BETHLEHEM, Pa. — It was an evening of remembrance for the city police force alongside their loved ones.
Honoring the work of dozens of Bethlehem Police officers on Monday in the Northeast Middle School auditorium, officials said the department’s past finest have paved the way for its current success and a strong outlook in the years to come.
"Each award presented tonight represents not just an individual achievement, but a testament to the collective strength and excellence of this department.”
Bethlehem Police Chief Michelle Kott
“Whether it is through acts of valor in the face of danger, consistently going above and beyond in the service to citizens or simply being there when someone needs help the most," Police Chief Michelle Kott said.
"Each award presented tonight represents not just an individual achievement, but a testament to the collective strength and excellence of this department.”
Broader department awards included: Lt. Michael DiLuzio, supervisor of the year; Officer Alex Perez, officer of the year; and Officer Arvin Flores-Ramos, support services officer of the year.
Lt. James Doyle, Deputy Commissioner Walter Diefenderfer and Sgt. Steven Marshall — three retired BPD officers who died during the past year — also were recognized.
And officials took a moment to honor the six Bethlehem officers who have died on the job: Officer George Shuman (1907), Officer Charles Lawrence (1924), Officer Charles Fenton (1927), Capt. Harry Strauss (1933), Officer Phillip J. Fahy (1969) and Officer Daniel Rice (1997).
Dozens of current officers honored
Capt. Benjamin Hackett, who announced the current-year awards, said the ceremony and giving credit where due was “absolutely my favorite part of my job.”
De-escalating dangerous situations, preventing cases of suicide, being quick on their feet in providing medical support ahead of backup’s arrival and protecting the area’s schoolchildren — here are the men and women of BPD, among a few non-police members of the community, who were celebrated:
Award of Merit
Officer Patrick Perowski
Unit Letter Of Commendation
Officer Bradley Brickman
Officer Andrew Gauntner
Award of Merit
Officer Stephen Brynok
Unit Letter Of Commendation
Det. Sgt. Jason Hammer
Sgt. Patrick Maczko
Sgt. Daniel Kennedy
Det. Christopher Kopp
Det. Thomas Rasich
Det. Michael Mireski
Letter Of Commendation
Det. Emily Falko
Letter of Commendation
Officer Richard Loscalzo
Unit Letter of Commendation
Officer Jeffrey Russell
Officer Duncan Cahalan
Letter of Commendation
Officer Jeremy Rimmer
Unit Letter of Commendation
Officer Joshua Hobson
Officer Trevor Tomaszewski
Officer Cole George
Health Bureau Director of Nursing/Community Connections Susan Benay Berger
Unit Letter of Commendation
Sgt. Daniel Kennedy
Det. Jonathan Glick
Det. Dawn Heuser
Det. Andrew Yost
Letter of Commendation
Officer William Rodriguez
Letter of Commendation
Det. Mervinson Lopez
Unit Letter of Commendation
Sgt. Daniel Kennedy
Det. Ricky Dunbar
Det. Jonathan Glick
Det. Randall McBride
Det. Ashley Kratochvil
Det. Andrew Yost
Det. Stephen Ewald
Letter of Commendation
Officer Nathaniel Krasznavolgyi
Letter of Commendation
Officer Arvin Flores-Ramos
Unit Letter of Commendation
Sgt. Paul Ramsden
Officer Luke Trevezo
Unit Letter of Commendation
Officer Ralph Gontz
Officer Edgar Brito
Officer Chantz Hale
Unit Letter of Commendation
Officer Micheil Koblish
Officer Robert Nichelson
Officer Anthony Colucci
Officer Duncan Cahalan
Officer Kelly Swider
Letter of Commendation
Officer Sean Landis
Letter of Commendation
Officer Patrick Perowski
Unit Letter of Commendation
Officer Wilfredo Cruz
Officer Jacob Lawrence
Officer Timothy Hogg
Officer Duncan Cahalan
Officer Vincent Correll
Officer Kelly Swider
Citizen Distinguished Service Award
Jonathan Haynes
Citizen Life Saving Medal
Jay Aponte
Outstanding Citizen Award
Barbara Miller
'Thank you'
Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds said, “I can tell you that the rest of City Hall, whether or not everybody interacts with them on a day-to-day basis or not, looks at our police department and is amazed and says, ‘Thank you.’
“Everybody in City Hall understands that our police are at the center of what we do, and I want to say thank you, and also thank you to so many of your loved ones that are here.”
“Everybody in City Hall understands that our police are at the center of what we do, and I want to say thank you, and also thank you to so many of your loved ones that are here.”
Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds
Reynolds said he recently was made aware of the execution of a $10 million contract, one frozen earlier this year by the federal government, for streetscape improvements along the West Broad Street corridor.
He gave a shout-out to the behind-the-scenes work of Lt. William Audello and the BPD Traffic Safety Division, among others, in rallying the support needed to secure that money once again.
The mayor said it’s the largest single grant the city has ever received.