The officers present at the 2011 Police Awards Ceremony.
By Nancy Peckenham
The bagpipes lead the way as more than a dozen officers in the city of Newburgh Police Department entered city council chambers on Tuesday for the presentation of the 2011 Police Awards.
In a city with the state’s highest crime rates, officers repeatedly respond to reports of criminal activity and their actions are often referred to the rewards committee for special recognition. Chief Michael Ferrara said that awards are handed out for outstanding service. “I’m very much aware of what these officers do every day, even when they think its not recognized,” he told the room filled with family and friends of the officers.
Chief Ferrara presented Officer Wiliam Lahar the Bronze Star for service. Behind him is his brother, Kevin.
Among the many awards and citations for excellent service, Officer William Lahar received the highest award, the Bronze Star. He was also recognized, along with his brother, Officer Kevin Lahar, and five other officers, for meritorious police duty.
An incident in late January when two men were shot and stabbed on Broadway led to several awards to the officers and police dispatcher involved in tracking down the three male suspects who fled in a vehicle. Officer Michael Miller found the vehicle and after stopping it, found a weapon and a quarter pound of marijuana inside. Miller received an award for Excellent Police Duty.
Carlos Melendez Diaz and Emerson Servillon rescued a baby from a burning building in March.
Three citizens were also recognized for their response to emergency situations. Lt. William Rose described how Emerson Servillon and Carlos Melendez Diaz were walking past a house on William Street last March 18th when they saw smoke, climbed a tree and entered the second floor of a house that was on fire. The two men, Rose said, saw a baby on a mattress inside, grabbed her and took her safety. A one-year-old child later died in the blaze that destroyed the building.
Another civilian, Victor Ferreiras, was recognized for phoning in a report of a woman screaming on lower Broadway that led police to interrupt a rape in progress. The officers who spent four hours searching in 10 degree weather for a burglary suspect last winter were also recipients of awards for Excellent Police Duty.
Several of the honored officers were unable to attend Tuesday’s ceremony. Lt. Rose said a half dozen officers were tied up in a new narcotics investigation that demanded their time.
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