Cops Cited For Solving Murders

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by Thomas MacMillan | Sep 9, 2010 7:51 am

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Posted to: City Hall, Legal Writes

Thomas MacMillan Photo Thanks in part to the efforts of a grateful ward co-chair, 34 police officers were officially recognized for their service at City Hall. It may be the beginning of an annual recognition of public safety workers in New Haven.

New Haven police officers, sergeants, and detectives and a Hamden police officer appeared before the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday night to receive official citations for their contributions to four murder arrests in the last six months. Read about those here, here, here, and here.

It was the result of efforts by Greg Smith, co-chair of the Democratic committee in Ward 2, said Downtown Alderwoman Bitsie Clark. She organized the ceremony as a result of his persistent lobbying, she said.

Clark (at right in photo) took the podium in the aldermanic chamber in City Hall on Tuesday evening to praise the officers. She said she was “shocked” by the recent murder in her ward, at the Gotham Citi nightclub on Aug. 14. Then when an arrest was made, she was “joyous,” she said.

The official citations were handed out by the aldermen in the four wards where murders have occurred and suspect’s were arrested in the last six months: downtown’s Clark, the Hill’s Dolores Colon (pictured at top citing Officer Steven Cunningham) and Newhallville’s Katrina Jones and Charles Blango.

Police Chief Frank Limon and Assistant Chief Thomas Wheeler both praised the officers. Although police don’t normally like the limelight, “today they are heroes,” Limon said.

After the ceremony, Clark spoke about how the citation ceremony came about. It was, in part, a response to the recent ceremony honoring the police who helped capture the man who allegedly burglarized the home of Wooster Square Alderman Mike Smart. Clark said she thought the ceremony was “wonderful” but didn’t want people to think, “Gee, you have to save an alderman to get recognition.”

Then she returned from being out of town and heard about the murder at Gotham Citi, in her ward. “To my utter horror, I found that someone had been killed.” Shortly after that, Smith called her up to say that he thought she should arrange a recognition of police, since the murder and arrests were made in her ward. “He felt very strongly that the police should be recognized.”

Smith had already talked to the police department and determined that four murder arrests had been made in the last six months. “Greg was very, very, very sincere,” Clark said. She talked to aldermanic staff and had them organize citations for the officers involved in the four arrests.

Smith said he pushed Clark to organize citations as a way of building public confidence in the police. While many murders have not been solved, several have, and that should be recognized, Smith said. “Why don’t we try to encourage these officers?” The best way to do that is with a public thank you, he said.

Alderwoman Clark said she plans to work with her colleagues to put together an annual or biannual event to honor public safety workers. She said the Board of Alderman used to have an annual dinner for that purpose. She’ll be looking into bringing that back.

Smith offered a similar idea. He suggested the city hold a public ceremony once or twice a year to honor police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and citizens who have contributed to public safety in New Haven.

Smith was in the chamber last night to witness the ceremony. “I was extremely happy,” he said. He said he loved seeing the smiles on the faces of the officers and their families. “That did me proud.”

According to a press release from city spokeswoman Jessica Mayorga, citations were handed out on Tuesday night as follows:

“The following NHPD Patrol officers are being recognized for quick response, professional crime scene location and preservation and effective location of witnesses and possible offenders:
Sgt. David Guliuzza
Ofc. Pedro Colon
Ofc. Christopher Camerron
Ofc. Luis Lopez
Ofc. Ryan Przybylski
Ofc, Christopher Elliott
Ofc. Charles Kim
Ofc. Ann Mays
Ofc. Steven Cunningham
Ofc. Nikki Curry
Ofc. Bobby Jones
Officer Marc DeCarvalho
Officer John Pleckaitis
Ofc. Joseph Ligori (Hamden Police Department)

“The following NHPD Major Crimes Unit members are being recognized for prompt response, attention to detail and conducting professional investigations that have culminated with timely, efficient arrests of suspected murderers:
Sgt. Robert Criscuolo
Sgt. James Grasso
Sgt. Alfonzo Vazquez
Sgt. Otoniel Reyes
Sgt. Rachael Cain
Det. Brett Runlett
Det. Alberto Merced
Det. Elisa Tuozzoli
Det. Christopher Perrone
Det. Michael Wuchek
Det. James Naccarato
Det. Angela Augustine-Daye
Det. Scott Branfuhr
Det. Raghue Tennant
Det. Carlos Maldonado
Det. Bertram Ettienne
Det. Wayne Bullock
Det. David Zaweski
Det. Craig Dixon
Det. Nicole Natale”

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