- Recognizes, honors, and thanks police officers from Glen Cove, Nassau County, and New York City Police Departments;
- Since first elected to public office, Suozzi has vigorously worked to support and honor local police departments and our men and women in blue.
GLEN COVE, NY (TIP): On Tuesday, September 3, outside the Glen Cove Police Department, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D – Long Island, Queens) hosted his annual “Hometown Heroes” event, where he honored and thanked 10 law enforcement officers from across New York’s 3rd Congressional District who displayed exemplary heroism in the line of duty in service to our communities. During the ceremony, Suozzi shared how the exceptional work of each officer saved the lives of New Yorkers.
“Every day, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, members of our local police departments are protecting us, and serving us. Police have some of the hardest jobs in the country. These are tough times for them. We must support them and understand they are protecting our communities. We cannot allow the ‘defund the police’ or any anti-police rhetoric to discourage them,” said Suozzi. “Today, we are highlighting just a few police officers who represent the good work done by members of our local police departments every day, and we say, ‘thank you.’”
The officers Suozzi honored were from the Nassau County Police Department, Glen Cove Police Department, and three precincts in the New York City Police Department (105th, 109th, and 111th). Each officer was presented with a flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol, as well as a Congressional citation.
The following officers were honored by Suozzi at Tuesday’s ceremony:
Police Officer Joseph T. Ragolia
Second Precinct
Nassau County Police Department
On May 26, 2024, Police Officer Joseph Ragolia was on his way to work when he came upon an auto accident involving two cars overturned on the side of the road. PO Ragolia stopped and checked everyone for injuries. One male had severe lacerations to his arm and was bleeding excessively. PO Ragolia retrieved a tourniquet and applied it to the injured person’s arm, tightening it until the bleeding stopped. He remained with the injured parties until the Nassau County Police Ambulance arrived.
PO Ragolia then continued on his way to work, calling the desk officer to let him know he would be a few minutes late, but not telling him why. Later that day, one of the Police Medic Supervisors called the precinct to leave a message letting PO Ragolia know that his quick action saved the injured person’s life – that he would have bled out in a few minutes. PO Ragolia was not looking for praise or acknowledgement for going above and beyond on the morning of May 26, but his actions saved a life.
Police Officers Quincy Caton and Joseph Tomlinson
105th Precinct
New York City Police Department
On January 5, 2024, Police Officers Quincy Caton and Joseph Tomlinson were assigned to Field Unit Training. While conducting a routine patrol at 7:15 pm, they were approached by a female holding an infant who was suffering seizures. PO Caton immediately began rendering aid to the infant, noting that the pulse was weak and becoming fainter until it could no longer be detected. PO Canton immediately began CPR and was able to get the infant’s heart rate back. At the same time, PO Tomlinson contacted the authorities over the radio to request EMS assistance. He also set up a route to get the infant to the hospital as quickly as possible.
Due to the police officers training and composure under pressure, the infant made a full recovery.
Police Officer Kasey Koerner and Detective Anthony Cutaia
109th Precinct
New York City Police Department
On Tuesday, August 6, 2024, at approximately 1:30 am, Detective Anthony Cutaia and Police Officer Kasey Koerner began pursuing two subjects on an unregistered moped. The subjects were masked and driving in a reckless manner. The officers attempted to conduct a lawful stop but the moped operator fled. The officers followed and saw the moped operator discard a fanny pack onto a pedestrian bridge. The officers kept in touch with the precinct via central radio. A coordinated effort involving several Crime Reduction posts and the 109th Public Safety Team resulted in reduced traffic flow and congestion at the intersection of 126th Street and Roosevelt Avenue where the two subjects were apprehended. The police recovered the discarded bag. It contained a loaded HR .22 caliber revolver with a defaced serial number.
The coordinated action and keen observation of Detective Cutaia and Police Officer Koerner resulted in the apprehension of two suspects in possession of a loaded firearm.
Police Officers Christopher Padro and Brian Gallart
111th Precinct
New York City Police Department
Police Officers Padro and Gallart were working the overnight shift when they got a call at 4:20 am that a 3-day old baby was unconscious and not breathing. They were the first on the scene and found the father performing CPR on the newborn with the aid of a 911 operator. Officer Padro took over performing CPR until the FDNY and EMS arrived. The police officers then rushed to Flushing Hospital to alert them that the infant was on his way. When the officers checked back with the family a month later, they learned that the infant did not suffer brain damage or any other infirmity due to lack of oxygen. Due to the officers quick thinking and CPR skills, the life of this infant was saved.
Police Officers Owen Valance and Peter Michaleas, Detective Gregory Denk
Glen Cove Police Department
On February 27, 2024, the Glen Cove Police Department received a call that smoke was billowing from the second floor of a home and that there was a man inside. GCPD Chief Whitton, Deputy Chief Ortiz, Detective Gregory Denk, Police Officers Owen Valance and Peter Michaleas arrived at the home at about the same time. Chief Whitton knocked on the door and could see a man and dog inside the house. After the man repeatedly refused to open the door, the police broke it down. The officers were confronted with thick clouds of smoke and could see flames. The man was in distress, acting erratically and screaming at the officers. He grabbed a large piece of wood containing nails and started swinging and stabbing it toward the officers. The man lunged at the officers and Officer Valance deployed his taser. The man fell to the floor and the officers were able to control him, handcuff him, and remove him from the burning home. The scene was then rendered safe for the fire department to extinguish the fire. It was later determined that the man suffered from dementia and had set the fire himself.