on 05-15-2009 03:17 
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By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN
PAWTUCKET - "You folks are on the front lines. The danger is there, daily, when you wear that uniform," noted State Rep. Peter Kilmartin. Himself a retired Pawtucket police captain, Kilmartin's words were fitting for a ceremony that honored both fallen police officers and current officers being recognized for demonstrating on-the-job excellence during the past year.
The awards ceremony and memorial program is held each year in observance of National Police Week. Thursday's ceremony, which included an invocation by Rev. Charles Galligan, presentation of colors by the Pawtucket Police Honor Guard and a stirring rendition of "Amazing Grace" by Patrol Officer Wallace Martin, paid tribute to local officers killed in the line of duty. These include Officers Charles Patnaude, Detective Lt. Thomas Truesdale, Detective Emil Newberg, and Officer Doreen Tomlinson.
Kilmartin noted that, nationally, just five months into 2009, there have been 49 fatalities involving police officers - 10 more than in all of 2008. He noted that while Memorial Day honors the country's war veterans, National Police Week pays tribute to "the veterans of the domestic wars."
Pawtucket Mayor James E. Doyle also noted the national importance of remembering those police officers who have died. However, he added, "In Pawtucket, we also use the day to honor the men and woman of our Police Department for their dedication and outstanding service."
Doyle also said that much of the department's successes are due to the "strong and highly capable leadership" of 35-year veteran and longtime Police Chief George L. Kelley III. He thanked Kelley as well as the officers "for the peace of mind" they give residents on a daily basis.
Among the honors given, Detective Peter Duhamel received a merit award, presented to an officer who "performs in an exceptional manner in an extremely dangerous situation." According to Major Arthur Martins, Duhamel helped diffuse a violent domestic situation last year at 1 Dexter Ct. involving a man who was chasing his wife with a knife. Duhamel, at gunpoint, placed himself between the victim and the suspect and pushed the suspect into a corner, allowing him to be taken into custody.
Twelve officers and two police dispatchers received commendation awards, presented to individuals who have exhibited "exceptional police work." This criteria is described as being actions that went beyond basic assignments, where there was moderate risk involved.
Receiving commendation awards were Officer James Baino for helping to determine the suspect in a fatal stabbing incident on Thornton Street; Officer Christopher Dolan for capturing a suspect in a break and entry to a home on Franklin Street; Officer Eric Bucka for helping apprehend the suspect in an armed robbery of the Shell Mart on Newport Avenue; and Officers Timothy Graham and Michael Lajoie for locating a suspect who had been in hiding following the robbery of a food establishment.
Also receiving commendation awards were Officers David Holden and David Medeiros for helping apprehend a suspect in a domestic dispute at 1 Dexter Court; Sgt. Manny Maciel and Officers John Ricci, Kelly Boily and Michael Cioe for the capture of a suspect in several housebreaks in the Daniels Street area who had threatened to jump from a roof; and Officer Craig Allison for locating a suspect who was in hiding after breaking into Our Lady of Consolation Church.
In addition, Officer Craig Allison, Pawtucket Police dispatcher Donna Dalude and State 911 Operator John Desmaris were awarded commendations for their work in a violent domestic incident in which a man was trying to choke a woman inside an apartment. Dalude and Desmaris worked to try to track the location of an open 911 call in which no one had spoken, and Allison, the first officer on the scene, was credited for helping stop the attack and apprehend the suspect.
Receiving achievement awards for exceptional police work were Lt. Michael Newman, for helping find the suspect in a July 2008 series of robberies; Detectives Donti Rosciti and Michael Kane for helping locate a suspect who had fled to Albany, N.Y. in June 2008 after a fatal stabbing; Lt. Tina Goncalves and Detectives Robert Matook, Linda Bachand-Doucet and Michael Kane for identifying six suspects in a Feb. 2008 string of armed robberies; Det. Donti Rosciti for identifying a suspect in a series of Nov. 2008 armed robberies; and Officers Robert Pickett and Theodore Georgitsis for helping to identify the suspect in a violent June, 2008 sexual assault.
Others receiving achievement awards were Officer Michael Lajoie, for helping apprehend a suspect in a stolen auto case; Officer David Dolan for helping to identify the suspect in a March 2008 break-in to a neighborhood market; Officer Christopher Miller, for apprehending a suspect in an Oct. 2008 vicious assault; Officer David Medeiros, for stopping a vehicle containing several suspects wanted in illegal drug and weapons activities; and Officers David Medeiros, Justin Snape and Thomas Vasatka for capturing a suspect in an April 2008 break-in.
Achievement awards were also presented to Capt. Kevin Whalen and Sgt. Michael F. Cute for their work in negotiating with a suicidal suspect on Daniels Street and convincing him to surrender; Officer Michael Cioe, for identifying three suspects in the May 2008 robbery of three juveniles at gunpoint; and Sgt. Mark Theroux, and officers Donna Joyal and Kelly Boily for helping apprehend the suspects in an April 2008 commercial break-in in Providence.
Also noted was that Detective Susan Cormier and Officers Craig Allison and Rafael Perez received letters of commendation in their file related to their police work.
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