South Windsor Police Hold Award Ceremony

The following was provided by the South Windsor Police Department

On Wednesday, May 29 the South Windsor Police Department hosted an awards ceremony at the Mill on the River restaurant.

The ceremony recognized numerous employees for specific acts and accomplishments, and all departmental employees for their day-to-day duties serving this community.

A list of employees who were recognized and a description of their specific accomplishments follows:

Promotion

Sergeant Glenn M. Buonanducci (March 18, 2012)

Lifesaving Award John Fitch Boulevard/Governors Hwy.

Officer Timothy Hankard
Officer Kyle LaPorte
Community Service Officer Robin Bond

Summary: In recognition of their efforts on September 12, 2011, in which their actions contributed to saving the life of a 50-year old female. They responded to a call regarding an unresponsive female in her vehicle at the intersection of John Fitch Boulevard and Governor’s Highway. Officer LaPorte found the victim unconscious behind the wheel of her vehicle. Recognizing the signs of ineffective breathing and a possible airway obstruction, he immediately removed the victim from her vehicle and placed her on the ground. Officer Hankard retrieved the medical supplies and Officer LaPorte inserted an oralpharangele airway (OPA) into the victim. It was determined that she had no pulse. Officer LaPorte and Community Service Officer Bond began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). An automated external defibrillator (AED) was attached, but no shock was advised. While CPR was being administered, the woman regained a gag reflex and Officer LaPorte removed the OPA. The woman was still not breathing effectively. Officer Hankard administered a jaw thrust maneuver while Officer LaPorte continued to provide ventilations. During this time, South Windsor Ambulance and the Ambulance Service of Manchester arrived on the scene. While they assisted EMS personnel, the woman began to regain responsiveness and was subsequently transported to Hartford Hospital, where it was determined that she had suffered an aneurism.

Lifesaving Award Nomad’s Adventure Quest

Agent Michael Russotto
Officer Timothy Hankard

Summary: In recognition of their lifesaving efforts during a medical assist at Nomad’s Adventure Quest. On Dec. 5, 2012, you responded to a call that a 54-year old male was suffering a seizure. Officer Hankard was first to arrive on the scene and made the decision to take his automated external defibrillator (AED) into the building with him. During his assessment of the victim, he found no visible signs of life, so he began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and rescue breathing. With the assistance of bystanders, the AED was connected and a shock was advised. After administering one shock, no pulse or respirations were detected, and CPR was continued. Agent Russotto arrived on the scene and immediately began providing ventilations. Another check of the victim indicated that he had a pulse and was attempting to breathe on his own. He was then transported to Hartford Hospital by the South Windsor Ambulance Corps with Ambulance Service of Manchester paramedics on board. It was later determined that the man had suffered a heart attack.

Chief’s Award Special Olympics Fundraising

Agent Ronald Littell

Summary: In recognition of his tireless and extraordinary efforts on behalf of the Connecticut Special Olympics. Littell have been an advocate for the Special Olympic athletes for many years, spearheading fundraising efforts in South Windsor, including the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run, Tip-a-Cop, Cop-on-Top, the Penguin Plunge and the Haunted Torch Walk. Throughout the years, he has raised more than $186,000. His fundraising efforts secured the top spot out of all law enforcement agencies for 2011 and 2012.

Physical Fitness Award Half Marathon

Sergeant Kristian Lindstrom
Sergeant Glenn Buonanducci
CSO/Dispatcher Rachel Buonanducci

Summary: In recognition of their participation in a half marathon in Quincy, Massachusetts, on 18 March 2012. They joined with more than 1400 runners competing in this 13.1 mile race which followed a route along the beautiful coastline but presented them with some tough headwinds and some steep hills.

Physical Fitness Award Go Ruck Challenge

Sergeant Glenn Buonanducci

Summary: In recognition of his participation in two “Go Ruck Challenges” within one year. These demanding physical challenges required that he travel approximately 26 miles while carrying 75 pound ruck sacks. During this time, other tasks, such as carrying logs, carrying other participants, and participating in calisthenics were required of him.

Physical Fitness Award Triathlon Events

Sergeant Michael Dobler

Summary: In recognition of his athletic achievements in completing numerous triathlon events since 2011, including a half-Ironman event in 2012 and a full-Ironman event in May 2013. You began the most recent triathlon event – the full Ironman – with a 2.4 mile swim in Lake Woodlands, followed by a 112-mile bike course through the scenic, rolling farmlands of east Texas, and ending with a challenging 26.2 mile run. He finished this grueling event in 16 hours and 22 minutes.

Certificate of Commendation Suicide Investigation

Officer Timothy Hankard
Officer Joseph Futtner

Summary: On 10 April 2012, they were called upon to check the welfare of a woman who had sent an email to a coworker indicating that she would be dead by the time the email was read. They found the residence secure with no indication of forced entry and were subsequently allowed entrance by the woman’s husband, where additional notes were found indicating a possible suicide. You requested a “ping” of the cellular phone and began to gather information on the woman’s daily habits and her current situation. The information obtained placed the victim in a specific area of Manchester. Additional South Windsor officers, together with Manchester police officers, joined the search. The victim was located in a Manchester motel room and was in a semi-conscious state. It was determined that she had overdosed on prescription medications, and she was transported to the Hartford Hospital, where her pulse was as slow as 10 beats per minute

Certificate of Commendation Emergency Medical Dispatch

Lieutenant Timothy Edwards

Summary: On March 2, 2013, while he was serving in the Communications Center, Lt. Edwards received a call from a woman reporting that her 40-year old husband had suffered a seizure or a possible heart attack. He was able to ascertain from the distraught woman that the victim was unresponsive, turning blue and had blood in his mouth. He calmly provided her with instructions for correct positioning and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). He also asked that she place the phone at the victim’s mouth so that you might listen for signs of breathing. The man regained consciousness as police officers arrived on the scene and took over patient care.

Certificate of Community Service

Joann Moriarty, Coordinator for Youth and Family Services

Summary: In recognition of her efficient and cooperative efforts to work together with our agency on multiple projects which have brought credit to not only Youth and Family Services and the Town of South Windsor, but to the South Windsor Police Department as well. Your work with the South Windsor Police Department began with Officer Hankard and Sergeant Lindstrom six years ago when they served as School Resource Officers. She worked with both of these SROs on issues that were non-law enforcement and she co-chaired the Broken Dreams program with Officer Hankard in both 2006 and 2008.

In 2007, as a representative for the South Windsor Alliance for Families (SWAFF), she worked closely with Sgt. Buonanducci to draft multiple youth and police grant applications. Because of this teamwork, the Town was awarded $30,000 over a 3-year period to be used on activities relating to positive police interactions with children.

Throughout the years, she has continued to work with our department and she has been instrumental in a variety of projects, including the Cops vs. Kids Dodgeball Tournament benefiting the SW Food and Fuel Bank, the Juvenile Review Board, the Summer Youth Academies, Operation Graduation, the Broken Dreams Program, and the Bundles of Love Program. Many of these activities have required that she work past her scheduled hours or adjust her personal schedule so that she might assist officers whose schedules differed from her own – all the while doing so with a positive attitude and a smile.

Honorable Mentions

Lieutenant Timothy Edwards – Communications Renovations Project
Officer Kevin Geraci – Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)
Officer Stephen Hoover - 2012 MADD Award Recipients
Officer Kevin Geraci
Officer Stephen Hoover - 2013 MADD Award Recipients
Officer Kevin Geraci
Officer Kyle LaPorte Completion of Assignments:
Sergeant Elsie Diaz-Duchesne – Manager, Youth & Victim Services
Agent Michael Prescher – Investigator
Officer David Gesualdi - Investigator
Officer Brian Eckblom – Traffic Officer
Officer Caleb Lopez - SRO – Middle School
Officer Charles Bowes – SRO – High School
Officer Christina Mazzoccoli – Canine Handler