SUNY Chancellor King Announces Winners of the 2024 University Police Awards

December 4, 2024

University Police Officers Honored for Lifesaving Efforts, Professionalism, and Heroism

Students Recognized for Contributions to Campus Safety 

Albany, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced the recipients of the 2024 University Police Awards, the highest recognition by the SUNY Police Chiefs Association. The annual awards honor investigators, lieutenants, officers, and staff for their devotion, bravery and professionalism.

"The safety of our students is paramount, and I am grateful for our officers' help in protecting our campus communities," said SUNY Chancellor King. "Our University Police Officers have performed life-saving measures, responded to car crashes, searched for missing persons, and performed many acts of both outsized heroism and everyday competence and care to protect those on and around our campuses in the past year. My congratulations to today's award winners, and gratitude to all University Police Officers."

SUNY Board Trustee Robert J. Duffy said, "I know first-hand as a former police officer and chief of police in Rochester how stressful a career in law enforcement can be, and how rewarding. The officers we celebrate today work to protect SUNY and our students with utmost seriousness. It is a privilege to recognize their selflessness, compassion, and lifesaving efforts through these awards."

University Police Commissioner Mary Ritayik said, "The University Police Awards ceremony is an annual tradition that recognizes the work these men and women do across the state. This job can be quite challenging, but we want to recognize the efforts of these officers, not only in protecting our students and campus communities but also in building trust in the police. They truly are dedicated to the job of protecting New York's future."

The Life Saving Awards are presented to any member of the New York State University Police who directly aids in saving someone's life. This year's awardees include:

  • Farmingdale State College: Officers Connor Coghlan, Ryan O'Donnell
  • SUNY Fredonia: Officer Amanda Drummond
  • SUNY Morrisville: Lieutenant Luke Learned, Officer Nicole Wright
  • Purchase College: Officers Matthew Alto, Fred Vanzillotta
  • Upstate Medical University: Officer Lauren Bordonaro

The following University Police Officers received the Professional Service Award, which recognizes members for acts that greatly enhance the operation of their respective University Police Departments, including:

  • Buffalo State University: Lieutenant Edward Helling, Officers Barton Bookmiller, Mary Dougherty, James Urbanski
  • SUNY Geneseo: Lieutenant Andrew Phelps, Officers Kyle Bree, Carly Warner, Dispatcher Michael Richenberg, Administrative Assistant Erin Burger
  • Purchase College: Officer Malissia Castro
  • Stony Brook University: Investigators Gary Borowski, Michelle Mori, Officers Christopher Hayen, Danielle Snyder
  • University at Buffalo: Investigator Guy Harvey

The following University Police Officers received the Heroism Award, presented to members for acts involving grave personal danger to the officer or the saving of a life. This year's awardees include:

  • Buffalo State University: Officers Brian Bidell, Paul Morrison

As part of the ceremony, two students received the following scholarships:

  • The Dr. McBride Criminal Justice Student Achievement Award is awarded to criminal justice students or students in a related field considering a career in law enforcement.
    • This year's awardee is Olivia Evans, Buffalo State University
  • The Harris Family Student Personal Safety Achievement Award is given to a SUNY student who has contributed to the safety of their campus.
    • This year's recipient is Briana Guzman, Purchase College

About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2023, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.

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