Greenwich officers honored at police union award ceremony

Three police officers received officer of the year awards Sunday–two for investigating the 2007 drowning death of a town boy and one for confronting an armed Pemberwick grandfather just minutes after he allegedly killed his ex-daughter-in-law in 2008.

The awards were handed out during a ceremony honoring dozens of officers held by the town’s police union, the Silver Shield Association.

Detective Sgt. Tom Kelly and Detective Jeff Stempien were awarded officer of the year for 2007 after they worked to charge David Lionetti, owner of Stamford-based Shoreline Pools company, with second-degree manslaughter. According to police, the pool company knowingly flouted safety precautions that could have prevented the boy’s death. Both officers were saluted as officer of the year for 2007.Officer Brian Tornga, a relatively new member of the force, was honored as 2008′s officer of the year for his response to a Sept. 2008 incident in which Pemberwick grandfather Gerardo Lombardi allegedly shot and stabbed to death his ex-daughter-in-law.

Tornga confronted Lombardi, who had a gun in one hand and a knife in the other. Within a matter of minutes, Tornga got Lombardi to surrender.

The award ceremony, held at the Western Greenwich Civic Center, takes place every few years to recognize officers who went above and beyond the call of duty. Nearly 75 officers were honored at the ceremony.

Also honored were a handful of detectives who were part of the Andrew Kissel homicide investigation, including three detectives from Worcester, Mass., who helped police.Detectives Pasquale Iorfino and Pierangelo Corticelli were singled out and given the investigative medal for their work on the case which lead to two arrests. Other awards were handed out to officers who helped save lives during medical emergencies, like Lt. James Heavy, Officer Thomas Huestis and Officer Danielle Petruso who were credited with saving a man’s life after he suffered a heart attack and fell unconscious at Greenwich Point on July 14, 2008.

Other officers were honored for chasing suspects down who had fled after motor vehicle stops and rescuing animals form a burning building. Some civilians were honored as well for their observations that helped officers solve crimes and save lives.

Police Chief David Ridberg said Sunday was a day to acknowledge the service his officers perform everyday.

“What I like best is the narrative people get to hear and they realize a lot goes on in Greenwich as opposed to the frequent perspective that nothing much goes on here,” said Ridberg.

Sgt. James Bonney, president of the Silver Shield Association, said the event was a great opportunity for officers and their families to come together to celebrate their accomplishments.

“We don’t often get a chance for families to come together and this is a great opportunity for officers to be recognized,” said Bonney.

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