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L-R: New Canaan Police Capt. John DiFederico, Officer Stephen Tam, Pat Wood and her daughters with the late New Canaan Police Lt. Stephen W. Wood, Kim and Kelly, and two of his grandchildren, during a June 27, 2017 ceremony at Lapham Community Center. Tam received the Lt. Stephen W. Wood Memorial Officer of the Year Award. During the citation, DiFederico said: "This award holds a special place for all of us that worked with Woody. Woody was a member of our department for over 30 years and he made a lasting impact. He retired in 2009 and we lost him all too soon, but his impact is still felt every day, from those of us that worked with him and his family members. We were fortunate to work with him. In 2013, we felt it was important to memorialize that impact and we created this award. The criteria for this award is that the person has to be nominated by a supervisor in the police department. It is not necessarily for an act of heroism but more or less for an overall body of work of an officer over a given year: self-initiated activity, community service, community relations, professionalism, appearance, their drive, their investigative work. It could be a number of things. This year we received several nominations. A few weeks ago, we put a committee together, the chief, both captains, a sergeant and a patrol officer and all we all unanimously agreed that this year, Stephen Tam fit the mold of Woody to a tee. Those of you that know Woody and worked with Woody, I think you would all agree with that. Stephen Tam was nominated by Sgt. Kevin Casey, who is here today. His nomination and selection for this award is the result of his self-initiative, his service to the New Canaan community, his integrity and his selfless service to our department. Stephen was hired in Janary of 2014 and in just a few years he has made a significant impact to our community. In 2016, Stephen made 485 motor vehicle stops and from all those stops he has made 21 narcotics arrests and three DWI arrests. The 21 narcotics arrests are the most in the department, I think even surpassing Apollo our K9 dog. Officer Tam also excelled in his investigative work. For a rookie officer, he really took charge of some investigations and really did an excellent job, from a stolen check case where the financial loss was in excess of $30,000. We had some citizens that were selling some things online and three suspects came to New Canaan, and ran off with the items without paying. And Stephen and the rest of his shift worked hard and took those two people into custody within a few short hours. Stephen also assisted in a missing person case, pinging the person’s cellphone and it was a juvenile and that person was quickly and safely recovered and returned to his family. More than that, though, Stephen takes time to develop his craft, develop his professionalism and does a lot of this on his own time. He’s very up-to-date on patrol tactics. He’s a member of our [Special Response Team] and he does a lot on his own and brings a lot of that back. So in a few short years, he has become an informal leader in our department and a trainer. And he trains some of our more seasoned and veteran officers who is just a credit to who he is and what he brings. Stephen has truly dedicated himself to the profession and without question is somebody that Woody would have admired.” Credit: Michael Dinan
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L-R: New Canaan Police Capt. Andrew Walsh, Tom Dubin and Capt. John DiFederico during a June 27, 2017 ceremony at Lapham Community Center. Dubin received a Medical Service Award (for lifesaving). During the citation, Walsh said: "It is my pleasure to be able to present this award to a courageous citizen who showed gallant disregard for his own safety in order to save the life of a stranger whose life was in peril … Today we will be issuing the New Canaan Police Department Civilian Service Award to Thomas Dubin, a resident of the town of Wilton for his actions on an evening in May 2017. On that date, the New Canaan Police Department responded to an intersection in town on a report of a motor vehicle accident, in which the vehicle struck a tree, was on fire and the driver was unconscious. I will now read the award nomination, provided by that night’s on-duty patrol supervisor, Sgt. Kevin Casey: … [Dubin pulled the motorist] to the ground, a safe distance from the burning vehicle. The fire, which started toward the front bumper, was not partially engulfing the passenger cabin of the vehicle. We learned that Thomas Dubin had pulled the driver from the burning car prior to our arrival. It was clear that Mr. Dubin’s actions saved the life of that driver. By the time Officer Gibson and I arrived on scene, the car was burning to a point that we may not have been able to get the driver out of the vehicle. He surely would have been severely burned by that point.” Credit: Michael Dinan
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L-R: New Canaan Police Chief Leon Krolikowski, Tom Brown, Patrick Mainolfi and Capt. John DiFederico during a June 27, 2017 ceremony at which the NCHS workers received a Medical Service (Lifesaving) Award from NCPD. During the award citation, Krolikowski said: " I’ll tell you a little bit about what these gentlemen did. They are employed at New Canaan High School and on April 20, 2017, a student began choking on a bottle cap. Tom Brown and Patrick Mainfoli made contact with the student who was having a life-threatening medical emergency. The student was on the verge of passing out when these two men took turns performing the Heimlich maneuver. With their constant efforts, the bottle cap became dislodged. Tom and Patrick, without a doubt, saved the student’s life. You both are commended for your actions.” Credit: Michael Dinan
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L-R: New Canaan Police Capt. John DiFederico, Officers Sebastian Obando, Will Sheehan and Shane Gibson, and Lt. Aaron LaTourette, during a June 27, 2017 ceremony at Lapham Community Center. The officers received a Medical Service Award (for lifesaving). During the citation, DiFederico said: "Earlier this year, these officers responded to a medical call, again of an unresponsive patient. The call came right around 11 p.m. which is shift change for us, so the 3 to 11 [p.m.] shift is going off-shift and the 11 [p.m.] to 7 [a.m.] shift was coming on. Officer Gibson and Officer Obando were working the 3-to-11 shift, they responded to the scene, as well as Officer Sheehan and Lt. LaTourette from the night shift, in the 11-to-7 shift, responding to the residence quickly, and Officer Connolly who is not here today, was the dispatcher and while these officers were responding, he relayed critical information to them, basically informing them that this patient was down on the ground, not breathing, very, very difficult breathing and turning blue. So upon arrival the officers found the patient lying on the floor and again turning blue, sporadic breaths and immediately the officers went into providing medical care. It was determined that the patient had been using heroin and just prior to going unconscious, the patient’s eyes rolled back in his head. This patient was virtually on death’s doorstep. Officer Gibson administered Narcan while the officers began rescue breathing and in a very short amount of time, the patient’s heart rate came back, his color came back and he started breathing again. The patient sat up shortly after that and asked what happened, started asking questions. After moments from being on death’s doorstep, this patient was able to stand up and walk out to the ambulance that was waiting for him, based solely on the actions of these officers here. These officers, without question, saved that person’s life that night. Their immediate response, their quick professionalism and dedicated teamwork saved a life and we are grateful to have them and all our officers here.”
