[AMHERST POLICE, NY] -- Graduation:
The Amherst Police Department would like to recognize Officer Richard Caito and Police Service Dog Harley for completing the Niagara Regional Police Service’s Basic Canine course. Officer Caito’s new partner, Harley, is a two (2) year old pure bred German Shepard from the Czech Republic.
Together they completed this fifteen (15) week course and are certified in:
Narcotics Detection
Building, area and article searches
Obedience
Criminal Apprehension
Handler Protection.
Amherst Police Winter Award Recipients - Winter 2019
Merit Award
Detective Jeffrey Gilbert
Det. Gilbert responded to the scene of a to assist the patrols who were on location. After photo documenting the scene, Det. Gilbert Mirandized and interviewed one of the two suspects involved and was able to obtain some admissions. Det. Gilbert then obtained statements from the witness and owner of the business. At this point all of the preliminary investigative work required for the patrols to make an arrest of the two suspects was completed. Det. Gilbert however took it upon himself to re-interview the suspect he had interviewed at the scene. During this recorded interview, Det Gilbert was able to get other information that connected the second suspect to a previous burglary at the same business that had occurred a few days earlier. Armed with this information, Det Gilbert began the process of listening to “jail calls” that the second suspect was making while incarcerated. Det Gilbert listened to numerous calls made by this suspect, often listening to these calls on his days off. Through this lengthy task which lasted for several weeks, Det Gilbert was able to identify a third suspect who admitted to knowing where the proceeds of the first burglary were stored. This same day, approximately $28,000.00 worth of stolen property was recovered by Det Gilbert from a property located in North Tonawanda. The third suspect was subsequently charged with a D felony for possession of this stolen property. Due to Det Gilbert’s diligence regarding this investigation he is being awarded a department Merit Award.
Merit Award
Officer Mark Borow
Officer Christopher Connolly
Detective Herbert Leising
Officer Borow was patrolling in Eggertsville. Officer Borow observed a female waving her arms while standing in a driveway. Officer Borow stopped to investigate and observed a male taking items out of the car. The female was upset that the male was removing items from the vehicle and the male stated he was tired of the female stealing property and bringing it to his residence. Officer Connolly arrived on location and he and Officer Borow separate the male and female. Officer Borow after observing the items that were on the ground began asking the female questions about the property. When the female was unable to answer any of his questions, Officer Borow contacted the mother of the female who was also unable to answer any questions about the property.
Officer Connolly and Borow together located some property with names on it and began calling possible victims. A victim was located and the female was taken into custody. The officers located a checkbook which contained a forged check and the female suspect concocted a false story about why she had it. Det Leising responded to the scene and took a statement from the male who he had a good rapport with. The officers then took the large amount of property back to the station and continued contacting possible victims and were able to locate ten total victims. Quite a few of the victims had not even realized the property was stolen because the theft had occurred so recently. One of the victims had their property stolen from a car larceny that had occurred six months prior. Detective Leising continued to follow up on the property over the following days and was able to locate additional victims.
Officer Borow, Connolly, and Detective Leising, worked together to successfully solve numerous larcenies. Their dedication to duty and their diligence in pursuing the victims of these larcenies is why they are receiving a Merit Award.
Merit Award
Officer Julian Chinana
Officer John Rusch
On the night of September 18th 2018 Officer Julian Chinana and John Rusch were working the night shift. Due to recent burglaries at an Amherst apartment complex the officers were keeping a heavy check of the area. From a previous burglary a possible suspect vehicle was developed. Both officers had made several passes through the lot identifying suspicious activity and making note of new vehicles entering the area. Officer Chinana identified a vehicle which appeared to have been recently parked in the far end of the lot. Officer Chinana further observed the vehicle to be occupied by two individuals who upon speaking with them did not appear to live at, or have a reason to be in the parking lot of the complex. Officer Chinana detected an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle and observed some marijuana in plain view. Officers Chinana and Rusch were able to develop a rapport with the two occupants and while searching the vehicle they located several stolen items inside the vehicle. These items included a backpack, plane tickets, and an ID card that had been reported stolen in a burglary three days prior. The officers were able to make contact with the victim from that burglary and he was able to ID the property as the items stolen in the previous burglary. After the suspects were mirandized, Officer Rusch’s calm demeanor and well developed ability to speak to the two suspects helped him gain and document several incriminating admissions made by one of the suspects in custody. These admissions included specific details and methods related to other burglaries in the complex. Together, Officer Chinana and Rusch were able to locate these two suspects and through sound investigative work connect them to recent burglaries which had been occurring in the area. It is for their efforts that night that they are being awarded a department Merit Award.
Merit Award
Officer Ryan Conrad
Officer Scott Minervini
Officers Ryan Conrad and Scott Minervini were transporting a male to the Erie County Medical Center. While traveling westbound on Rte 33 they came upon a serious motor vehicle accident which had just occurred. Both vehicles were in the eastbound lanes of Rte 33 and both vehicles were on fire. Officer Minervini and Conrad notified dispatch and requested Buffalo PD and Fire to respond. They then began to render assistance to highway workers who had stopped and were trying to extinguish the fires. Efforts to extinguish the fires were unsuccessful and both vehicles were becoming fully engulfed in flames. Officers Conrad and Minervini observed inside one of the vehicles a female occupant who was trapped and unresponsive. Officers Conrad and Minervini entered the burning vehicle and were able to extricate the female and move her to a safe position where aid could be rendered. While this was happening one of the highway workers who had stopped at the scene was struck by another vehicle that drove through the debris field. Throughout the entirety of this very chaotic incident Officers Conrad and Minervini acted with professionalism and bravery and put their own safety at risk in order to attempt to save the life of the female who had been involved in the accident. It is for their efforts on that night that they are receiving a department Merit Award.
Merit Award
Officer Richard Walter
Officer Richard Walter responded to an alarm call at an Amherst business. Upon arriving at the alarm Officer Walter observed a male standing next to a vehicle that was parked on the south side of the building. The male entered the vehicle and fled the scene with Officer Walter in pursuit. The pursuit ended a short time later on the I 290 near Main St where the suspect pulled over and fled on foot into a wooded area. Officer Walter chased the suspect into the wooded area where he was able to deploy his taser and take the suspect into custody. Officer Walter’s quick actions and dogged pursuit enabled him to arrest the suspect without additional property damage or injury. The subsequent investigation found that the suspect had committed two other burglaries already that night and is suspected of being involved in other burglaries throughout Erie County. It is for his actions that night that Officer Walter in receiving a department Merit Award.
Merit Award
Detective Jeffrey Gilbert
Detective Daniel Quinlan
Amherst Police patrol officers and detectives responded to a robbery at a jewelry store. At the time the call came out, several detectives headed to the area to assist because of the apparent serious nature. While responding to what could be described as a chaotic scene, Detective Gilbert and Quinlan, who were riding together, were alerted to a possible suspect vehicle and detective Quinlan was able to observe the plate. Det Quinlan put the plate over the air which proved to be valuable as the investigation progressed. Upon arriving at the scene Det Gilbert began inspecting the video surveillance system. While viewing the video, Det Gilbert was able to make several key observations that would guide other detectives in gathering evidence. Detective Gilbert also requested that investigators be assisted by the intelligence unit in order to disseminate important information to other agencies in a timely fashion. This also proved to be valuable as the investigation progressed.
After the scene was processed the case was assigned to Detectives Gilbert and Quinlan. The two detectives followed through on all leads and made sure that as much evidence as possible was processed both locally and by other non local agencies. After finding out that the robbery suspects may have been part of a group from Detroit, these detectives made contact with various State and Federal agencies to coordinate their efforts. Detectives Quinlan and Gilbert were made aware that two potential suspects were arrested in Strongsville Ohio. One of these suspects was still in custody and Detective Quinlan and Gilbert travelled to Ohio in order to interview him. The detectives were able to secure a written admission from the suspect as to his involvement. While in Ohio the detectives also gathered other important physical evidence and returned it to APD. Through their extensive efforts Detective Quinlan and Gilbert were able to identify several suspects involved in this violent crime. They also provided prosecutors with enough evidence and information to pursue both State and Federal charges. It is for their efforts throughout this extensive investigation that Detective Quinlan and Detective Gilbert are being honored with a Department Merit award.
Merit Award
Officer Adam Karl
Chief’s Letter of Commendation
Buffalo Police Officers Joseph Walters, Charles Skipper, and David Kimmins
Amherst Police received a call of a pedestrian struck in a Main St parking lot at near the border of Buffalo. The call reported that the pedestrian was stuck under the car. Officer Karl was on location in less than a minute.
Upon his arrival Officer Karl was met by several Buffalo Police Officers who were already on location after being flagged down by civilians in the lot. The Buffalo Officers were already trying to provide assistance to the trapped female. The scene was dire, the only part of the female that was visible was her head which was behind the passenger side front tire.
Officer Karl took control of the situation and coordinated the efforts of the officers on location as well as calling several civilians into action. Officer Karl along with Buffalo Police Officers Walters, Skipper, and Kimmins, as well as several civilians were able to lift the car while one of the officers pulled the victim out from under the vehicle. Officer Karl, who is also a Main Transit Fire Chief, then provided first aid until EMS arrived. Eggertsville Fire Co and Twin City treated the victim and transported her to ECMC where she was originally listed in critical condition. The female was later upgraded to stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery. It is for their actions that day that Officer Karl and Buffalo Officers Joseph Walters, Charles Skipper, and David Kimmins are being honored.
Chief’s Letter of Commendation
Lt Charles Persons
Officer Michael Timblin
Amherst Police Lt Charles Persons and Officer Michael Timblin responded to a store for a report of a female in cardiac arrest. The female initially was observed to have slow labored breathing but then stopped breathing, and Officer Timblin was unable to find a radial pulse. Lt Persons immediately began CPR while Officer Timblin prepped and attached the AED. Lt Persons continued chest compressions while Officer Timblin delivered rescue breaths via a bag valve mask. Shortly after the ambulance arrived the female began breathing on her own and after a few minutes she was able to respond to questions.
Lt Persons and Officer Timblin’s knowledge of their equipment, practiced first aid skills, and confident immediate action saved the life of the customer. Their actions were performed in front of a crowd as well as the customer’s husband. It is for their actions that day that they are being honored with a Chief’s Letter of Commendation.
Distinguished Service Award
Captain Thomas Maier
Captain Thomas Maier completed 40 years of dedicated service in August 2018. He was sworn in as a patrolman on 08/14/78, promoted to lieutenant on 10/07/86, and promoted to captain on 11/17/92. During his career he has been assigned to various duties. He started as a patrolman, attained the rank of Lieutenant, where he served as a patrol supervisor and FTO Program supervisor. As a captain he was assigned as a patrol division commander, communications supervisor, family offense bureau supervisor, and most notably as the technical services division commander, where he is currently assigned.
During his administration in the Technical Services Division, Captain Maier has overseen and directed the advent of computers and technology at the Amherst Police Department. While his specific contributions are too numerous to mention, he has been instrumental in the development, procurement, and implementation of in-car computers, department network, and CHARMS,
Captain Maier has also been involved with bike patrol planning and training, he has participated in the Police Unity Tour and the Ride for Roswell all while representing the Amherst Police Department.
Throughout his career Captain Maier’s dedication to duty and technical skill have been a great benefit to the Amherst Police Department. It for these reasons that Captain Thomas J. Maier is being awarded the Amherst Police Department Distinguished Service Award.
Amherst Police Winter Award Recipients - Winter 2019
Merit Award
Officer Adam Karl
Chief’s Letter of Commendation
Buffalo Police Officers Joseph Walters, Charles Skipper, and David Kimmins
Amherst Police received a call of a pedestrian struck in a Main St parking lot at near the border of Buffalo. The call reported that the pedestrian was stuck under the car. Officer Karl was on location in less than a minute.
Upon his arrival Officer Karl was met by several Buffalo Police Officers who were already on location after being flagged down by civilians in the lot. The Buffalo Officers were already trying to provide assistance to the trapped female. The scene was dire, the only part of the female that was visible was her head which was behind the passenger side front tire.
Officer Karl took control of the situation and coordinated the efforts of the officers on location as well as calling several civilians into action. Officer Karl along with Buffalo Police Officers Walters, Skipper, and Kimmins, as well as several civilians were able to lift the car while one of the officers pulled the victim out from under the vehicle. Officer Karl, who is also a Main Transit Fire Chief, then provided first aid until EMS arrived. Eggertsville Fire Co and Twin City treated the victim and transported her to ECMC where she was originally listed in critical condition. The female was later upgraded to stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery. It is for their actions that day that Officer Karl and Buffalo Officers Joseph Walters, Charles Skipper, and David Kimmins are being honored.
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