PCAC March Meritorious Service Awards Meeting
| Police Commissioners Association of Connecticut Meritorious Service Awards Dinner Meeting March 30, 2011 Zandri’s Stillwater Inn Speaker: Dr. Robert Trestman, Chief Psychiatrist for the CT Department of Corrections. Honorees: We honored Officer Christopher Broems from the Samford Police Department, Detective Ronald Onofrio from the North Branford Police Department, and Detective Frank Bellizzi from the New Britain Police Department with the Meritorious Service Award. The Police Commissioners Association of Connecticut hosts an annual Meritorious Awards Dinner at which three deserving public safety officers (not limited to police officers only) are presented the Meritorious Service Award for acts that are above the expected actions of professionals serving the public. This year during our March Dinner, Stamford Police Officer Christopher Broems, Detective Ronald Onofrio of North Brandford and Detective Frank Bellizzi of New Britain were honored for their extraordinary work in policing. Officer Broems is credited with saving the life of a young girl who had swallowed an object and was unable to breathe. Officer Broems, while off duty, took the child from a panicked adult male and performed several life saving techniques learned through his training as a Stamford Officer. After several difficult attempts to dislodge the object, Officer Broems was successful. Had he not been able to dislodge the object when he did, serious damage or death was certain to occur due to the length of time the young girl was without oxygen. North Branford Detective Ronald Onofrio was presented the Meritorious Service Award for his lengthy and tireless work with the FBI in solving a string of bank robberies. Detective Onofrio developed and acted on information he was able to obtain and was recognized by the FBI for his extraordinary dedication to a challenging task. As a result, three dangerous persons were arrested and taken off the street. New Britain Detective Frank Bellizzi, while working with the DEA Task Force was responsible for gathering information, determining the accuracy of the information, and acting with the DEA in the confiscation of the largest amount of drugs ever in Manchester, 5 kilograms, and the indictment of 33 drug trafficking criminals that spanned Connecticut and New York City. Detective Bellizzi was nominated by the DEA for the Parade Magazine IACP Police Officer of the Year Award for his work. The seizure of the drugs taken off the street was valued at $4,000,000. Sturm Ruger of Southport, Connecticut has partnered with the PCAC in awarding beautifully engraved SR9 9mm handguns to the top graduates of each of the classes at P.O.S.T. The awards this year went to Wilton Officer Ann Rita Tornello, Monroe Officer Matthew Muccioli and Manchester Officer Gregory T. Kenney. The awarded weapons were presented by Sturm Ruger representatives Randall Pence and Leslie Gaspar. Chief Thomas Flaherty, Director of P.O.S.T. was present to participate in the awards.  2nd VP Willie Pabon of New Britain, President Jill Marcus of Branford and 1st VP, Peter Torrano of Norwalk.  President Jill Marcus opening the Meritorious Awards Dinner with greetings for all.  Commissioner Milton Thomas of Stamford, Chairman of the Nominating Committee and the By-Laws Committee presenting the proposed slate of officers for the PCAC to be voted on by the membership at large. The new slate will take office at the June meeting after being sworn in.  Guest speaker, Doctor Robert Trestman gives a presentation regarding incarcerated persons with mental illnesses. Dr. Trestman is the Psychiatrist for the Department of Corrections and a member of the faculty of UCONN at Storrs. Dr. Trestman’s talk detailed issues that face the Department of Corrections in dealing with and servicing the many people with mental illness who go through the court system and are then incarcerated.  1st VP, Peter Torrano, introducing Sturm Ruger representatives Leslie Gaspar and Randall Pence, along with P.O.S.T. Director Chief Thomas Flaherty. Sturm Ruger donates an engraved SR9, semi-automatic 9mm handgun to the top graduates in each of the classes at P.O.S.T.  Randall Pence and Leslie Gaspar presenting the SR9 engraved Ruger to Anna Rita Tornello of the Wilton PD as Wilton Chief Michael Lombardo and Chief Thomas Flaherty look on.  The top graduates honored at the Meritorious Awards Dinner are: Wilton Officer Anna Rita Tornello, class #328. Monroe Officer Matthew Muccioli, class #329, and Manchester Officer Gregory T. Kenney, class #330. The officers are shown with Chief Thomas Flaherty, P.O.S.T. Director, and PCAC President Jill Marcus and 1st VP Peter Torrano.  Stamford Police Officer Christopher Broems shown being awarded the PCAC Meritorious Award for his actions on November 6, 2010. Officer Broems is credited with saving the life of a young female who had been choking on an object in her throat. In the photo honoring Officer Broems (L-R) are President Jill Marcus, Stamford Chief Robert Nivakoff, 1st VP Peter Torrano, Officer Broems and Stamford Commissioner Milton Thomas.  Detective Ronald Onofrio of the North Branford Police Department is shown being presented with the PCAC Meritorious Service Award. Presenting the award is North Branford Commissioner, Christopher Cozzi. Detective Onofrio was honored for his tireless and professional work with the FBI in solving several bank robberies. To the left of Detective Onofrio is Chief Matthew Canelli, North Branford, and Commissioners John Landolfi and David Palumbo of North Branford.  Detective Frank Bellizzi of New Britain is being presented with the PCAC Meritorious Service Award for his work in cultivating and acting on information that led to the largest drug seizure in the history of Manchester, CT. Presenting the award is New Britain Commissioner Wanik, Chairman of the New Britain Board of Police Commissioners. Along side Commissioner Wanik is New Britain Chief Gagliardi and Commissioner Willie Pabon. |
