Det. Puglielli Achieves Distinguished Service Medal

Adelyne Carone was persistent. Her son’s killer was still on the run. But after more than two decades of broken hopes and dead-end leads, “I found it a little bit tiresome,” Carone said earlier this year.

Det. Mark Puglielli also was persistent, Carone said. He took a special interest in the case and “kept me posted on just about every detail. Whatever he could offer, he always let me know,” Carone said.

On Feb. 1, Puglielli gave Carone the stunning news that fugitive , in Mexico, almost 24 years after gunning down Peter Carone outside the Prospect Café.

For his efforts, Puglielli received the Distinguished Service Medal of the West Hartford Police Department. And to serve a 60-year sentence for first-degree murder.

Mayor Scott Slifka presented the award – among the highest honors in the department – May 20 at the West Hartford Police Memorial Awards at .

, who teamed with Puglielli to help catch Zachs, was among seven who earned departmental citations for solving crimes that required singular initiative and diligence, Slifka said.

“It’s a real testament to our police department that most people in our community don’t have a personal experience with crime,” Slifka said. “Most of their experience comes from reading the weekly arrest record perhaps. But there are a whole lot of stories that go behind that, and a lot of hard work and dedication on the part of our officers.”

Slifka, deputy mayor and Public Safety Committee chairman Tim Brennan and Chief James Strillacci also gave nine merit awards, 27 unit citations, and three life-saving awards.

“It’s a good time to be reminded who the good guys are,” Strillacci said.

In his opening remarks, Strillacci included grim statistics. He said 162 law enforcement officers were killed nationwide last year, up 40 percent from 2009. He said 72 had died so far this year.

“Newspapers wonder whether cops drink too much. They ask whether psychological examinations are needed periodically in our careers,” Strillacci said. “Society should be grateful that there are men and women crazy enough to run toward the gunfire when others are running away.”

Strillacci was recognized for 35 years on the force – 20 as chief.

“This year the state legislature balked at cameras to catch cars running red lights – but they want video to make sure police are interviewing suspects properly,” Strillacci said.

Five citizens were honored, including Lisa Ellovich, who aided the victim of the Oct. 27.

“Ms. Ellovich went far beyond simply assisting someone by contacting the police department in an emergency situation,” Brennan said. “In this case she was truly the first-responder, providing security and comfort.”

Also, Officer Rob Riccobon was named Police Officer of the Year by the American Legion Post 96, partly for his service as a police department media liaison.

“The professionalism and respect your news organization has shown our department, when reporting stories, is second to none and again I say, thank you,” Riccobon said in an email to media outlets.

Also receiving departmental citations were officers Andrew Teeter, Douglas Martindale, James Mahoney, Ryan Riley, Daniel Moffo and Joseph Creaco.

Riley (two) and Creaco also earned merit awards for exceptional devotion to duty and were joined by detectives Gino Giansanti, Dawn Lascari, Andrew Wamester, and officers Aaron Vafiades, Thomas Lazure and Dominic Creaco.

Strillacci and officers John Cardone and Mark Sorel earned life-saving awards for rescuing a woman who was struggling to breathe after choking on food at her home.

Unit citations for exceptional skill in a coordinated action:

• Officers Scott Segar, Benjamin DelMonte, Dominic Creaco, Kevin Harrison and detectives Gary Ciarleglio and Steven Ciarleglio for solving a series of commercial burglaries.
• Detectives Thomas Ganley, Michael Camilleri, Brian Enns, William Kinahan, James McKeown, Sgt. Kevin McCarthy and officers Kevin Harrison, Benjamin DelMonte, Dominic Creaco and Scott Segar for arrests .
• Officers Dominic Creaco, Joseph Creaco, Brian Gallagher, David Strzalka, Peter Senick, Jeremy Allen, Eric Rocheleau, David Michael, Matt Bonzagni and detectives Wamester and Anthony Anderle for apprehending suspects who were shooting at police during a car chase in connection with another shooting in Hartford.

In addition to Ellovich, Karla Principe received a citizens award for assisting an elderly woman who had fallen on West Ridge Drive; Dr. Julie Vernon for helping a restaurant patron who became ill; David Gollob for alerting police to a dangerous driver; and Edwin Diaz, for at a neighbor’s home.

Assistant chiefs Robert McCue and Carl Rosensweig were honored for 30 years of WHPD service, and Officer Frederick Malona, Det. Ganley and Lt. Daniel Coppinger were recognized for 20 years.