Ceremony recognizes service, longevity
Goshen The Orange County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Carl E. DuBois, recently held its annual awards ceremony at the County Emergency Services Center in Goshen to honor the dedicated and outstanding service of Orange County Sheriff’s Office members. The program began with the Hudson Valley Regional Police Pipes and Drums, followed by a presentation of colors by the Orange County Sheriff’s Color Guard. Cadet Captain Michael Armida of Explorer Post #5110 led the audience in the pledge of allegiance and Reverend Dr. Coleman Briggs of the New Hope Baptist Church in Newburgh offered the invocation. DuBois said, “While we pause to honor our members of all colors and denominations, we must also honor their families, and the families of all corrections and law enforcement personnel, sworn or unsworn.” Orange County Undersheriff Kenneth T. Jones presented welcoming remarks and introduced the evening’s keynote speaker Lt. Colonel Hugh L. Atkinson of the United States Marine Corps, and Orange County resident, whose address focused on the safety, security and reliability that the Orange County Sheriff’s Office delivers for its residents, thereby maintaining law and order in the county. In memory of Roger G. Phillips, the former Orange County Sheriff who served from 1981 to 1990, DuBois presented the Roger G. Phillips award to: Lieutenant George R. Haas, Captain Jacqueline M. Bennett, Chief Richard P. Onorati and Chief Criminal Investigator Gregory T. Gaetano. Service awards were given to the following: Deputy of the Year - Deputy Sheriff Christopher K. Shaw Correction Officer of the Year - Officer Phillip A. Leon Investigator of the Year - Investigator Shawn R. Ost Life Saving Award - Sergeant Keith E. Conroy, Sergeant Coleman J. Rothmond Jr., Officer Chris J. DeSena, Officer Michael A. Pfleger, Carmen Burgos NP, Lorraine M. Levitas RN, Kristy Anne Perez LPN Unit Citations - Investigator William S. Peterson, Investigator Gilbert J. Piaquadio, Investigator Robert E. Walker, Investigator David G. Thompson, Investigator Guiliane Leger-Vargas, Sergeant Joseph M. Kastner, Investigator Kenneth Vrana, Investigator Annette Davila, Investigator David F. McDonald, Investigator Robert M. Berkowitz, Sergeant Carmen A. DeStefano, Deputy John W. Trazino, Deputy Andrews Eberhardt, Deputy Richard C. Garcia, Deputy Luke Pagnillo Meritorious - Correction Officer Ronald G. Farina Commendations - Sergeant Paul Arteta, Investigator Brian K. Manning, Correction Officer Rafael A. Marquez, Correction Officer Beverly L. Moskowitz, Corrections Officer Daniel W. Greer, Deputy Ahmid A. Bitawi, Deputy Daniel J. Volpe, Deputy Rodney L. Carpentier III, Deputy Thomas J. Henson, Deputy Jake S. Kirby, Deputy Justin F. Butterfield, Correction Officer Dominic C. Pascal, Investigator Christopher K. Shaw, Correction Officer Belinda Ortiz, Correction Officer James P. Ryan, Correction Officer Brian Redner, Correction Officer Andrew J. Ghiold, Deputy Thomas J. Durso, Deputy Bernard A. Mendoza, Deputy Christopher K. Shaw, Deputy John R. Byman, Correction Officer Patricia A. Mendoza Certificate of Appreciation - Sheriff’s Office Department of Public Works team Administrative Commendation - Vincent Cannavale, Anthony Lease 25 Years of Service - Bernadine C. Ogden, Kevin M. Moore, Robert J. Sanfilippo; and, 20 Years of Service - Keith L. Pelton, Robert J. Evans, James E. Kane, Rueben V. Sanchez, Mark W. Walter, John R. Byman, Matthew M. Brennan, Scott K. Hamill, Mark E. Warren, Benny Rivera, Daryl F. Piatt, Tracey Mahoney, Richard P. Onorati, Gerald A. Judson, Joseph M. Kastner. The evening concluded with a prayer by the Reverend James VanHouten of Walden Baptist Church.