Tredyffrin Police Name Officer of the Year

The Tredyffrin Police Department named Officer Richard Gasparo the 2014 Police Officer of the Year during its annual Law Enforcement Awards Luncheon at Keene Hall in the municipal complex last week.

Countless letters of recognition and an impressive career since he joined the Tredyffrin department in May 2008 contributed to Gasparo’s selection, according to a statement.

“There are many letters that depict an officer of high caliber, work ethic, and character,” said Police Superintendent Anthony Giaimo. “That officer is Officer Gasparo.”

Officer Gasparo has had many achievements since he began with Tredyffrin Police, the release says. In September 2008, Officer Gasparo completed his Field Training Program. He then became a ‘Class A patrolman’ in May of 2011 and became an official member of the SWAT team in March of this year.

Giaimo highlighted one story that highlighted Gasparo’s dedication to serve the public. In November 2011, Tredyffrin units were dispatched to a residence for an unresponsive young man. Gasparo arrived and immediately began CPR, followed close behind by EMTs.

After several minutes, the victim;s mother asked, ”Is he alive?” The medics shook their head no, but Gasparo kept administering CPR and managed to get a weak pulse. The victim died a few days later at the hospital, but those extra days allowed doctors to prepare him for organ donation. According to the release, three families benefited from those organs.

(Photo: Officer Richard Gasparo (L) and Cpl. Allen Dori.)