APRIL
23, 2008
The
following is a list of awards and recipients that were honored at the 12th
Over a two day period in
June of 2007 Officers were dispatched to multiple reports of graffiti spray
painted on city businesses, structures and at the G. Ray Bodley High School.
These incidents took place during the overnight hours, and at all of the
locations the same markings "UTS" were observed. When he was informed
of the crimes, Officer Victor Kaufman remembered talking with two people on the
midnight shift in the area of the High School. Kaufman spoke to them briefly and
sent them on there way, unaware of the graffiti they had just painted on the
school. The following day School Resource Officer Steve Lunn was made aware of
the Graffiti. He reviewed the Schools surveillance camera’s where observed two
suspects running from the area. Officer Lunn Began doing numerous interviews at
the High School where he found information that a group of young men had formed
a "gang" they had named "UTS". Officer Michael Curtis got
involved with the investigation, leading the search of one of the suspects
residences, where evidence of the crimes was located. Curtis interviewed both
suspects who admitted to their involvement. Both suspects were charged with
numerous counts of making Graffiti and felony Criminal Mischief. Thanks to the
proactive police work of Officer Victor Kaufman, as well as the aggressive
follow up work by both Officer Steve Lunn and Officer Michael Curtis members of
this minor street gang that had defaced multiple structures in the City were
identified, and charged. Further as a result of his investigation, the "UTS"
gang was no more. For their roles in this investigation we present the Honorable
Service award to Officer Steve Lunn, Officer Michael Curtis and Officer Victor
Kaufman.
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Last year on
valentines day a snow plow operator discovered a burglary at the Windstream
service Garage. Officers found approximately $1100.00 worth of telephone cable
was stolen, but there was little evidence to go on. Officer Kevin Brown took up
the case and contacted all the area scrap yards. His initiative paid off when
later that day, Mark Clement, an employee of Roth Steel in
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Firefighter Michael Tetro
was at the
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When Fulton Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team Leader retired, firefighter
Lt. Aaron Howard stepped up to fill this demanding position. Soon after he went
to work directing his efforts toward getting the NYS Office of Fire Prevention
and Control more involved with the training at the
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For many years now the
Fulton Police Department has been helping to educate the youth of our community
about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse through the DARE program. As with
many programs funding for this is limited. Fortunatly their are many people and
organizations in our community who are willing to help make this program
successful.
At this time we would
like to thank and honor those people who have helped support the Police
Department’s DARE program over the years by presenting them with the
Distinguished Volunteer Service award. Representing Price Chopper Dave
Annicharico, Representing the
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The
Fulton Police Department is often the recipient of several traffic safety grants
that are awarded annually. One officer alone is tasked with applying for and
managing these grants and specific traffic safety patrols that are worked by
officers. Several traffic safety awards presented to the department over the
last few years are a direct result of this officers hard work. These awards
include multiple AAA traffic safety awards, a second place finish in the
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On June 30, 2007
two people came to the Police Department and reported to Officer Micheal Curtis
that they were assaulted and robbed at knife point by three males in a parking
lot downtown. During the attack they were punched, kicked and threatened with a
pocket knife. Further some property was stolen from one of the victims during
the assault. One victim recognized one of his attackers and was able to give his
name. Officer Curtis learned that the night of the Robbery Officer Victor
Kaufman had a run in with 3 suspicious males walking in this same area. Kaufman
came through by obtaining the names and addresses of these 3 males before
sending them on their way. This information lead to the identification of all
the suspects involved. Officer Charles Burlingham and Investigator Ralph
"Skip" McCann got involved with the investigation and were able to
obtain confessions from all of the parties involved Through this team effort 3
violent criminals who posed a major threat to the community were taken off the
street.
For his active role in
the coordination of this investigation, into such a serious crime in our
community, we recognize Officer Michael Curtis with the Grand Cordon,
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Last year allegations of
a serious crime were reported to the Police Department. The victim didn't have a
name for the suspect, but they were able to describe the suspect well enough so
that a composite sketch was done. An intensive investigation was started by
Investigator Ralph "Skip" McCann, who focused on finding this unknown
suspect. As time went by some of the victims story started to unravel, and it
appeared that they may have been less than truthful, but with no suspect little
could be done. Several months later while investigating an unrelated case.
Investigator McCann happened to look through the picture window of a house,
where he saw a man standing. Inv. McCann said that he knew immediately, that
this was his suspect from the complaint months before as he looked just like the
sketch. The man was questioned and sure enough identified as the person the
Police sought. However after extensive interview of both the alleged suspect and
then again of the victim it, became clear, that the victim had fabricated most
of his story and was later charged accordingly. For his hard work and diligence
in this case which resulted in the arrest of one person and the exoneration of
another, we present Sergeant Ralph McCann with the Honorable Service Award.
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One
evening in mid-May Juan Vargas was working at the
For his quick thinking
under potentially life threatening conditions we are pleased to present the
Civilian Service award to Juan Vargus, here to accept on his behalf is his
sister in-law Candy Ledger, and for their quick, decisive response, which was
instrumental in the speedy resolution of this complaint, we are pleased to
present Officers Kevin Brown, Rick Hahn and Victor Kaufman with a unit citation.
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Around the Police
Department when things break down this Officer is the "go to" guy. He
has been dubbed "Macgyver" by many of the people around the PD because
he can fix just about anything with a pencil and a paper clip. Recently he was
instrumental in installing the new closed circuit TV system around the police
department, and when the Departments firing range which is nearly 40 years old,
breaks down as it often does, this officer somehow finds a way to get this
valuable resource back up and running. In appreciation for all of his hard work
and dedication to not only the Police Department but to the City of
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Last January Sergeant
David Ludington responded to a reported domestic dispute. Anytime that an
officer goes to a domestic dispute call they know things can go bad at any
second. While Ludington was speaking to one of the people involved he became
very upset and threw his cigarette intentionally striking Ludington. When
Ludington attempted to grab the male to place him under arrest, the man
intentionally jammed his finger into Ludington’s eye. A struggle ensued during
which Ludington struck his head causing a gash that required 20 stitches to
close. Eventually additional officers arrived and the male was taken into
custody. Even with the injuries he sustained to his head and eye Ludington
maintained control of the suspect until help could arrive. For his actions we
honor Sergeant David Ludington with the Gallantry Star.
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When
a firefighter is actively engaged in fire suppression, its physically
exhausting. Between the physical demands and the intense heat firefighters
quickly become dehydrated. In the past during fire emergencies, the need to keep
firefighters hydrated and in the fight is paramount. On many of these occasions
the
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During the Spring of 2007
members of the Criminal Investigations Division received information that a city
resident was involved in the sale of cocaine. Over the course of several weeks
Lt. Jeffrey Kinney, Sergeant Ralph McCann and Investigator Michael Batstone
worked on gathering information about this possible drug activity. They
eventually applied for two separate search warrants which resulted in the arrest
of three separate individuals on multiple drug charges. This investigation also
lead to the seizure of a vehicle and over $14,000.00 in cash. For their hard
work in combating drugs in our community we present Lt. Jeff Kinney, Sergeant
Ralph McCann and Investigator Michael Batstone with the Drug Buster award.
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In October of last year a
residential burglary was interrupted in the town of
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In May last year
Andrew Schreiner, Randy Johnson, Patrick Hoffa and Shane Morrill were fishing
from their boat in the river North of Lock 3, when they heard someone yelling
for help. They quickly responded finding a man in the river clinging to the
damn. They were able to throw the man a life ring and pull him to the safety of
their boat. Once in the boat the man stated he had been fishing with his cousin
when they were swept away in the river. Andrew, Randy, Patrick and Shane dropped
the man off on shore where 911 was called. They then went back out to look for a
second victim. Fortunately the second victim had made it to shore on their own.
For their quick response in this life threatening situation, we present the life
saving award to Andrew Schreiner, Randy Johnson, Patrick Hoffa and Shane Morill.
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Last February, It
was a typical day in
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Back in July during the
midnight shift when most of us were asleep, Officer Victor Kaufman was on
routine patrol. He was driving by the
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This next award is quite
special. After nearly 11 years of making sure that Police Officers and
firefighters are recognized for their outstanding efforts we now have the
opportunity to recognize the truly extraordinary efforts Chief Mark Spawn.
Beginning with his appointment as the youngest Chief in the history of the
department in 1997, Mark set the bar high. He quickly went to work and in 1998
and primarily through his efforts the department became an accredited agency
through the Department of Criminal Justice Services. In 2000 he was honored at
the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial as an Officer of the Month. He
developed a technique for lifting fingerprints at fire scenes that he was
published on and is currently taught at the fire academy. Through out his career
he was devoted to traffic safety in the City of
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Last November a resident
at Fulton
Mill Apartments was just parking her car in the lot when a man yanked open her
car door and started pushing his way into the car. Meanwhile up on the fourth
floor,
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Last summer Officer Lucas
Hollenbeck was dispatched to a missing person complaint. When he arrived he
learned that the missing person was depressed and had threatened suicide.
Information was gathered including the missing persons cell phone number. With
little to go on Officer Hollenbeck reached out to the cell phone provider and
with technology available to them, they were able to get a general location for
the missing person outside our county. Agencies in that area were notified and
the missing person was found a short time later. Due to his quick thinking and
knowledge of today's technologies Officer Hollenbeck was able to prevent a
potentially tragic incident. To Officer Lucas Hollenbeck we present the
Meritorious Service award.
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For years the Fulton
Police Department has sponsored an annual Bike Rodeo which enjoyed minimal
attendance. In 2006 David Canfield representing the Youth Advocacy Program (YAP)
approached the Department and asked if they could help sponsor our Rodeo using
funds from a grant they obtained, the department said yes and a great
partnership was formed. Since then our simple little bike rodeo has grown.
Several community groups and business also got on board and with Bicycle Safety
as its theme it now includes informational booths, air rides, live music, and
food. Last years event drew an estimated 800 people. For their support and
assistance that has turned the Bike rodeo into the event it is today we present
the Distinguished Volunteer Service award to YAP represented today by David
Canfield. Further for their assistance in the planning and organization of the
Bike Rodeo we would like to present Commendations to those community groups, and
businesses that helped make the 2007 Bicycle Rodeo a huge success:
Representing the Child
Representing A. Lee Memorial Hospital Tammie Browne
Representing
Representing the
Representing Oswego County Health Department, Diane Oldenburg
Representing Doyles Bike Shop Tracy Doyle
Representing the
Representing the
Representing Menter Ambulance Service Jim Menter
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Back in August last
year Sandra Bergman was home on
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In October of 2003
a burglary was reported in the city. With little to go on, the case was turned
over to the Criminal Investigation Division. Various Investigators worked on the
case coming up with several leads that came to dead ends. In July of 2005
Investigator Michael Batstone took up this now "cold case". Mike
followed up on some of the leads that were developed earlier in the case. This
follow up work lead to two suspects. It took some time to locate the two men who
Ironically were now both in jail on unrelated charges. Batstone traveled to a
jail up near the Canadian boarder, where he interviewed and obtained a
confession from one of the suspects. Both suspects were eventually charged in
November of 2007 just weeks before the statute of limitations would have
expired. For Investigator Michael Batstone’s relentless investigation into
this "cold case" he is presented with the Honorable Service Award.
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In September
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Last December 1st at
about 3:00 AM it was bitterly cold winter night. Officer Jeffrey Margrey was on
patrol when he saw a man walking down the road carrying something. Officer
Margrey decided to stop and talk to the guy, and as he pulled up the man
dropped, what turned out to be a Stolen TV, and he started running. Officer
Margrey jumped out of his car and ran after him. Soon after the chase began
Officer Margrey slipped and fell on the ice not once but twice . After he went
down the second time he got up and noticed a man had stopped and was getting out
of his car. Daniel Falanga was driving by when he saw Officer Margrey chasing
someone on foot. When he saw Officer Margrey go down, he stopped his car jumped
out and started chasing the suspect, without even considering the potential
danger to himself. Unfortunately the suspect got away. After, when he was asked
why he got involved, Mr. Falanga stated " I saw you fall and figured you
needed some Help". When those occasions occur that a police officer is in
need of assistance its nice to know there are people out there like Mr. Falanga.
For his assistance in the attempted apprehension of a fleeing suspect,
we proudly present Daniel Falanga with the Civilian Service Award.
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Last summer the Fulton
Police Department developed information regarding the sale of cocaine in and
around the City. Lt. Jeffrey Kinney, Sgt. Ralph McCann, Investigator Michael
Batstone and Investigator Craig Westbrook began an intense investigation and
eventually a search warrant was executed at a residence just outside the City of
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Last Halloween was very
scary for the Traficante family, especially Joseph. He was home when he started
having difficulty breathing, so a call was made to 911. Suddenly Joseph stopped
breathing and by the time the
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Often times a crime is
committed and there is little for police to go on. In this case in May of 2007 a
larceny was committed at Price Chopper here in the City of
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FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR
Throughout the past nine
years this individual has demonstrated his abilities as firefighter and his
desire to serve this community. Even when he is off duty he is always ready when
the alarm sounds, and regularly responds to emergency calls before the request
for off duty personnel is dispatched. In addition to the tasks associated with
fire suppression, firefighters deal with many other emergency situations such as
hazardous materials spills or leaks, vehicle accidents, water rescues, and
medical emergencies to name a few. With this diversity of response situations it
can be difficult to stay current in all aspects necessary to accomplish the
mission of the fire department. Although firefighters must strive to do this,
individuals will have areas in which they excel. Along with his regular duties,
this firefighter has been actively involved with the Fire Cause & Origin
team. During his tenure with the department he has consistently developed his
skills in this area. One could say that this field is his mission. The fire
department, and other cause and origin team members, can depend on his presence
during these investigations. Gaining recognition is not necessarily due to any
specific event during a given year. Active participation, continued
determination, and an individual’s demeanor towards ones mission can result in
quality service to a community and public recognition. And so it is with this
firefighter. He has proven to be an asset to the fire department and the City of
Fulton. We look forward to his continued involvement and growth. In recognition for
his continuing efforts for the fire department and the City of
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POLICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR
Our Police Officer of the
Year was selected for his dedication, commitment and love for his job. A
self-motivated and ambitious officer, you have already seen him receive awards
tonight for his exemplary actions and willingness to be a leader. This officer
is a man who truly does lead by example. When someone needs to take the lead on
a case this officer steps up without hesitation, doing all that is necessary to
bring the case to a successful conclusion. Our officer of the year is also a
Field Training officer, guiding many of the department’s new recruits into
successful careers. His patience and demeanor make him an excellent trainer and
a role model for new police officers. His experiences both as a patrol officer
and most recently as an investigator, make him a well rounded police officer who
has been a leader within the department, and will continue to lead our next
generation of police officers well into the future. Our Police Officer of the
Year is a man who is respected by both the officers he works with and the
community he serves. It is with great pride we present the 2007 Police Officer
of the Year award to Investigator Michael Curtis!
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An
attendance program for the Fire and Police Departments recognizes those
employees who have completed two consecutive years of service without an
absence. Tonight, we recognize the following employees for accomplishing just
that:
Firefighter Edward Kasperek
Firefighter Robert Summerville
Firefighter Michael Tetro
Firefighter Christopher Caza
Lt. Aaron Howard
Captain Michael Burke
Chief Mark Spawn (retired)
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In a special Fitness Challenge last year, employees were tasked to meet certain physical standards. For those who rated among the "best of the best" we recognize tonight with the Triumphant Award:
Deputy Chief Thomas Abelgore
Lt. William Clark
Officer Brian Dumas
Officer Rick Hahn
We also want to present certificates to others who also participated in the program:
Chief Mark Spawn - Certificate of Excellence
Lt. Jason Delano - Certificate of Excellence
Lt. Tim Dievendorf- Certificate of Participation
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