permalink
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
permalink
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
permalink
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
permalink
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.”
The New Canaan Police Department on Tuesday recognized eight officers and three civilians for outstanding service to the community during a ceremony that also saw the agency’s newest member sworn in by the town clerk.
Town Clerk Claudia Weber (R) swears in New Canaan Police Officer Nicole Vartuli while Chief Leon Krolikowski stands by, during a ceremony at Lapham Community Center on June 27, 2017. Credit: Michael Dinan
In addressing Nicole Vartuli, a Stamford native and Westhill High School graduate who is poised for training at the Connecticut Police Academy this year with an expectation that she will undergo field training with NCPD through the early part of 2018, Chief Leon Krolikowski said that “badge you were just issued represents public trust.”
“The public willingly puts this work in your hands and trusts that you will take care of them in the proper manner,” Krolikowski said moments after Vartuli had been sworn in by Town Clerk Claudia Weber. “They do not want this responsibility for themselves. My charge to you today is to do just that: Get it right. We have all heard about the stories of officers who have gotten it wrong. Sadly we rarely hear about the overwhelmingly positive stories of officers who get it right every day. Remember that not everyone will automatically understand what you are doing as a police officer or why you make certain decisions. Realize there will be times when your actions will be the biggest and most important thing that can ever happen in someone’s life. My final charge for you today is to protect your credibility, our department’s credibility, and maintain your honor. Our department and the entire community wish you the best and we are most grateful to have you with us. Welcome to New Canaan. Congratulations.”
He addressed about 100 family members, friends and colleagues of Vartuli and those being honored, who gathered for the hour-long ceremony and subsequent gathering at the town-owned building.
Those in attendance included Selectman Beth Jones and Police Commissioners Stuart Sawabini, chairman, and Sperry DeCew. Krolikowski acknowledged them and also thanked First Selectman Rob Mallozzi and Selectman Nick Williams for their support of the department.
Sgt. Brian Mitchell, the department’s training officer, outlined the rigorous schedule that Vartuli now will undergo, at the academy and then during field training in New Canaan.
Vartuli herself addressed the crowd, thanking Krolikowski, the town, Police Commission and “my friends and family for pushing me 110 percent and I would not want it any other way.”
“I look forward to becoming one of the community while helping individuals and organizations in any way possible,” she said. “Also thank you to my Stamford PD family. At the end of the day, we are all part of the big picture and we are on the journey together, so thank you.
The officers and civilians listed below received individual awards from the department. See photo gallery above for specific citation information:
- Stephen W. Wood Memorial Officer of the Year Award—Officer Stephen Tam
- Civilian Service Award—Tom Dubin
- Civilian Service Award—Tom Brown & Patrick Mainolfi
- Medical Service Award—Lt. Aaron LaTourette, Officers Shane Gibson, Sebastian Obando, Will Sheehan and Bryan Connolly
- Medical Service Award—Sgt. Kevin Casey and Officer Kelly Coughlin
In the case of Dubin, a Wilton man who rescued an unconscious motorist from a burning car, he told those gathered that he came upon the scene unexpectedly while driving his son home from school.
“I just would like to say that it took me the better part of 55 years to do one thing remotely heroic, and I am acutely aware that in this room that there are people who dedicate their lives, who give their whole lives and their careers and on a daily basis do the extraordinary, and that puts this into context for me,” he said.
In receiving the Officer of the Year Award, Tam thanked his family, friends, commissioners, chief and captains.
“I would like to start off by saying how humbled I am to receive this award,” Tam said. “We have so many great officers in this department, and I am grateful to be selected as the officer of the year. My [FTO] field training officer, [then] Sgt. LaTourette has told me many stories about Lt. Stephen Wood and I wish I would have met him. I want to start off by saying ‘thank you’ to my family—my father, my mother and my sister. Without you, I would not be where I am now. You have built me up with high morals, integrity and respect, which I have carried through to my police work.”
Tam also thanked his colleagues on the 3-to-11 p.m. shift.
“It’s going to be Lt. Walsh, Capt. Walsh now, Lt. Ogrinc, Sgt. Casy, Officer Romano, Gulino, Dewey, Gibson, Coughlin, Sheehan, Obando and Blank,” he said. “Thank you for giving me the guidance and teaching me to become a good police officer. I know I could always look up to you guys, and you will always guide me toward the right direction. I once rode with Officer Gulino and he said one thing that has always stuck with me, and that is, ‘We only have each other out here.’ The 3-11 shift as a whole embodies the whole mentality, constantly self-dispatching and backing each other up and with a common goal of going home at night.”
Tam also acknowledged the Special Response Team, saying, “I would not mind going into any hostile environment with any of you guys.”
“Train hard and get after it,” he said.
“Finally, I would like to thank Sgt. LaTourette, my FTO, for teaching me how to become the police officer that I am today. It is becoming increasingly difficult to be an aggressive pursuer of people in today’s society. Often, the public is not aware of the dangers we face and the sadness we see on a daily basis. Right or wrong, our actions are regularly scrutinized and second-guessed by the public and press from the confines of a safe and secure home and office. Being a law officer is a voluntary force. Remember what you signed up for, to protect the Constitution, to protect the town of New Canaan, and the state of Connecticut.”