By Mike Verrico
Sentinel Correspondent
It is rare that those who work on our behalf get their due praise—and this is perhaps most true of our police officers. Each and every day, they put their lives on the line to ensure that our neighborhoods and communities are safe for everyone.
When they are celebrated and appreciated, it is a special moment in their lives. On May 24, the Silver Shield Association of Greenwich, led by Sgt. Tim Hilderbrand, presented its annual Awards Reception at the Davidoff Lounge on West Putnam Ave. In a stirring speech, Sgt. Hilderbrand praised his fellow officers for all they must sacrifice each day.
“In 2017, being a police officer is one of the most complicated jobs in America,” Hilderbrand said. “The issues that we (as officers) face are compounding each and every day. Internally and externally, we face constant scrutiny from every angle. In the words of Paul Harvey, ‘police officers must be a minister, a social worker, a diplomat, a tough guy and a gentleman all at the same time.’”
For his efforts throughout the year and for his display of heroism on the job, Officer Tom Huestis was named the runner up for the 2016 Officer of the Year award, and issued the Police Officer of the Quarter and excellent police duty medal, which is awarded to any officer whom, by their courage and devotion to duty while at immediate personal risk, performs an act that saves another person’s life.
On March 11, 2016, while off duty, Officer Huestis observed a woman having a conversation with a friend and pushing a double baby stroller near Eagle Pond at Greenwich Point. The stroller was occupied by a six-week-old infant and a 13-month-old child. The woman briefly let go of the stroller and it began to roll away from her, falling into the pond; the two toddlers were propelled into the freezing water.
Without hesitation, Officer Huestis jumped over a stone wall and into the 42-degree water. He retrieved the 13-month-old child and then swam out toward the six-week-old, who was floating away while still in the stroller seat, but was submerged and upside down in the water.
Officer Heustis pulled the child out of water and noticed that the child’s eyes were closed. Being trained as emergency technician, Officer Heustis stimulated the child, which woke up the child, who began crying. Both children were taken to Stamford Hospital, subsequently released, and are in today good health.
On Aug. 27, 2016, Officer Andrew Greco was on patrol and observed a speeding vehicle on North Street.
Officer Greco conducted a motor vehicle stop, but while on foot, the occupant of the vehicle drove off. Officer Greco pursued the vehicle, which to led to the suspect’s vehicle crashing into a location in central Greenwich. Two occupants left the vehicle and fled the scene. Officer Greco followed on foot, as did several of his fellow officers who responded. All were captured by the police.
An investigation led by Sgt. Kristopher Shockley, Det. Chris Libasci and Det. Brian Perusse (along with others who couldn’t not attend the event) discovered that the suspicious men were a part of a group burglars known as “the Shaw Gang,” which had committed 11 burglaries and one home invasion since 2014.
Officer Greco’s astute actions were the springboard for a multi-jurisdiction investigation to obtain federal indictments against the Shaw Gang. While the Shaw Gang was suspected of burglaries throughout the Northeast, the federal indictments obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s office included only the town of Greenwich, since other jurisdictions could not prove the Shaw Gang committed crimes in their locales.
Officer Greco has been awarded a ribbon of commendation, the Excellent Police Duty Medal, the Officer of the Quarter, and the 2016 Silver Shield Association Officer the Year.
For their effort in the foot pursuit and subsequent investigation, Officer Matthew Swift, Officer John Tar, and Officer Christopher Wallace were awarded a ribbon of commendation for outstanding police service.
For their efforts and in recognition for their outstanding efforts in their investigative tactics and strategy deployed in the investigation, Sgt. Chris Shockley, Det. Chris Lebasci, and Det. Brian Perusse were each presented with an investigator’s award for their exceptional display of police expertise, resulting in the identification of perpetrators responsible of the commission of a crime.
Sgt. Hilderbrand was quick to point out that it’s not the awards themselves that are important, but the recognition of what is required to make us feel safe.
“These awards represent a small segment of the incredibly selfless work done by the men and women of the Greenwich Police Silver Shield Association around the clock each and every day, to keep our community safe,” Hilderbrand said. “These officers have gone above and beyond, placing their own lives at risk to save the lives of others and catch bad guys. For us, there is nothing more important. Recognizing their hard work and dedication is quite honestly, the best day of the year.”
Special mention was paid to Michael Calgano and the staff of Davidoff Lounge of Greenwich for hosting the Silver Shield Awards Reception and for his longtime support of the Silver Shield Association. For his part, Calgano said, “We are so lucky to have guys like you on our side, and we are so appreciative.”
