The New Rochelle Police Department held its annual Memorial and Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, May 22 at the Greentree Country Club.
“It is a day of celebration where the Department recognizes, thanks and awards active members of the Department who have done exceptional work over the past year,” noted Police Commissioner Joseph Schaller. “It is also a solemn day where the Department remembers and honors those officers of the Department, who are no longer with us; and who, in the course of doing their exceptional work, made the ultimate sacrifice of giving their lives in the performance of their duty. This year a total of 64 officers and supervisors received 132 awards for police actions ranging from lifesaving to successfully concluding challenging homicide investigations. The Department also honored ten officers who, over the history of the Department, gave their lives in the performance of their duty, including Police Officer Kathleen O’Connor-Funigiello and Detective Mark S. Gado, who passed away over the past year from 9/11 related illnesses. We thank all of our officers, those here, and those gone before us, for their service.”
Police Officer of the Year was presented to Police Officer Robert Ferguson and Community Service Officer Loretta Anderson was named Civilian Employee of the Year. A full list is hyperlinked below.
Mayor Noam Bramson also presented an award to three elementary students for their Police Memorial Essays. First place winner Gabrielle Cohen, from Ward Elementary School, read her winning piece.
Recipients of Awards