The Allentown Police Department honored some 80 officers and members of the public at a nearly two hour commendation and awards presentation ceremony and memorial service today at the Scottish Rite Cathedral. The event was held as part of the celebration of National Police Week. The department also honored other residents and businesses for their contributions or donations, elementary school student safety officers and a crossing guard.
Special Agent in Charge / Philadelphia FBI, Edward J. Hanko was the principal speaker.
The event concluded with Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald and Allentown Fraternal Order of Police President Sergeant Timothy Snyder laying a wreath in front of the Scottish Rite Cathedral to honor retired Sergeant William J. Boyle and retired Officer William H. Marsh who died over the past year.
Allentown police officer Stephen James received two commendations for bravery. Other bravery commendations were awarded to Captain Gail Struss, Detective Luiz Garcia and officers Jason Ammary, Joshua Baker, Yamil Castillo, Thurman D’Argenio, Matthew Diehl, Joshua Faust, Todd Haldaman, Ismael Segarra and David Skutches.
Commendations for Heroism were awarded to Allentown police officers Alfred Boccadoro, Christopher Hendricks and Andrew Moll.
Two commendations for merit were awarded to officers Alfred Boccadoro, Joseph Conway, George Heiserman, David Skutches and Scott Snyder. Allentown police officers receiving commendations for merit were: Captain Tony Alsleben, Lieutenant Stephen Vangelo, sergeants Keith Heffner and Paul Sparling; Detective Sergeant Salvatore Aprile, detectives John Buckwalter and Raymond Ferraro; Jason Aduddell, Jason Ammary, Joshua Baker, Joseph Beiner, Brian Best, Shawn Boyle, Brian Brader, Joshua Brubaker, Robert Carbaugh, Talden Cashatt, Yamil Castillo, Thurman D’Argenio, Jack DeWalt, Andrew Fegely, Kyle French, Jacoby Glenny, Todd Haldaman, Andrew Holveck, David Howells III, Stephen James, Cherie Lebert, Nicholas Lerch, Damian Lobach, Michael Mancini, Andrew Moll, Jeremy Moll, Brian Moore, Ronald Schlegel, William Skriletz, Michael Torres, Matthew Vernon, Miguel Villa, Gary Walsh and Scott Walz.
Commendations for Achievement were awarded to sergeants Eric Brenner and Edward Fitzsimmons; officers Michael Beidelman, Alexander Boehm, Patrick Bull, Yamil Castillo, Thurman D’Argenio, Joshua Faust, Christopher Hendricks, Andrew Moll, Michael Popovich, Richard Seltzer, William Skriletz, David Skutches and Michael Vernotica and Para-Police Maria Chinchilla.
Chief’s Awards were bestowed on Detective Sergeant Glenn Granitz Jr., detectives Neil Battoni, Luiz Garcia, Christopher McCarty, Michael Williams and William Williams; and officers Anthony Bowland, Shawn Boyle, Matthew Geake, Christopher Hendricks, Craig Koppel, Jose Lebron, Jeremy Moll, John Perez and Suzanne Toth.
Certificates of Merit were also presented to Bethlehem Police Detective Chad Wasserman, Whitehall Township Police Detective Jeffrey Bruchak, South Whitehall Township Police Officer Kyle Golden and South Whitehall Township K-9 Cirrus.
Civilians honored were Grady McCloe, Ted Silbert, Mildred Quiles and Esther Figueroa.
The department also recognized contributions made by Mountainville #30 Crime Watch, Allentown Presidents’ Council, Seventh Street Allentown Community Organization, PPL Corporate Security, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, Envision Lehigh Valley, RLB Accountants, Lehigh Valley Kennel Club, Indian American Association of Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley CART, Packaging Corporation of America, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown AARP Chapter No. 5415, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local No. 375, Garcia Photographers, Dr. Michelle Meyer, Dr. Timothy Schwab, Beverly Bradley, Reverend Daniel Blount, Mary Miller, Helen Steedle, Susan Pickens and Beauregard .
Twelve students were honored as School Safety Patrol of the Year award winners. They are: Kathiusca Vega of Central Elementary, Jay Torres of Cleveland Elementary, Jamie Lopez of Hiram Dodd Elementary, Leah Moll of Jefferson Elementary, Joal Febres-Roman of Lehigh Parkway Elementary, Ndia Escobales of Mosser Elementary, Valerie Bofill of Muhlenberg Elementary, Jaime Sorto of Luis A. Ramos Elementary, George Mamary of Ritter Elementary, Ameer Davis of Roosevelt Elementary, Stephanie Bautista-Gonzalez of Sheridan Elementary and Zung Len Par of Union Terrace Elementary.
Daryl Romig was named the Crossing Guard of the Year.
Information Provided By:
Mike Moore
Communications Manager
Mayor’s Office
435 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
610.437.7653
Fax: 610-437-8730
Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
