Lieutenants Brian Lengel and Richard Paspucka, Sergeant Brian Tienter, Corporal Richard Adams, Detective James Heilig and Police Officers Andrew Somma, Eric Nelson, Jason Reber and Jill Rowe
-Swatara Township, including Sergeant Donald Brink, Detective Darrell Reider, Police Officers Dennis Krahling, Michael Bowser and John Schmoyer
-Paramedics, including University Emergency Medical Services Paramedics Tom Wengert and Edgar Berhimer and Chambers Hill Emergency Medical Service Paramedic John Shambo
For their invaluable assistance provided to the City of Harrisburg in response to critical incidents, dangerous arrests, warrant searches and suspect negotiations throughout the year and especially during March 2007 to March 2008.
• To the Special Operations Unit, including Detectives David A. Lau, Donald E. Heffner, II, John A. O’Connor and Christopher Krokos for exemplary and extensive investigation into a series of robberies, utilizing victim interviews and statements, which resulted in the recovery of stolen property and the subsequent confession by the sole suspect on September 2, 2007.
• To the First Platoon, including Lt. Annette L. Books, Sgt. Colin Cleary and Patrol Officers Jon R. Fustine, Chad A. Sunday, Robert J. Yost, Jeffrey J. Cook, Kirk E. Aldrich, Gina M. Pupo, Teresa K. Covey, Garrett R. Miller, Robert J. Minnier, Atah H. Akakpo-Martin, Joshua D. Hammer and Craig D. Canfield for excellent team work to locate a suspect who severely cut a victim’s throat and quickly fled the scene but was apprehended a short time later under the Mulberry Street Bridge on January 22, 2008.
• To the Community Policing/Probation Power Shift Unit, including Corporal Deric E. Moody and Police Officers James T. Galkowski, Milo G. Hooper, Tyron E. Meik & K-9 Zeus, Quinten E. Kennedy, Dauphin County Adult Probation Officers Danny McIntyre, Gretchen Anderson, Timothy Kinsinger, Chad McConnell, Jason Groff, Christopher Burnell, Larry Muza and Travis Banning and Juvenile Probation Officers Brandon Bellinger, Ann-Marie Christian, Aaron Harvey and Andy Paul for exemplary partnership between the Harrisburg Police Bureau and the Dauphin County Probation Office which resulted in 600 arrests, and the seizure of over $25,000 in cash and drugs valued at $50,000 during 2007 while also instituting nearly 2,100 visits with parolees.
Letter of Commendation
• To Detective David A. Lau for keen observational skills which led to the quick identification and subsequent arrest of two suspects who were involved in an armed robbery in the 1800 Block of Apricot Street on July 16, 2007.
• To Detective Christopher Krokos for diligent work to identify and arrest four suspects involved in a stabbing and robbery that occurred in the 1300 Block of Market Street on February 7, 2008.
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