Riverhead Police Officer Anthony Montalbano was honored by the Riverhead PBA as 2016 Cop of the Year Friday night during ceremonies at the Suffolk Theater.
“When the awards committee met to go over the awards there was a common theme, one name, one police officer kept coming up,” PBA vice president John Morris said during the presentation on the theater stage. He referenced Montalbano’s actions rescuing a man from a burning home in Riverhead on July 31, disarming a barricaded man within a house on Aug. 25 and disarming and subduing an armed robbery suspect last January.
The PBA, the union representing Riverhead police officers, honored Police Officer Richard Anderson as PBA member of the year.
A large number of officers were recognized Friday night for their actions throughout the year. Honored were:
Police Officer James Lydon, who, like Montalbano, earned a life-saving bar for the July 31 rescue.
Police Officer Daniel Hogan, who earned a life-saving bar for his actions saving a person’s life by placing a tourniquet around his leg after the victim was struck by a train June 21.
Police Officers Charles Silleck, Michael Lombardo, Giuseppe Rosini and Sergeant Jill Kubetz, recognized for their actions in disarming a barricaded subject and obtaining a search warrant that led to the confiscation of several knives and swords from a residence.
Bay Constable James Divan, recognized for locating two people in the water after their canoe overturned on Sept. 11. Police Officers Charles Cichanowicz and Sean Mackie, recognized for their actions in pulling a man who was unable to swim out of the Peconic River on Oct. 1.
Police Officers Sean Evans, Kerri Davis and Michael Kitz, recognized for their actions in the investigation, apprehension and arrest of two robbery suspects on Nov. 6.
Police Officer Richard Von Voight, recognized for his actions leading to the arrest of several subjects for criminal possession of a forged instrument on Dec. 16.
Police Officer John Morris recognized for actions taken during 2013 that resulted in five command recognitions.
Police Officers Michael Lombardo, Eric Lipinsky, Christopher Tam and Detective Dino Isgro, recognized for their actions leading to the Oct. 2 arrest of three subjects who committed several crimes, including grand larceny, possession of forged instruments and identity theft. Police Officers Daniel Hogan, Heller and Loszewski, recognized for their actions giving medical attention to an infant having a medical emergency on Jan. 3.
Police Officers Patrick Lennon, and John Morris, recognized for their actions in locating four subjects who committed a burglary and made graffiti on the interior of a building Jan. 11.
Police Officers Matthew Mudzinzki and John Morris recognized for their actions in arresting a burglary suspect on Jan. 18.
Police Officer Anthony Montalbano, recognized for his actions in arresting a robbery suspect and in the recovery of a BB gun used in the commission of the crime on Jan 19.
Police Officers Matthew Neknez and Patrick Lennon, recognized for their actions in an investigation leading to the arrest of an armed robbery suspect on Jan. 23. Sergeant Jonathan Devereaux, Police Officers Patrick Lennon, Scott Wicklund and Edward Carey and Detective Michael Schmidt, recognized for their actions which led to the apprehension and arrest of a subject for possession of a handgun on July 4.
Police Officers Michael Purick and Douglas Geraci, recognized for their actions in communicating with and disarming an emotionally unstable subject holding a knife on July 30.
The awards ceremony took place during the PBA’s annual installation dinner before a packed house. Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller, town council members John Dunleavy and Jodi Giglio and chief of staff Lawrence Levy were among those on hand to recognize the award recipients.
Correction: This story originally incorrectly stated the rank of Sgt. Jill Kubetz.
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Jeremy Garretson
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