Staff Recognition: Employee of the Quarter

State University of New York at Buffalo University Police
Jerry Schoenle, Chief of Police: 4-15-2007

Employee of the Quarter 4th Quarter 2007

In December of 2007 the University at Buffalo Police Department was awarded NYS DCJS Police Accreditation. Several members of our department played significant roles in this accomplishment; however, one individual distinguished himself with his leadership role. Lieutenant Bartolomei took the lead in the accreditation effort for the University at Buffalo Police Department in the spring of 2007.

In May of 2007 Lieutenant Bartolomei attended the DCJS Accreditation Workshop along with several other members of our department. It became apparent that in our case, it was best to discard our existing policies and procedures and write policy that complied with the accreditation standards. This meant redoing the entire department manual into over 75 new general orders. As our Accreditation Program Manager, Lieutenant Bartolomei led us through this process in a relatively short period of time. Additionally, he prepared the entire department for an inspection of all DCJS standards, a series of presentations by department members, and a static display of specialized units. This involved a very thorough three day inspection of all department policies, procedures and functions by the Accreditation Assessors.

On December 13, 2007 the University at Buffalo Police Department was the first SUNY Police Department to be awarded for accomplishing NYS DCJS Police Accreditation. No doubt that if it wasn't for the diligence of Lieutenant Chris Bartolomei the goal of accreditation would not have been realized.

It is my distinct pleasure to announce that Lieutenant Chris Bartolomei is the University Police Employee of the Quarter for 2007.

Honorable Mention

Honorable mention goes to the entire University Police Department for everyone's role in the Accreditation Process!

On November 23, 2007, Officer Bruce Pepi stopped a vehicle on Main St. and the operator fled from the scene, Officer Harvey was the dispatcher on the A-Line shift. Officer Harvey was able to determine that the vehicle involved was a rental vehicle, but the computer printout did not provide any other helpful information. Through his own initiative he was able to find a contact number for the rental agency by searching through old reports in our records system. Using that number he was able to get the rental agreement faxed to UPD. Using the information on the rental agreement he was able to contact the person who rented the vehicle and determined that it had been taken without her consent. With Officer Harvey's persistence the renter provided information on the suspect. This information was important for the safety of the officers who were trying to apprehend the suspect, who has a long criminal history. Officer Harvey also coordinated the UPD response with several other police agencies and was able to provide useful information regarding the suspect. Officer Harvey's creative and thorough approach led directly to the identification and eventually to felony charges on the suspect in this incident. For his professionalism and dedication to duty Officer Guy Harvey receives Honorable Mention for this quarter.

In the same incident on November 23, 2007, Officer Pepi observed a suspicious vehicle on Main St. near University Ave. Officer Pepi attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver fled, eventually resulting in an accident. The suspect fled on foot and eluded Officer Pepi. Officer Pepi coordinated a search of the area with several area police agencies. Although the suspect was not immediately apprehended, enough information was gathered to identify the suspect and to have a warrant issued for his arrest. Further investigation found the vehicle to be stolen and it contained over five thousand dollars worth of narcotics.

The suspect was arrested on unrelated charges by BPD and ultimately charged for his actions on November 23rd, 2007. The apprehension of this dangerous individual, who was an escapee from a work release program, ended with a violent confrontation with BPD when the suspect was shot. For his attention to duty and persistence, Office Bruce Pepi receives Honorable Mention for this quarter.

State University of New York at Buffalo University Police
Gerald W. Schoenle, Chief of Police: 8-2-2007

It is my distinct pleasure to announce that Officer Scott Marciszewski is the recipient of the Officer of the Quarter for the 2nd quarter of 2007.

Officer Scott Marciszewski is credited for his quick actions on April 21, 2007 when he extinguished a fire in Fargo Quad preventing serious property damage and potential injury or death to others.

A caller reported smoke coming from under the door at room 210 Fargo Quad, and upon arrival the patrol observed heavy smoke in the hallway and fire in room 210. Officer Marciszewski pulled the fire alarm to evacuate the building and entered the room with Officer Vinci. Upon entering the room a fire was visible under the desk, and Officer Marciszewski used a dry chemical extinguisher and attempted to put out the fire but the smoke was too strong and he closed the door until Getzville Fire Company arrived. Upon entering the room the fire department found the fire extinguished thanks to Marciszewski’s quick actions.

A State Fire Investigator determined that the fire was suspicious and found two cans of lighter fluid, a sword, and a spoof filter used to dissipate cigarette smoke. Because the fire was extinguished, damage was minimal, and the fire was contained to room 210, as well as no injuries to the students in the immediate area.

For his quick thinking and response to what could have been a serious fire, Officer Marciszewski is the UPD Officer of the Quarter for the 2nd quarter of 2007.

Honorable Mention

On April 27, 2007 Officer Colton was dispatched to take a report of a burglary in 114 Ketter Hall. Officer Colton completed the report and took it upon himself to conduct several follow-up interviews over the next few days. Through his investigation using door swipe records and reviewing on-line auction web sites, Colton was able to identify a suspect who was ultimately arrested by the University at Buffalo Police Department and charged with two felonies. This case involved fifteen victims, over one hundred stolen items totaling over three thousand dollars, much of which was recovered.

For his extreme diligence Officer Colton receives Honorable Mention for the 2nd Quarter of 2007.

This was clearly a busy quarter for all members of the UPD and I greatly appreciate everyone’s efforts and dedication to service to the University at Buffalo community!

State University of New York at Buffalo University Police
Gerald W. Schoenle, Chief of Police: 2-7-2007

I am pleased to announce the recipients for the first quarter of 2007 for outstanding service to the University at Buffalo Community.

Officer Hazel Harwell is recognized for her arrest of a subject involved in a theft at the UB Commons. The perpetrator had stolen a book bag from the shelves at the entrance to the CVS Pharmacy at the Commons containing a laptop computer and other items including a text book. UPD Dispatch contacted the UB Bookstore and alerted the staff that the book might be brought in to be sold back to the bookstore. The bookstore staff reported that the text had been bought back and gave a description to the responding officer who relayed the information to other patrols. A short time later a subject fitting the description was stopped by Officer Harwell on Main St. near Walgreen's Drug Store and was found to be in possession of the book bag and computer stolen earlier on the Amherst Campus. As well as the victims' property, he was also in possession of other items which were linked to thefts that occurred several days prior to the arrest.

Because of her alert observation Officer Harwell was responsible for the victim getting his property back and solving several earlier thefts from other students. For her efforts Officer Hazel Harwell is named the University at Buffalo Police Department Officer of the Quarter. Officer Harwell credits Lieutenant Frank and all of the officers from "B" line that assisted in this arrest for this was clearly a team effort!

This was a difficult quarter to choose one officer, considering this we would like to acknowledge several other UPD Officers. Officer Anthony Vinci has received Honorable Mention for apprehending the individual responsible for a string of "peeping tom" incidents at South Lake Village Apartments. Vinci responded to a call of a prowler at South Lake who was looking into windows and spotted a possible suspect who was fleeing the area on a bicycle. When the suspect rode through an area that Vinci could not follow in his patrol vehicle, Vinci exited the car and chased the suspect and was able to give a description and stayed in visual contact. The Amherst K-9 unit was called in; as a result of Officer Vinci's information and description the suspect was located at a nearby residence in the Town of Amherst.

Additionally being awarded with Honorable Mention is the entire Investigative Division of the University Police Department. Because of their tireless efforts the investigators solved several burglaries which occurred at the Medical Complex and Diefendorf Hall on the South Campus. The team of Therese Banas, James Budniak, Don Kreger, and D.J. Rehberg, under the supervision of Inspector Dan Jay, coordinated with the Buffalo Police Department and the Erie County District Attorney's Office to bring all of these cases to a successful conclusion.

Honorable Mention also goes to Officers David Hoyden and Joshua Sticht who identified and arrested two perpetrators responsible for no less than ten burglaries and larcenies in Goodyear Hall, Red Jacket, and Schoelkopf Hall. Because of their diligence they were able to get enough information to identify the two individuals responsible by piecing bits of information together to bring the investigation to a successful conclusion.

This was clearly a busy quarter for all members of the UPD and I greatly appreciate everyone's efforts and dedication to service to the University at Buffalo community!

State University of New York at Buffalo University Police
Gerald W. Schoenle, Chief of Police: 2-7-2007

I am pleased to announce the recipients for the fourth quarter of 2006 for outstanding service to the University at Buffalo Community.

Employee of the Quarter

Police Officer Timothy Pray has been selected as Employee of the Quarter for his outstanding response to a call of a burglary in progress on the Main St. Campus. A report of a professor chasing a suspect carrying a black duffel bag containing a stolen computer was dispatched to the Main St. Campus patrols. Officer Pray spotted a man matching the suspect without the black bag and stopped the individual and after questioning and identification, found a knife, a sum of cash, and information regarding prices on computer equipment.

When the complainant was interviewed, it was learned that the man dropped the bag when the professor was chasing the suspect and was heading to the NFTA Terminal at Main Circle. Officer Pray's quick actions resulted in the arrest of the suspect with a long criminal history who is believed to be responsible for numerous computer thefts at other area colleges and hospitals. His subsequent investigation, control of the crime scene and evidence possessing will surely result in a conviction.

Police Officer Joseph Paskiewicz responded to a call to intercept a campus shuttle bus with a possible suspect in the theft of a laptop computer from a library in Capen Hall. Paskiewicz stopped and boarded the bus and identified an individual matching a witness description. After questioning, the laptop was found and the suspect was returned to Capen Hall and positively identified as the person who had stolen the computer

The University at Buffalo has recently experienced several similar crimes. For his professional response to the incident, including excellent coordination with dispatch Officer Paskiewicz is being recognized for his Service to the University Community with a certificate for Meritorious Service.

It is with great pleasure that I announce the Promotion of University at Buffalo Police Officer Chris J. Bartolomei to the rank of Police Lieutenant effective February 8, 2007.

• Chris has been a SUNY Police Officer since 1996
• In 2006 he was the recipient of the Meritorious Service Award
• He is well respected in WNY Law Enforcement and NYS
• He is well known for coordinating the BIKE PATROL SCHOOL in our area
• He has been a Field Training Officer (FTO) for 9-years and has trained several new officers in this capacity
• Police Instructor for several years for UPD and Erie County Central Police Services
• He has been on numerous committees for the University at Buffalo Police Dept.
• He is actively involved in the union locally and at the State Level
• He has a B.A. from Buffalo State College
• Currently, in the Masters Degree Program in C.J. at Niagara University

The University at Buffalo Police Department feels that Chris is an excellent addition to our Command Staff and wish him many more years of success!

Gerald W. Schoenle, Chief of Police: 11-21-2006

It is my distinct pleasure to announce our award recipients for the third quarter of 2006 for outstanding service to the University Community.

Lt David Urbanek has been selected for the award for his outstanding work when called to assist a man having difficulty breathing on the bicycle path near St. Rita's Lane. Urbanek, an EMT arrived on the scene within three minutes of receiving the call for assistance and evaluated the individual as having a heart attack. The victim then stopped breathing and had no sign of a pulse when Urbanek used an AED and CPR to revive the man who began breathing on his own and pulse was restored. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital and received further treatment and is recovering from the ordeal. Lt. David Urbanek is the University Police Department Employee of the Quarter. Honorable Mention goes to Officer Anthony Vinci who assisted Lt. Urbanek with the resuscitation.

Other notable incidents considered for the quarterly award were: The arrest of two suspects on the Main St. Campus who were charged with Robbery, Possession of a Weapon, and Resisting arrest by Officers Lou Rossi and Tim Thompson as well as assisting officers on duty at the time. The two were later identified as suspects involved in other robberies in the University Heights District over the past year. The call was made by a student who recognized the suspects who had robbed him last year in an off campus incident and the Officers were able to affect the arrests within minutes of receiving the call. Officers Rossi and Thompson received Honorable Mention for the third quarter.

In another incident Officer Joshua Sticht while on bicycle patrol at 3:00 AM observed an individual in a parking lot having difficulty backing a vehicle from a parking space, and when the suspect saw Sticht he fled from the vehicle and ran from the scene. The suspect was followed into Letchworth Woods and after a foot chase the individual was subsequently arrested. The man was charged with Driving While Intoxicated and Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, after the owner of the vehicle relayed that permission was not given to anyone to use the vehicle. Officer Sticht received Honorable Mention for the third quarter.

Congratulations to these officers and thank you for your service to the University Community!

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