Dozens Get Awards
FDNY Honors Administrators

By ARI PAUL

The Fire Department honored civilian and uniformed employees for exemplary administrative service Nov. 19 during a ceremony at New York Technical College in Brooklyn.

FDNY Photo Unit A FEW GOOD ADMINISTRATORS: The Fire Department issued medals to employees Nov. 19 during a ceremony honoring excellence in administrative duties. From left to right are Malgorzata Kapusta-Simak, Regina Prokofyeva, Lei Tian and Lavonne Allen, who received the George F. Mand Award for expediting pension cases.

"When most people think of the Fire Department, they think of Firefighters and fire officers rushing into burning buildings in their bunker gear, or jumping on their rigs and heading out of the firehouse with sirens blaring," Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta said during the ceremony. "But behind those Firefighters and fire officers is a group of tremendously dedicated professionals who make sure that the rigs are working and the turn-out gear fits. And while it takes tremendous courage and strength to be a firefighter, it also takes a tremendous amount of brainpower and hard work to make this department run."

Made Arson Case

Fire Marshal Martin J. McHale won the Commissioner Martin Scott Medal for displaying excellence in investigating a fire caused by arson in Queens.

"Realizing the seriousness of this incident, the Fire Marshal began a multi-layered investigation," a department statement said. "McHale conducted numerous interviews, developed confidential sources of information and analyzed various documents and records. His investigation concluded that the motive did center on a lover's triangle and that a scorned woman hired a hit man who was promised $10,000 to kill the other woman. In February 2006, McHale's investigation led to the arrest and indictment of the suspect, who made admissions concerning her actions. McHale demonstrated teamwork and tenacity. Whether involved in conducting the physical examination of the fire scene, interviewing witnesses or analyzing documents, McHale proved his ability to be resourceful and work independently."

The George F. Mand Award for reducing the backlog of pension cases for firefighters injured in the line of duty went to Lavonne Allen, Lei Tian, Regina Prokofyeva and Malgorzata Kapusta-Simak.

"Disabled Firefighters and officers now can retire and receive their pensions more quickly," the statement said. "Simultaneously, the department can resolve the employment status of retiring members and more quickly fill the open slots left by their retirements."

Improved WTC Program

John Adams, Jason Cheng, Kamaldeep Deol, Reshma Rao, Paul Lee and Phyllis Vickers won the Community Mayors Nicholas DeGaeta Award for developing applications to improve World Trade Center medical monitoring and treatment.

The department praised their data- and cancer-tracking methods, which it said benefited both the force and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at the Centers for Disease Control.

The Bureau of Training's Firefighter Walter H. Blum won the Honorary Fire Officers Association Medal for instituting improvements at the Fire Academy.

The Moe Ginsberg Award for keeping buildings in compliance with the Fire Code went to Joseph Rosenzweig, Gladis Rivera, Kenneth Minton, Pierre-Charles Pierre, Raphael Afolayan, Verant Johnson, Silvio Ventura, Marvin Tatum, Conrad Nicholson, Ilir Cobaj, Edward K. Nolan, Rodolfo Alfeche, Errol Carreon, Ivan DeLeon, James Grant, Barrington Roache, John Stabner, Patrick McInerney, Chauncey McClary and George Borschevsky.

Other Honorees

The other civilian medal winners were David M. Litvin, Theresa M. Woods, Gladys Bennette, Michele J. Maglione, Wadell English, Erick Green, Tamara Saakian, Igor Chouchereba, Mark Smith, Anthony Hsueh, Leo Subbarao, Robert Tennenhauser, David Kahn, Christopher Afuwah, Barbara Canning, John Yacavone, Daniel A. Nastro, Shaji Joseph, Paul J. Soehren, John Macek and Andy M. Diamond.

The other uniformed members winning medals were Firefighters Carlos Howell, George Grammas, Tracy Lewis, Dasul Andrews, William Duffy, Chun Ko, William Agosto, Paul Robinson, Zackary Fletcher, Shawn Smith, Steven Ross, Sherman Smalls, Jason Pagan, Corey Hannah, Troy Owens, Khalid Baylor, Kevin Simpkins, Elroy Deans, Lieuts. Francesca Smith, Michael Lynch, Robert Crowe, and Gregory McLetchie, and Capt. Hector Tyler.

Capt. Eric Sacknoff, Battalion Chief Andrew Richter, Battalion Chief Stephen Geraghty, Capt. Michael Hayes, Lieut. Shaun McNally, Capt. Thomas Dolan, Lieut. Patrick J. Dillon, Emergency Medical Technicians Dulce McCorvey, Brandon Mahon, Kimberly Perez and Paramedic Joan Hillgardner also won medals.