Vernon Names Top Cops for 2016

VERNON, CT — Officer Robert Wyse has been named Vernon's top cop for the 2016.

The Officer of the Year award is presented annually to the department member who has, throughout the year, "consistently shown exceptional dedication to duty,superior performance, motivation, and a positive attitude in the service of the department and the community."

Wyse has been on the job in Vernon Police Department since January 2004. During his tenure, along with his regular duties as a patrol officer, Wyse has served as a field training officer, a defensive tactics instructor, an Ocand baton instructor, an intoxilyzer instructor, and a member of the Critical Incident Team.

Wyse is a United States Army veteran and a paratrooper and a member of the military police and served in 118th Airborne at Fort Bragg.

Wyse served Operation Desert Storm and Operation Panama Just Cause.

For drunken driving enforcement, Wyse has received Several MADD awards.

Wyse was one of the officers who started a band between police and high school students in town.

While bestowing the award, police officials said, "Officer Wyse a well-known as a teacher, mentor, councilor, and most of all, friend. Officer Wyse is highly respected among his peers and is a role model to other officers. During his career Officer Wyse has consistently displayed exceptional dedication to duty, superior performance, motivation, and a positive attitude while serving the Vernon Police Department and the community. Officer Wyse’s professionalism is a standard to be admired and achieved. Because of his hard work, dedication and positive attitude, Officer Robert Wyse is the 2016 Officer of the Year."

Other Awards and Recognition

Rachael Sutherland

Rachael is affectionately known around the department as “the cookie lady," for frequently stopping by with homemade cookies. Police said, "Although the cookies are an added bonus, its Rachael’s positive attitude and uplifting demeanor that boosts the morale around the department. Rachael’s incredible act of kindness and generosity brings smiles to the faces of all who are working. The time and effort Rachael puts into caring for us is genuine and very much appreciated."

Ellie Bellemore

Each year Ellie takes on the task of organizing and obtaining refreshments for the awards ceremony. Ellie has been spearheading this for more When the organization Ellie volunteered for disbanded she took it upon herself to continue assisting the police department awards committee on her own. Ellie went out and recruited others to assist her.

James York

On Dec. 2, 2016, while stopped at a stop sign in Vernon, James witnessed a very serious motor vehicle accident. Immediately and without hesitation approached the involved vehicles and assessed the conditions of all parties involved. After ensuring 911 had been called, James retrieved a first aid kit and began rendering first aid to the 12 year old passenger from one of the vehicles. The youth had suffered a laceration to his head and was significantly injured. James maintained medical attention to the injured youth until EMS arrived and took over care.

Ellen Morganson

Ellen Morganson has been with the Vernon Police Department for 22 years. She has served as the administrative assistant to two chiefs, Chief Rossmy and Chief Kenny. Ellen assists Chief Kenny with the annual budget preparation and maintains accurate, up-to-date figures on all department accounts. Police said, "Ellen’s service greatly contributes to the smooth running of the department. For her endless contribution to our department she is to be commended."

John Bousquet

On Nov. 15, 2016, the Vernon Police Department received a 911 call reporting that a man was trapped under a boat. The man had been attempting to attach a trailer with a large pontoon boat to his SUV when the trailer arm slipped and subsequently trapped him under the boat. At the same time, John was traveling in the area and saw what happened and quickly ran to the man’s aid. Using a crow bar, John was able to free the man.

Kimberly Hagenow and Michael Pelletier

On March 16, 2017, the Vernon Police Department responded to an attempted armed robbery at a local business in which the suspect fled on foot. Kimberly was at her home and saw a man near her house. She called out to him,m he ran, and Kimberly called 911. When police arrived she pointed them in the right direction. As the suspect continued running, Michael saw officers in the area, flagged one down, and reported what he had seen. Soon after, the suspect was taken into custody.

Matthew Jennings and Kevin Kozak

On May 28, 2016, Matthew Jennings and Kevin Kozak were at Valley Falls Park. Kevin was swimming in the same area of an 11-year-old girl when he saw her go under water and not come back up. Kevin saw bubbles and figured the girl was in trouble. Kevin went over to the bubbles, found the girl underwater, and brought her back to shore. Kevin thought the girl may have been under water for about two minutes. Kevin said when he got the girl to shore she was not breathing. Matthew Jennings came over and started to give her rescue breaths.

Cpl. Mathew Mainieri and Det. David Gesualdi

On June 17, 2016, Vernon police received a report of an active robbery in progress at the Berkshire Bank in town. Dispatch was provided a description of the suspect, getaway vehicle, and a partial plate. The information was put out to surrounding towns. Cpl. Mainieri and Det. Gesualdi of the South Windsor department heard the limited information and took it upon themselves to try and identify the suspect vehicle based on the information they received. The information was then provided to the investigating detective who was able to locate the suspect and suspect vehicle based on the information that they provided.

Officer Nikolos Trantalis

During 2016, he led the Vernon Police Department in arrests for driving while under the influence.

Sgt. Robert Marra, Officer Gregory St. Pierre and Officer Nikolas Trantalis

On Sept. 1, 2016, during a welfare check at a local hotel, Officer St. Pierre noticed suspicious activity taking place in the parking lot. He then worked with officer Trantalis and Sgt. Marra to made contact with the suspects and break up drug sales and a prostitution operation.

Officer Aaron Grechko and Officer Miriam King

On June 5, 2016 officers were dispatched to a welfare check. During the investigation, it was determined that the suspect, who was not on scene when officers arrived, was suicidal and had left a note. While
on scene investigating the suspect came back to the house and was immediately confronted by Officer King. The suspect was holding onto an object in his waistband and told officers that it was a gun. Ofc King
maintained her composure and initiated a conversation with the suspect in hopes of diffusing the situation. When the individual would not listen and began to pull the item out of his pants, he was quickly subdued by Officer Grechko.

Melissa Nadeau

On Jan. 12, 2016, Dispatcher Nadeau received a 911 call from a suicidal female armed with a knife and barricaded inside her apartment. Dispatcher Nadeau quickly and calmly dispatched officers to the scene. While officers were responding Dispatcher Nadeau spoke with the female and was able to develop a rapport with her. During the twenty minute conversation, Dispatcher Nadeau learned the suicidal woman was armed with a knife and had taken and unknown amount of pills. At times during the conversation the woman sounded groggy and appeared to be slipping in and out of consciousness. The female eventually agreed to surrender her weapon and herself to the responding officers.

Officer Timothy Gunnoud, Officer Steven Langlais and Officer Earl Middleton

On Jan. 24, Officers Gunnoud, Middleton and Langlais were dispatched to the Emergency Room of
Rockville General Hospital on the report of a patient that was reportedly trying to leave the Hospital against an emergency exam request. Officers had been at the ER during the midnight shift hours for the same type
of incident with this patient. Officer Gunnoud arrived and found the patient inside the Emergency Room. The patient was clearly enraged and defying hospital staff. Officers Middleton and Langlais arrived shortly after. The three officers talked the patient into cooperating.

Sgt. Robert Marra, Officer Jeffrey Condon and Officer Ethan Roberge

On Dec. 2, the three responded to a suicidal male armed with a handgun. Officers quickly set up a perimeter around the house and then saw the male exit his home, wave a handgun in the air, and then approach officers on scene. Sgt. Marra, Officer Condon, and Officer Roberge started to negotiate with the male who was highly agitated and not initially cooperative. Adding to the chaos, the incident took place during rush hour and only feet away from a busy street and local businesses. The three officers continued to negotiate with the male and after 2o minutes of tense negotiations, the male agreed to surrender peacefully.

Officer Bryan Sembersky and Thor

On Feb. 2, 2016 Officer Sembersky performed a motor vehicle stop and determined that the
passenger was in possession of heroin and there was more in the car. Officer Sembersky removed the occupants of the vehicle and deployed his Canine partner, Thor. Thor alerted to the presence of further narcotics inside the vehicle and during a subsequent search, more than 1,400 bags of heroin were found
and seized.

Officer Jeffrey Condon and Tengo

On Aug. 10, 2016, just before midnight, Officer Condon was on routine patrol, and while checking one of the car dealerships in town interrupted a car burglary. Without backup, he intervened and the suspect
approached him with his hands in his pockets. The suspect’s actions forced Officer Condon to draw his gun, and the suspect quickly ran off. Officer Condon quickly deployed his Canine partner, Tengo, and the two gave chase. They were able to track the suspect down in an apartment complex adjacent the dealership and
took him into custody. It was later determined during a subsequent pat down that the suspect had been armed with a weapon at the time.

Officer Dale Lagace

On Feb. 14, 2016, Officer Lagace was off duty at the Mohegan Sun Casino and observed a physical domestic incident taking place between a man and a woman. Despite not having back up, radio communication, or the tools an officer normally has at his disposal on a regular day, Officer Lagace positioned himself in front of the woman and was struck by the male. Officer Lagace identified himself as a police officer and was able to subdue the male until other officers arrived on scene.

Officer Kerry Reynolds, Officer Nikolos Trantalis and Officer Artur Czupryna

On July 5, 2016, they responded to a report of a “large bonfire,” but quickly determined that it was a house fire. They ran to the duplex. Officer Trantalis went to one side and Ofc Reynolds went to the other. Ofc Trantalis evacuated the sole occupant from the side he checked. They were then informed that there was probably someone still inside the second unit and made entry to the second unit, where they encountered smoke. The officers made their way to the second floor, located the resident, who was still asleep. They were able to evacuate the resident and him and his pet cat to safety.

Photo Credit: VPD