Scholarships Honor Memory of Slain Police Officers

Nearly 29 years after their deaths, the lives and heroism of two Nyack police officers killed in the infamous Brinks robbery continue to serve as an inspiration for young people of Rockland.

To help honor the memories of those two officers,  The O'Grady – Brown Memorial Scholarship Fund has awarded seven scholarships to Rockland students for 2010 to help them eventually pursue careers in law enforcement-related fields.

The scholarships are named for Nyack Police Sergeant Edward J.  O'Grady Jr. and Nyack Police Officer Waverly "Chip" Brown. O'Grady and Brown were two members of the Nyack Police Department, who were tragically slain in the line of duty on Oct. 20, 1981.  On that day, members of the Black Liberation Army and Weather Underground staged a violent robbery of a Brink's armored car at the Nanuet mall. They shot and killed Brink's guard Peter Paige, while seriously wounding guard Joseph Trombino and injuring guard James Kelly.

Judge Victor J. Alfieri Jr. was the guest speaker at a brunch over the weekend at the Nyack Seaport to award the scholarships. He was an assistant district attorney at the time of the tragedy and remembers O'Grady and Brown with affection and respect.  In speaking about the purposes of the fund to both honor the fallen officers and further their legacy, he said, "Being a cop is a very hard job.  Today we are celebrating the deaths of two officers, but we are also celebrating their bravery."

The morning began with an invocation by Reverend David Lothrop of South Nyack, who is the Clarkstown Police Department chaplin. This was followed by the opening remarks from South Nyack-Grand View Police Chief Robert Van Cura, who spoke of the history of the event and the goals of the scholarship fund.  He then introduced the Alfieri, who is a lifelong resident of the area and was involved with the investigation and prosecution of the Brinks conspirators.

Alfieri spoke of his memories of the day of the Brinks robbery.  In the moving speech, which was peppered with humorous remarks, he spoke of the two fallen Nyack officers and how they led their lives.  He described O'Grady as a dedicated and bright man, who was the youngest man ever to make sergeant in Nyack.  He also spoke of Brown, who would go above and beyond the call of duty to help troubled members of the community straighten their lives out.

Van Cura built on these sentiments.  He spoke of the fund's search for young men and women with the right mix of desire to pursue law enforcement and engagement in their community with volunteer work and other beneficial extra curricular activities.  He also spoke of his memories of that day and paid tribute to the children of the fallen officers, whose resilience he was amazed by.

During the brunch, $1,000 awards were presented to Jario Gonzalez, Robert Leonard, Joseph Maniscalco, Michael Marchman, Bridget Nova, Frank Voce and Joseph Williamson.

To Robert Leonard, the story of who O'Grady and Brown were as police officers is inspirational and this scholarship gives him a chance to "carry on with what good they were unable to do."

For Joe Maniscalco, he looks to follow in the footsteps of his father, a New York City firefighter, who he is very proud of.  To him, receiving this award is very important. "It means a lot to me, I never thought I would get something like this," he said.  "I would like to thank Ms. Dreevis, who found out about this for me and Catherine Barbera, who helped me get the award."

For Frank Voce, law enforcement work runs in the family and has always been something that he wanted to go into.  To him, pursuing this career and receiving this award gives him a true sense of pride and appreciation.  "It means a lot to me," he said.  "Everyone who knows what I am doing says congratulations and they also say thank you.  What I'm doing makes a lot of people proud and so it makes me proud."

The scholarship fund is organized by an executive board, consisting of Chairman Emeritus Chief Alan B. Colsey, who is the former South Nyack-Grand View police chief, Chairman Robert W. Van Cura, Secretary/Treasurer Police Officer Brent Newbury, and Counsel William M. Mooney.  Also supporting the fund are the members of the board, Detective Robert Shine, Police Officer John Hanchar, the Reverend Willie Hairston, Investigator Neil Anderson, the Clarkstown Councilman Frank Borelli, and Sergeant Raymond Bliven.

A ceremony on Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. will remember those affected by the Brinks robbery at the site of the shooting of the Nyack officers near the entrance to the New York State Thruway at Mountainview Avenue in Nyack. A monument and a small park at that site honor O'Grady and Brown.

About that day

In attempting to make their getaway from the $1.6 million robbery at the Nanuet Mall, several the conspirators were stopped at a road block at Mountainview Avenue in Nyack, where Kathy Boudin convinced officers to lower their guard.  Immediately, the gunmen attacked the officers, who were outmatched in number and firepower.  Officer Brown and Sergeant O'Grady were fatally wounded in the ensuing attack.  At the scene as well were Nyack Detective Arthur Keenan, who was wounded in the heavy fire, and Nyack Officer Brian Lennon, who heroically returned fire despite being heavily outnumbered and outgunned.

In the aftermath, then  South Nyack-Grand View Police Chief Alan Colsey was able to catch one of the escaping cars which held three of the assailants after it crashed into a wall at the end of a high-speeds chase.  He blocked them in with his car and kept them at bay while he waited for backup to arrive.  Off-duty New York City corrections officer Mike Koch captured Kathy Boudin as she attempted to escape that day.  More conspirators were captured with time as the investigation continued.

Years after the deadly attack, Nyack eventually decided it could no longer afford to maintain its own police force. Members of its police department were merged into the Orangetown and Clarkstown police departments.