ALBANY — When you are at the center of a national story that plays out like a Hollywood movie, you’re going to get noticed.
That has been the case for several members of Troop B of the New York State Police over the past year, as members were again honored during the annual NYSP Awards Day Ceremony May 26.
During the 40th annual ceremony, held at the Performing Arts Center at the University at Albany, several members of the Black Horse Troop were honored, most in connection with service rendered during the manhunt for escaped inmates David Sweat and Richard Matt from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora.
Members receiving the Superintendent’s Commendation Awards included:
Major Charles Guess, Troop B Commander: From the earliest stages of the manhunt, Guess was involved with every facet of the operation. He assembled an elite team of State Police personnel to coordinate all of the New York State, federal, and local law enforcement command and response efforts. Additionally, Guess encouraged constant briefing of community leaders, conducted numerous interviews with media outlets, and coordinated continual updates to the media in order to keep the public informed.
Tech. Sgt. Jay D. Cook: Cook, who currently supervises the Traffic Incident Management Team in Troop B, took a lead role as a patrol supervisor during the search for Sweat and Matt. He coordinated the response of Troopers assigned to his strike team, and responded to numerous reported sightings and reports of suspicious activity. On June 28, Cook pursued Sweat on foot, continuing to issue verbal commands. After pursuing Sweat for over 100 yards, and having no other option to gain custody of the fleeing escapee, Cook discharged his Division-issue sidearm, striking Sweat twice, concluding the 23-day manhunt and prevented a dangerous escapee from likely absconding into Canada.
Tech. Sgt. Ronald M. Pena: Coordinated countless building and area searches during the Clinton Correctional manhunt detail. He remained in the field and assembled a strike team to provide immediate action searches in areas in which Special Operations Teams were not immediately available. On June 26, Pena and his team responded to a report of shots fired in the area of State Route 30, in the town of Malone. Pena located a small camper in a wooded area east of the roadway and detected the odor of gun powder in the air and a set of footprints traveling away from the camper. Pena met with the United States Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) National Team leader and advised him of his findings which led to the fatal capture of Matt.
Other awards included:
A Supervisor Recognition Award went to Tech. Sgt. Christopher M. Giovazzino, who was charged with adapting to the dynamic and challenging communications environment. Giovazzino and his staff worked tirelessly, keeping telephone and radio communications running during the 23-day manhunt. His efforts are more remarkable given the fluid operational landscape, impact of difficult geography, multiple areas of operation, and limitations of technology.
The Forensic Investigation Center – Biological Science Section and Forensic Identification Unit also received accolades for their work over prison break.
Along with awards associated with the prison break manhunt, a Superintendent’s Commendation Award went to Tech. Sgt. John J. Heverly: stationed with SP Aviation in Saranac Lake, who received a request March 22, 2015, from Department of Environmental Conservation dispatch to assist in the search for a mother and two young sons who got lost during a hike on Mt. Marcy the previous evening.
According to the press materials, there was an added sense of urgency due to the estimated minus 30-degree wind chill temperature during the night. Heverly launched on the rescue at 7:20 a.m. His initial attempt to reach the search area was thwarted due to heavy fog. However, at approximately 10:30 a.m., the weather had cleared for a second attempt, at which time Sergeant Heverly successfully piloted the helicopter to the summit of New York’s highest mountain peak. Heverly observed the lost hikers and advised the DEC Command Post. A DEC Forest Ranger was inserted into the scene utilizing the aircraft’s external hoist. While circling, Heverly observed the Special Operations Response Team (SORT) members searching up-slope and directed them to the scene.
