BETHLEHEM – Last Monday, Police Chief Gina Cocchiara celebrated with town officials and staff by holding the department’s annual award ceremony.
In total, 20 of Bethlehem’s police officers, detectives, and telecommunicators were honored. The awards presented included the Exceptional Duty Award, Chief’s Achievement Award, Department/Unit Citation Award, Meritorious Service Award, the Life Saving Award, and two Career Recognition Awards. All of the awards, regardless of their category, highlighted the dedication and work put in by the Bethlehem Police Department.
Officer Luke Mara received the Exceptional Duty Award, highlighting a highly credible accomplishment or duty to service. Mara led the department in 2022 by removing 29 impaired drivers from Bethlehem roadways. Mara also received the Recognition of Excellence Award from the Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Stop DWI of New York State, and the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee in May for this accomplishment.
Sergeant Michael Whiteley received the Chief’s Achievement Award for the expansion and reimagining of the bike patrol unit for the department. Since being made responsible for the task, Whiteley has trained 30 officers and doesn’t plan on stopping. Whiteley’s goal is to have a complete bike patrol within the Bethlehem Police Department.
The Bethlehem Police Department Special Services Detectives were honored with the Department/Unit Citation Award for stopping and solving an identity theft ring. The detectives arrested four individuals who were targeting SEFCU branches. Prior to their arrests, the individuals, including a SEFCU employee in Glenmont, had stolen $100,000 by withdrawing money and securing loans with other peoples’ identities.
Two officers and Whiteley received the Meritorious Service Award for assisting firefighters in retrieving seven puppies and their mother from a house fire last September. The officers, Alex Griffin and Daniel Callahan were honored with this award for their lack of hesitation in saving not only the family’s lives but the dogs, as well.
Officer Cameron Apple received the Life Saving Award for administering Narcan and saving a woman from a potentially fatal overdose in July last year. Whiteley, Griffin, Alexander Hazelton, Telecommunicator Kristina Leamy, and Telecommunicator Christopher Kowalski also received the Life Saving Award for dispatching an ambulance and performing CPR on an unresponsive male in September.
The two Career Recognition Awards were given to Officer Peter Resnick and Detective Gerald Young, who retired in September and October last year, respectively. Resnick worked within the department for 27 years and helped train Bethlehem and other Capital District police officers. Young transferred to Bethlehem from Troy in 2007 and was always counted on to assist anyone in the department.