Many of the daily calls Rye Police officers respond to sometimes defy belief.
Sergeant Michael Larkin and Officer Mauricio Gomez, for instance, had to respond to a call involving a stranger who had locked himself in the foyer of someone's home.
The man threatened to blow up the home and kill everyone inside. Police eventually were able to apprehend the suspect—after dousing him with pepper spray while he resisted arrest by jabbing the officers with an umbrella.
Officer Susan Rigano saved a man who had gone into cardiac arrest at Resurrection Church, while officers Daniel Camacho and John Hannah responded to a call about an elderly woman who was unresponsive and needed medical attention. Surprisingly, the site of the call was Westchester Medical Group on Theall Road.
These officers and many more were honored for their exceptional performance in handling these incidents during a recognition ceremony at Rye City Hall this week.
Rye Police Commissioner William Connors presented certificates of recognition to officers from the Rye, Harrison and Port Chester police departments for their outstanding work from 2006-2009, some of which involved collaboration between the three departments.
Connors said police officers face harrowing tasks to ensure the public's safety. Their work often goes without recognition even though they risk their lives every day.
"In a cops job, the extraordinary is the ordinary," Connors said. "They do things that most people wouldn't consider doing."
Connors said that police officers ride a constant wave of crisis and calm. Though it's a difficult job, Rye has "a police department that we should all be proud of," he said.
Here is the list of honorees:
Officer Michael Anfuso
Officer Michael Anderson
Officer Edward Balls
Officer Daniel Camacho
Officer Joseph Cancel
Sergeant Scott Craig
Officer Angelina Cyr
Officer Aaron Conetta (Port Chester Police Department)
Officer Drew Conetta (Port Chester Police Department)
Officer Edward Detlefs (Harrison Police Department)
Mauricio Gomez
John Hannah
Christine Incalcatera
Sergeant Michael Larkin
Officer Michael Olsen
Sergeant Susan Rigano
Officer Julio Rossi
Officer Any Spillane
