Medal of Honor

New York State Association of Chiefs of Police Medal of Honor

Nominations are being accepted for the Association's prestigious Chief Thomas P. Reilly Memorial Medal of Honor. 

DEADLINE: MARCH 10th, 2025

NYSACOP Members - Please submit your nominations for the Chief Thomas P. Reilly Memorial Medal of Honor promptly. Award recipients will be invited to a formal presentation at our annual training conference in Monticello, NY in July, 2025.

Criteria (per Association Bylaws):

The Award shall be bestowed upon worthy police officers in the performance of significant and credible actions of heroism, bravery, or sacrifice above and beyond the duties of their office. For nominations which may not meet the high burden of the Medal of Honor, the Association may opt to endorse a Commendation which, while not requiring the highest threshold as for the Medal of Honor, is an esteemed, solemn and significant award of this Association.

General requirements:

• The award of the Medal of Honor shall solely be made to a police officer who is a salaried member of a duly constituted police department of a municipality of the State of New York.
• Before any police officer may qualify for the Medal of Honor, the officer must have performed an act of heroism above and beyond the call of duty.
• The nomination must be made by either the commanding or superior officer of the person nominated or by a member of the Board of Governors. The nomination must contain a full and detailed description of the act of heroism including the date, time, place, and names and addresses of any witnesses or other persons having knowledge of the incident.

Submit a nomination by MARCH 10th, 2025 by emailing Executive Director Phelan at [email protected].  Please be sure to include your contact information with your submission.

Past New York State Association of Chiefs Medal of Honor Recipients

 OFFICER KELSEY FRANCEMONE SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT 2016

OFFICER JOSH COMITALE TROY POLICE DEPARTMENT 2015

OFFICER CHAD KLEIN TROY POLICE DEPARTMENT 2015

 OFFICER ZACHARY MCKINNON POUGHKEEPSIE POLICE DEPARTMENT 2014

 OFFICER JOHN SCARAMUZZINO UTICA POLICE DEPARTMENT 2014

 DETECTIVE JOHN BARNETT MTA POLICE DEPARTMENT 2013

 DETECTIVE RICHARD CURRAN SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT 2010

 DETECTIVE EDWARD FALKOWSKI SYRACUSE POLICE DEPARTMENT 2010

 OFFICER ADAM BAKER SARATOGA SPRINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT 2008

 DEPUTY DANIEL BIELING ONONDAGA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE 2008

 OFFICER JAMES S. CERANKOWSKI BALDWINSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT 2008

 OFFICER THOMAS M. LINDSEY UTICA POLICE DEPARTMENT 2008

 CHIEF RICKY L. WHITNEY BOLIVAR POLICE DEPARTMENT 2008

 TROOPER DONALD H. BAKER TROOP G-LOUDONVILLE NEW YORK STATE POLICE 2007

 TROOPER JOSEPH A. LONGOBARDO TROOP G-LOUDONVILLE NEW YORK STATE POLICE 2007

 OFFICER JOSEPH D. CORR NEW HARTFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT 2006

 TROOPER ANDREW J. SPERR TROOP E-HORSEHEADS NEW YORK STATE POLICE 2006

 TROOPER TATE M. HIGGINS TROOP G-LOUDONVILLE NEW YORK STATE POLICE 2005

 TROOPER ANTHONY S. LAROCK TROOP A NEW YORK STATE POLICE 2005

 LIEUTENANT JOHN F. FINN ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT 2004

 OFFICER JAMES M. LEE BATH POLICE DEPARTMENT 2002

 TROOPER BRUCE A. TAYLOR TROOP A NEW YORK STATE POLICE 2001

 OFFICER MARLENE LOOS SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT 1999

 OFFICER RICHARD A. HERMANN NASSAU COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT 1998

 OFFICER KEVIN W. COTTRELL PORT AUTHORITY OF NY & NJ 1997

 OFFICER SAVERIO “STEVE” ROTUNNO CAMILLUS POLICE DEPARTMENT 1996

 OFFICER ARLENE D. BECKLES NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT 1994

 OFFICER THOMAS MILLER TOWN OF EAST HAMPTON POLICE DEPARTMENT 1993

 TROOPER NESTOR L. RODRIGUEZ NEW YORK STATE POLICE 1992

 SERGEANT RAYMOND E. ROLAND COLONIE POLICE DEPARTMENT 1991

 TROOPER STEVEN A. NUTTING NEW YORK STATE POLICE 1990

 LIEUTENANT THOMAS C. GROVER AVIATION UNIT NEW YORK STATE POLICE 1989

 DETECTIVE RICHARD E. KAUFMAN NASSAU COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT 1988

 DETECTIVE. PAUL RAGONESE NEW YORK POLICE DEPARTMENT 1986

 SERGEANT ROBERT WOLFGANG ALBANY POLICE DEPARTMENT 1985

 SERGEANT JOHN J. MCCOY YONKERS POLICE DEPARTMENT 1984

OFFICER ROY NEWCOMER YONKERS POLICE DEPARTMENT 1984