On Hiatus Since '04
Correction to Revive Medal Day Honors

By REUVEN BLAU

The unions representing city correction officers last week expressed disappointment that the department hasn't held a Medal Day ceremony in more than three years.

PETER D. MERINGOLO: Dispute killed ceremony.

The Correction Department has lauded the officers who helped victims of Hurricane Katrina during October 2005, but has not conducted a formal medal ceremony since December 2004.

Medals in May

"We are scheduling one for National Correction Officers week, which is the first week of May," said department spokesman Stephen J. Morello during a Jan. 15 phone interview. "Our committee has been working on awards for the past few months."

The department last week acknowledged that the ceremony had been shelved due to a dispute with the former president of the Correction Captains Association, Peter D. Meringolo, who had a contentious relationship with Correction Commissioner Martin F. Horn. Mr. Meringolo retired a year ago.

During his tenure, the CCA planned to honor four members whom the agency sought to fire for allegedly beating two inmates who refused to return to their cells. An Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings judge in February 2005 recommended tossing the charges against the four Correction Captains and a Correction Officer.

RONALD WHITFIELD: More-diplomatic choices.

Administrative Law Judge John B. Spooner actually concluded that the veteran officers acted "courageously and decisively" in disarming and subduing the two combative prisoners.

Honor 9/11 Workers

CCA President Ronald Whitfield said last week that he planned to give the union's award to four other captains who were involved in the rescue and recovery efforts at Ground Zero after 9/11 and in community service.

"When I took over, I had four recipients that I wanted to honor. It's not slighting the other four," he said, noting that several of them have retired. "These are the recipients that I chose."

He added that he was "disappointed" the department has waited so long to hold a Medal Day ceremony.

Norman Seabrook, the president of the Correction Officers Benevolent Association, said that Commissioner Horn has assured him that a medal ceremony will take place this year.

NORMAN SEABROOK: Recognition is deserved.

"There are many Correction Officers who deserve recognition for the work they so proudly do," the union president added in a statement. "Correction Officers are the unsung heroes of law enforcement in both the City of New York and the nation."

Sidney Schwartzbaum, the president of the Assistant Deputy Wardens'/Deputy Wardens' Association, was more direct. "The carrot and the stick is a concept which many agencies and corporations utilize to maintain discipline and good morale," he remarked. "It is unconscionable that Correction is the only uniformed force that hasn't formally recognized and lauded their staff via Medal Day in years.

"My union members are not without fault," he added during a Jan. 16 phone interview. "We need to initiate more letters of appreciation and informal commendations to enhance morale - if we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem."