State Police Troopers and local Police Officers from Troops B, G and L received awards for service during a ceremony on May 16, 2007, at the Connecticut State Police Training Academy in Meriden.

Twice a year, the Connecticut State Police honors Troopers who demonstrate exceptional service in the line of duty.  The ceremony also honors men and women serving in local and federal law enforcement agencies and those serving as first responders, as well as civilians.  Award winners received medals and certificates from Department of Public Safety Commissioner John A. Danaher III and State Police Colonel Thomas Davoren.

Awards are presented in several categories, including:

Ø      The Medal for Bravery is awarded to any person who demonstrates exceptional heroism in the performance of duty while exposed to a life-threatening danger.

Ø      The Meritorious Service Medal is awarded to any person who renders service with a high degree of alertness, perseverance and superior judgment in the performance of a difficult task resulting in the protection of life, recovery of property, the prevention of – or solving of – a major crime or the apprehension of an armed or dangerous person.

Ø      The Lifesaving Award is presented to any person who saves a human life or makes a valiant attempt to save a life.

Ø      The Outstanding Service Award is given to any person who successfully performs an extreme, complex or difficult investigation. The person also may demonstrate exceptional skill or ingenuity in the apprehension of a wanted person, provide outstanding service to the public and or continuously achieves excellence in performance of duties over an extended period of time.

Ø      The Unit Citation is awarded to members of a department, a command or group who combine their resources to achieve success in an investigation or event. The citation recognizes exceptional collective efforts.

Troop B in Canaan, Troop G in Bridgeport and Troop L in Litchfield are proud have these award recipients from their troops:   

Trooper Alexander Horjatschun  On December 31, 2006, at 10:26 a.m., Trooper Horjatschun of Troop G was off duty in Derby when he observed heavy smoke coming from a house. He stopped his cruiser to check for occupants in the house. He entered and called out and located a male victim inside the residence. The man appeared to be confused and Trooper Horjatschun quickly led him out of the residence. As soon as they exited, the house flashed over and became fully engulfed in flames. The entire structure was destroyed.  The Derby Fire Department credits Trooper Horjatschun’s quick actions with saving the life of the man.  Trooper Horjatschun was awarded the Medal for Bravery. 

Trooper First Class Mark Lauretano  In May of 2005, Trooper Lauretano, of the Salisbury Resident’s Trooper Office, initiated an investigation after a child was removed from the custody of his father.  The father was accused of intentionally withholding food from the child and preventing the child from attending school in an effort to have family members believe that the child had a life-threatening disease.  The father was able to coerce a large sum of money from the child’s grandparents to pay for treatment of the alleged disease.  The investigation found that the child in fact had no life-threatening illness, but had been malnourished.  The investigation involved the review of medical records, handwriting analysis, forensic examinations and a cooperative effort with the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office in Rockville.  This in-depth and thorough investigation resulted in the father being arrested.  TFC Lauretano was award a Medal for Outstanding Service.

Detective Virgil Procaccini, Bridgeport Police Detective John Andrews, Fairfield Police Detective Fred Caruso  On November 15, 2006, members of the Southwest Office of the Statewide Narcotics Task Force executed several search and seizure warrants in Bridgeport. While the detectives were processing suspects, sounds of choking could be heard from the cell block area.  Trooper First Class Procaccini, Detective Andrews and Detective Caruso responded to a cell and found a prisoner hanging by his shirt which he tied to a box.  The three Troopers entered the cell, cut the noose and lowered the prisoner to safety.  The prisoner regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital for treatment. Had it not been for the expedience and decisiveness of the Troopers, the prisoner would not have survived. The three Troopers were each awarded a Medal for Lifesaving.

Woodbury Resident State Trooper Matthew Eagleston, Woodbury Officer Lawrence Rockhill, Woodbury Officer Howard Northrup  On July 26, 2006, Woodbury Trooper Eagleston, along with Woodbury Officers Rockhill and Northrop, responded to a Woodbury residence for a report of a person in cardiac arrest.  The Troopers determined that the victim was without a pulse and initiated CPR immediately.  Trooper Eagleston established an airway and provided ventilations as Officer Rockhill began chest compressions.  Officer Northrop monitored the situation, maintaining communications with dispatch and responding ambulance personnel, as well as aiding in the transport of equipment to the victim.  Trooper Eagleston and Officer Rockhill continued CPR until the arrival of EMS personnel, who successfully intubated and administered medicine to the victim.  These combined efforts resulted in restoring a pulse to the victim, who was transported to a local hospital.  Trooper Eagleston, Officer Rockhill and Officer Northrup each received a medal for Lifesaving.

Auxiliary Trooper Ronald Kadar   On March 23, 1957, Ronald Kadar was sworn in as an Auxiliary State Trooper at Troop G in Bridgeport. For more than 50 years, Mr. Kadar has dedicated countless hours to the Connecticut State Police. During his tenure, he has served under the command of 24 lieutenants at Troop G.  Auxiliary Trooper Kadar patrolled the highways with Troopers, assisted at countless scenes and has always been ready to perform any needed task. During his 50 years of service, Aux. Trooper Kadar has always made himself available and has responded to countless emergencies in our state. Mr. Kadar was named Auxiliary Trooper of the Year.

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