| Spotlight on Our Members |
| Do you know of NYSCOPBA Members we should recognize here? Please let us know at webmaster@nyscopba.org. Want to help our Members in Need? Become a NYSCOPBA Volunteer. |
Climbing the Corning Tower to help those with Cystic Fibrosis | NYSCOPBA Members Join The Ride for Missing & Exploited Children | |||||
2013 Relay Team More Here |
NYSCOPBA Members Join The Ride for Missing & Exploited Children - Press Release State Corrections Officers join Ride for Missing | |||||
NYSCOPBA Sponsors Heart Run & Walk | NYSCOPBA Sponsoring Kids | |||||
Correction Officers sponsor Heart Association Run and Walk for the 15th consecutive year- Press Release - Photos - Video
| NYSCOPBA Sponsors the 2013 Mount Markham American Youth Association Basket Ball Teams
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Watertown Members Donate $1,000 to Toys for Tots | Green Haven Donates $2,700 | |||||
NYSCOPBA Members at Watertown CF made a donation of $1,000 to Toys for Tots of Jefferson County. The check was presented to Senator Pattie Ritchie. |
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Members at Cayuga CF Adopt 2 Families | Correction Officers Helping Kids Affected by Sandy | |||||
Members at Cayuga CF make a difference in the lives of 2 families through the Adopt A Family Program. |
Helping Children affected by Hurricane Sandy have a Great Christmas! Video - Story | |||||
Members and Employees Donate to Toys for Tots | Scott Stedner Receives a Valor Award | |||||
NYSCOPBA's Donated Toys were picked up by Marine volunteers Bill Nardello and Joe Pollicino NYSCOPBA Members and employees deserve a big THANK YOU for the toys donated to the Marine Reserve Toys for Tots Program. NYSCOPBA collects toys each year at our Albany office and our Members and employees are always very generous with their donations. This year, we were able to fill the whole truck! |
Officer Scott Stedner was on duty when he observed a one car accident. The car had slid off the wet road into a ditch where there was a pool of water. Officer Stedner notified the facility and then went to provide assistance. The occupants of the vehicle were a mother with her four children. They were unable to exit the vehicle because the car had sank deeply into the mud. Officer Stedner was able to get the driver and her children safely out of the vehicle. | |||||
Holiday Spirit from Coxsackie | Officer Eisenhower Saves a Fellow Officer | |||||
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Charity Golf Tournamants Raise over $12,000 | NYSCOPBA Sponsors Wounded Warrior Golf Event | |||||
 The 2012 Charity Golf Tournamants around the state raised over $12,000 for local charities. Statewide Tournament |
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Officer Rescues Victim in Auto Accident | Central Region Sponsors Lupus Foundation | |||||
| On Tuesday night, June 19, 2012, off duty Rockland Psychiatric Center Safety and Security Officer Shawn Harris was running errands in Nyack, New York when he heard a loud noise near the rear of a parking lot. Shawn investigated the source of the noise and discovered a vehicle had gone over an embankment and into the water, and it was too dark to see the extent of the situation. Officer Harris retrieved his vehicle to provide light on the scene and became aware that an elderly woman was still in the vehicle and in need of assistance. Shawn entered to water and assisted the victim to safety. Nice work Shawn! |
NYSCOPBA's Central Region was a Platinum Sponsor of the Lupus Foundation 12th Annual Golf Charity Classic. The donation of $1,000 helped make the event a great success. Thank You Letter | |||||
2012 DOCCS Medal of Merit | ||||||
Robert Shields, Sergeant On April 26, 2011, then-Sergeant Robert Shields was fishing with his two young sons on the Seneca River in the town of Seneca Falls, New York. While fishing they heard a woman crying out for help. The three of them got into their truck and crossed the bridge to the other side of the river where they discovered a woman struggling in the cold swift river. Sergeant Shields tied a rope around his waist and attempted to get the woman to hold onto the other end. The woman was too cold to hold onto the rope so they attempted to get a ladder to her. Their rescue attempts continued for approximately 20 minutes until the Red Jacket Fire Department arrived. According to the Fire Chief Allen Larsen when they arrived, Sergeant Shields was leaning over the edge of the river on his stomach holding onto the woman while his sons held onto his legs and feet. With the additional help, they were able to safely retrieve the woman out of the water. She was treated for severe hypothermia and chest pains. Sergeant Shields, without regard for his own safety, came to the immediate assistance of a stranger in extreme danger. His action exemplifies his commitment to selflessly assisting others and his exceptional representation of the employees of our Department. John Iocovello, Correction Officer On August 28, 2011, due to the significant and rapid rainfall caused by Hurricane Irene, Ulster Correctional Facility experienced a major disruption in services including an electrical power outage, forcing the facility to convert to generator power. As heavy rains continued, the waterway between Ulster and Eastern New York correctional facilities began to overflow its banks due to violent floods pouring down from a reservoir on the mountain behind the facility. Eventually, approximately 1/3 of the facility was flooded to the point where three inmate housing units had to be evacuated to another area of the facility and the facility generator became inoperable, leaving the facility without any power. As staff was assessing flood damage and the integrity of the facility perimeter, facility Sergeant Tod Carter and Correction Officer John Iocovello observed a tremendous amount of debris obstructing the water flow under a small bridge at the northwestern entrance to the facility and determined this was contributing to the flooding of the facility. Under increasingly dangerous weather conditions, Correction Officer Iocovello immediately volunteered to operate the facility backhoe and began removing the debris. Correction Officer Iocovello then diverted the flow of water from the facility by creating trenches just southwest of the bridge and on the northeast corner where there was another waterway behind the facility. Due to Correction Officer Iocovello's actions, the majority of the flooding was eventually diverted from the facility and its electrical power was eventually restored. Without electrical power and the impending nightfall, all of the nearly 900 offenders as well as the staff would have had to be evacuated, which, under these circumstances, would have been extremely difficult and dangerous. Correction Officer Iocovello's actions went well above and beyond his normal duty assignment as a Correction Officer and are considered exceptional and extraordinary. William Tolli, Correction Officer On August 29, 2011, Correction Officer William Tolli was on his way to work when he observed a serious one car rollover accident. Correction Officer Tolli called 911 and without hesitation went to help the driver who was found suspended by his seatbelt and unconscious in the vehicle. The vehicle was upside down, still running and had smoke coming out of it. Correction Officer Tolli broke out the back window of the vehicle, crawled inside, shut off the engine and unlocked the doors. With the assistance of Correction Officer Mike Cassidy of the Sullivan Correctional Facility, who had also come upon the accident, they were able to release the seatbelt and lower the unconscious driver down thus taking the weight off of his head and neck which was resting against the roof. They moved him to an area a safe distance away from his vehicle. Correction Officers Tolli and Cassidy remained with the driver until the ambulance and EMT's arrived and the driver was transported to the hospital then airlifted to a trauma center. The driver was later identified as Nicholas Chalk, Supervising Correction Counselor, Woodbourne Correctional Facility. Correction Officers Tolli and Cassidy, without regard for their own safety, came to the immediate assistance of a stranger who they later found out to be a fellow Department employee. Their actions exemplify the caliber of the employees in our Department, as well as their exceptional contribution to public service. | ||||||
2012 Ride for Missing Children | 2012 Northern Region Charity Golf Tournament | |||||
| The Northern Region Golf Tournament raised over $5,000 for the Ronald McDonald House. More photos...
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2012 Law Enforcement Memorial | ||||||
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America's Greatest Heart Run & Walk | 2012 Jerry Dewitt Memorial Award | |||||
More Photos Here... | Award Recipient Anthony Henderson | |||||
Greene CF Officers Rescue Stricken Driver | ||||||
On September 12, 2011, Sergeant Jeff Ropeter observed an accident involving 2 cars and a truck loaded with asphalt. He dialed emergency services and began to investigate the scene. The driver of the truck was pinned and covered in fuel from a ruptured fuel tank. Officers Thomas Poventud and Brian Bagnoli arrived on the scene to assist Sergeant Ropeter. The three rescuers were able to free the driver and pull him to safety. The heroic acts of the rescuers saved the driver from additional injury and they are to be commended for their brave act. |  | |||||
Bare Hill CF Sergeant Rescues Victims from a Fire | ||||||
 | On October 10, 2011, Sergeant Kelly Bedore spotted flames coming from a house. Upon further investigation, he discovered the house was occupied and victims were trapped by the flames. Sergeant Bedore directed one victim to a safe route out of the burning home. He continued to search for other victims and discovered another woman unable to get out. Sergeant Bedore kicked in a door and was able to provide safe passage out of the flames for the victim. We commend Sergeant Bedore for his bravery and willingness to put himself in danger to assist others. | |||||
Clinton Members Sponsors Santa Holiday Express Program | ||||||
The Press Republican- Union sponsorship Dennis Rasco, Principal | ||||||
Watertown Members Donate to the Community | ||||||
Members of the New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA) from the Watertown Correctional Facility made a donation of $1,000 to the Community Action Planning Council in support of holiday gifts for children. The donation was inspired by an appeal made by Senator Patty Ritchie in which she urged the local community to support charities that distribute Christmas gifts to children of low-income families. When representatives from CAPC visited Senator Ritchie's district office in Watertown to pick up toys, they were greeted by NYSCOPBA officers from the Watertown Correctional Facility who presented the check. Watertown Correctional Facility NYSCOPBA members have recently donated a total of $5,700 in support of charities, including Hospice of Jefferson County, the Children's Miracle Network, Meals on Wheels, the Carthage Area Hospital and Watertown Urban Mission. News article here... |
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Officer Wayne Eamer Receives Valor Award | |||||
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Coxsackie CF Employees Doing Good for a Soldiers Family | |||||
FOX 23 News 12/8/2011- Story on Fox News 23 with Video - Another Story in The Daily Mail Having a loved one serving overseas is tough to begin with, but when Mom or Dad is gone over Christmas, it's even more difficult. That's a fact the Toleman's of Stillwater learned the hard way this year. Mom Rebecca Toleman has had to assume the role of both parents ever since March 17. That's whenher husband Army Staff Sgt. Michael Toleman deployed to Afghanistan. | |||||
2011 Toys for Tots Campaign | |||||
 | NYSCOPBA has once again joined with Channel 13 to sponsor the 2011 US Marine Toys for Tots Campaign. We collect and donate new, unwrapped toys for children in need. More here | ||||
2011 Statewide Charity Golf Tournament | |||||
| NYSCOPBA raises over $14,000 for Charity! The second annual statewide charity golf tournament was held on September 21, 2011. Over 20 teams competed for bragging rights and to support charitable organizations. We thank all members who participated in the event and took the time to make the event a huge success. More here... |
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2011 DOCCS Awards | |||||
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Northern Region Charity Golf Tournament | |||||
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NYSCOPBA's Northern Region held a Charity Golf Tournament in Lake Placid on 5/30/2011. The event was a great success for all. Our Members enjoyed a day on the golf course in beautiful Lake Placid and helped donate over $4,300 to the Shriner's Children's Hospital. Thank you to everyone who helped make this a day to remember. More info here... | |||||
Tribute to Officers from Gowanda CF |
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NYSCOPBA raises over $10,000 for local charities |
NYSCOPBA 2010 Charity Golf Tournament
Representing Franklin CF- Justin Decosse |
2010 Ride for Missing and Exploited Children |
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| NYSCOPBA members came out to show their support for THE RIDE FOR MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN as it passes by Marcy and Midstate Correctional Facilities. Our members participated in the Ride and came out to show their support for the cause. More pics here... |
NYSCOPBA Members enter burning house to rescue wheelchair bound victim |
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Central New York Members donate! |
Hats off to the NYSCOPBA Members at Oneida, MidState, Mohawk and Marcy for voting to donate $5000 to help the Missing and Exploited children. |  |
NYSCOPBA Member assists a victim in the water |
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Member assists Police Officer |
On August 12, 2008, Correction Officer Anthony Burl saw a Plattsburg patrol officer struggling to restrain a combatant. Officer Burl offered assistance and was able to bring the situation under control. |  |
Joe Porcaro honored for his dedication |
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Joe Porcaro is presented with a recognition award for his dedication to the Veteran members of NYSCOPBA. |
Member helps victim being assaulted |
On March 18, 2009, Officer E. Withers heard signs of distress from a neighbor's apartment. Upon investigation, Officer Withers discovered an assailant and a victim in need of aid. CO Withers identified the assailant to the police and provided CPR to the victim. Valor Award Presented 6/2/09. |  |
Medal of Merit Citation Awarded to Officer Al Miller |
| While working on his house on the banks of the Tonawanda Creek in Indian Falls on August 16, 2008, Correction Officer Al Miller heard loud voices coming from the creek. Officer Miller saw a woman and her two young daughters stranded with their kayak in the middle of the white water rapids. Officer Miller, without regard for his own safety, entered cold, dangerous white water rapids to rescue a mother and her two children from conditions that most likely would have resulted in catastrophe if he had not taken immediate action. Officer Miller does not consider himself a hero for his actions, and even walked away quietly when the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department asked who had saved the woman and her children. But by putting himself in harm’s way to help others, Officer Miller is, in fact, a hero worthy of recognition and gratitude. Officer Miller, you displayed bravery and courage by willingly placing yourself in harm’s way. |
Medal of Merit Citation Awarded to Officer Jay Siskavich |
| On July 15, 2008, in the north yard at Clinton Correctional Facility, an altercation erupted. Correction Officer Jay Siskavich saw an inmate trying to stab another inmate. Officer Sisavich responded to the incident and restrained the inmate with the weapon. The Officer suffered a stab wound but was still able to disarm and subdue the inmate with the help of other officers. Officer Siskavich’s quick and courageous actions, and his determination in the face of his own injury, prevented serious injury to others. Officer Siskavich, you displayed bravery and courage by willingly placing yourself in harm’s way. |
Member Mike Bigaj Honored |
NYSCOPBA would like to take this opportunity to recognize one of our members from Collins Correctional Facility. Mike Bigaj is an Officer and a union steward at Collins and has recently drawn the attention of his Chief Steward Dan Keller and a number of his peers. Officer Bigaj organized a charity event to benefit Sergeant John Hackemer who was seriously wounded in Iraq by a roadside bomb. The event raised over $113,000 to support Sergeant Hackemer and his family and Officer Bigaj worked tirelessly to make the event a big success. In addition, Officer Bigaj continually volunteers his time for charity events in the community. He has dressed up in costume to give out gifts at the Children's Hospital in Buffalo, cooked Christmas dinner at the Ronald McDonald House, solicited 400 hours of leave donation for a fellow member, gives blood regularly, and is always a positive influence to those around him. We don't believe you realize the lives you have touched with your kindness, your unselfishness,and your ability to make a difference in peoples lives. You have touched the lives of not only those you have worked so hard for but also your family, your co-workers, and your community. Mike you are a man of compassion with an unwavering character that is admired by many. We Thank You and Commend you for all that you do for so many. |
2009 DOCS Medal of Honor |
Officer Siskavich and Officer Miller Awarded 2009 DOCS Medal
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| Security Services Assistant 1, Marjorie Garrick |
| Officer Garrick is a recipient of the 2009 SUNY Chancellor's award presented by Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher for Classified Services with in the University Police Department. NYSCOPBA also recognizes you for your achievement. |
| SSO's Sgt. William Fernandez and Hiram Gonzalez |
| On March 18, 2008, Sgt. William Fernandez and S/O Hiram Gonzalez assisted a detective in making an arrest outside the facility. The detective was in a struggle with the perpetrator and requested assistance from our Officers. Sgt. Fernandez and Officer Gonzalez responded retrieved the Detective's cuffs from the perpetrator and placed the perpetrator under arrest. The Officers also waited with the detective until his back up arrived on the scene. |
More... |
| Clinton Officers Donate $10,000 | |
| 2009 Special Olympics Torch Run | 2009 Ride for Missing and Exploited Children |
| 2007 American Heart Run/Walk | 2007 Polar Plunge for Special Olympics |
