SUNY chiefs recognize UB police with highest honor

Nearly two dozen UB police officers and staff have been recognized for their lifesaving actions and professional service that included rescuing dozens of stranded motorists in the midst of a blizzard, saving the life of a choking student and utilizing their CPR and first aid training to successfully revive four UB employees who went into cardiac arrest over the past year.

The 22 individuals are recipients of the 2023 University Police Awards given out on Dec. 5 in Albany by the SUNY Police Chiefs Association. The University Police Awards, the association’s highest honor, are given annually to recognize lieutenants, officers and staff for their lifesaving acts and heroic efforts on campus, as well as their professionalism.

Ten UB officers are receiving a Lifesaving Award for four separate incidents over the past year. The last time a UB officer received that award was in 2018 for a single occurrence.

“I try to be very selective about the nominations we send forward from UB. This is, by far, the most I have ever submitted,” says Chris Bartolomei, who retired this fall as UB police chief.

“The number of lifesaving events last year was astounding, and the level of professional service exhibited by the following members simply could not go unrecognized,” Bartolomei says.

In addition to the record number of Lifesaving Awards received by UB officers, a Professional Service Award was given to Officers Luke Galmarini and Amy Revelas for their efforts to further enhance UPD’s medical-response capabilities.

Thanks to Galmarini and Revelas, University Police is one of the first local police agencies in the county to set up a Medical Response Unit, Bartolomei says.

“In a serious medical emergency, seconds matter,” Revelas says. “The Medical Response Unit members will be the first to arrive at the scene in minutes.”

Emergency Medical Technicians prior to coming to UB, Galmarini and Revelas wanted to use the full range of their skills when responding to first aid calls on campus. So, on their own initiative, they coordinated with Erie County to operate as certified EMTs while on duty as university police officers, allowing them greater capacity to use medical equipment and administer drugs.

“We saw an opportunity to improve the level of service provided to the community,” Galmarini says. “Ideally, we want a positive outcome from every incident we respond to, and we felt that the Medical Response Unit would significantly improve that likelihood.”

In addition, Galmarini and Revelas upgraded the medical inventory that campus police carry with them. They also worked with Erie County to set up training sessions for UB police officers to obtain or renew their EMT certifications, Bartolomei says.

The two say they are honored to have been even considered for the award.

“It is not about the award though,” Revelas says. “It is all about providing the university community with additional lifesaving resources.”

“Moreover, I believe it is essential to recognize the other officers who have stepped up and volunteered to play a role in the Medical Response Unit,” Galmarini says.

Fifteen others are sharing in two Professional Service Awards. They are: Lts. Timothy Bacon, Jonathan Fletcher and David Urbanek; Investigator Guy Harvey; Officers Robert Adamski, Gregory Fowler, Catherine Guzman, Dale Hohl, Jay Lawrence, Michael Puerner, Michael Saraceno, Christopher Sprigg and Dale Zulawski; and dispatchers Alli Best-Kelm and Alex Lebron.

Eight will share in Lifesaving Awards from four separate incidents over the past year. They are Lt. Scott Bixby; Officers Valerie Dobson, Alexandra Ince, John Sindoni and Michael Virchau. Fletcher, Urbanek and Sprigg also are recipients of the award.