Police, Civilians Receive Service Awards

By Andrew Gorosko

Nine members of the Newtown Police Department received ten service awards at a police department awards presentation on June 19.

Six civilians, plus one Bethel police officer, received civic service awards for their aid to local law enforcement.

Receiving awards were Patrol Officer Michael Brokaw, 30 years’ service; Patrol Officer Aaron Bahamonde, ten years’ service; Patrol Officer Scot Ruszczyk, ten years’ service; Youth Officer Dana Schubert, five years’ service, and Patrol Officer William Hull, five years’ service.

Also, Officer Schubert received the Police Commission’s service award for his operation of the police department’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program in the schools.

Patrol Officer Thomas Bean received an award for merit for his quick response at an attempted suicide in March 2002, where he helped save the victim’s life.

School Resource Officer Steve Ketchum received a certificate of commendation for having guided to safety a motorist who was driving eastward in the westbound lanes of Interstate 84 last January.

Patrol Officer David Kullgren obtained the education award for having received a bachelor of arts degree.

Sergeant Christopher Vanghele received the police chief’s service award for running the Citizen Police Academy program.

Receiving the Anita Goosman Memorial Award for civic duty were: The Rev Steve Gordon, Chris Smith, Kevin Rhealt, Heath Edelman, Juan Carrion, and Bethel Police Officer David Martinez.

In that case, last February 4, the six men combined efforts to rescue an accident victim whose vehicle had crashed into a tree and caught fire on Route 34. The men forced open the vehicle’s door and moved the victim, who had received serious injuries.

Also receiving that civic award was Stephen Smith, who was awakened last November by the sound of a motor vehicle accident. Mr Smith found that the vehicle had crashed and caught fire. He then led the driver and passenger to safety.