Please find and view the most up to date news and information regarding the Town of New Windsor Police Department listed below.
This morning, Officer Joseph Bell and K9 Duke graduated from Canine Patrol School after 16-weeks of training in obedience, agility, criminal apprehension, handler protection, tracking and article searches. A very special thank you to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Carl Dubois for hosting the school and to 1st Sergeant Dustin Palen for running the school and sharing his knowledge. Congratulations to all the police K9 teams that graduated. We are very excited for Officer Bell and K9 Duke to finally be out on patrol interacting with the community as they keep everyone safe.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE #23-10 Issued on: 06/09/23
On June 30, 2023 New Windsor Police Officer Brian Levy and K-9 Marty graduated from the Police Canine Patrol School that was hosted by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The school consisted of 16 weeks of hands-on training where the officer and the K-9 were instructed in obedience, agility, evidence recovery, criminal apprehension, and searching for suspects and missing persons.
Officer Levy and K-9 Marty were already certified in explosive detection and are capable of indicating on 21 explosive odors. Officer Levy has been serving with the New Windsor Police Department since 2017. He is a proactive member of the department and has served in the Community Policing Unit and the Bicycle Patrol Unit. He was recognized as the Department’s 2020 Officer of the Year.
K-9 Marty is a two-year-old German Shepherd, imported from the Slavic Republic. He was named after former New Windsor Police Detective Marty Mitchetti Jr. who passed away in 2005. Detective Mitchetti was a canine handler at the time of his death.
New Windsor Police Officer Steven Bohr recently attended a two-week police training course to certify him to safely and efficiently operate a police motorcycle. The course was held by the City of Yonkers Police Department in Yonkers, New York. The class consisted of 20 police officers from several different police agencies in Westchester, Dutchess, Suffolk and Orange Counties, as well as one officer from a Connecticut agency. This highly demanding and rigorous course of instruction consisted of both classroom training and extensive riding through closed obstacle courses and on public roadways.
Officer Steven Bohr received the ‘Top Gun’ award for being the best motorcycle rider in the class. Officer Bohr is the first officer to be added to the Town of New Windsor Motor Unit in over 10 years. The Motor Unit was formed in 1995 and currently consists of three police motorcycles.
The photo shows Officer Bohr receiving the ‘Top Gun’ award at the graduation ceremony held on September 25, 2020 in Yonkers, NY.
On February 8, 2021, Police Officer Christopher D. Deets retired from the Town police force. Officer Deets was recognized with a Service Achievement Award by Town Supervisor George J. Meyers III and Police Chief Robert L. Doss at a walk out ceremony. Supervisor Meyers stated, “Officer Deets is leaving the Police Department in a better place than when he found it and anytime you can say that, it means the officer did a good job. I wish the best for Officer Deets and his family”. Chief Doss stated, “Officer Deets has been awarded for saving 4 lives over the course of his career here. I think that says it all about his hard work and dedication to serving the community. I commend him for his service to the Town and we will miss him.” Also, on hand for the ceremony was Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and Orange County Commissioner of Emergency Service Brendan Casey who recognized Officer Deets for his military service with the U.S. Army and his police service to the County.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE #25-12 Issued on: May 13, 2025
NWPD Holds Awards Ceremony and Monument Dedication
New Windsor, NY – On Monday, May 12th, the Town of New Windsor Police Department held its 40th Annual Awards Ceremony. The ceremony is held each year during National Police Week to celebrate the contributions of department members and partners, recognizing their hard work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping our community safe.
In addition to recognizing several department members for their years of service to the department and/or the military, 39 awards were presented to 47 individuals or units. Police Chief Dan Valeri praised the award recipients, stating, “You inspire your fellow colleagues and set an example that we all strive to follow.” He went on to thank those in attendance for their support. He added, “remember that it’s the collective efforts of this entire department — from the officers on the street to the dispatchers behind the scenes to our civilian partners — that makes New Windsor a safer and stronger community. We all play an essential role in this work, and each of you contributes to our shared mission of serving with integrity, respect, and excellence.
Town Supervisor Stephen Bedetti agreed stating, “Our community is stronger, safer, and more connected because of the unwavering commitment and professionalism shown by every member of our police department — both officers and civilian staff. We are deeply grateful for your service, and it is an honor to recognize your outstanding contributions at this year’s awards ceremony.”
As the ceremony continued, awards were presented to members of the New Windsor Police Department, Town of Newburgh Police Department, City of Newburgh Police Department, New York State Police, FBI Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force, and New Windsor Emergency Medical Services as well as civilians who assisted the department. The following awards were presented:
OFFICER OF THE YEAR 2024
Officer James W. Burke
LIFESAVING AWARD
Deputy Chief Brian G. Hollifield
Officer Kenneth K. Ferrier
EXCELLENT POLICE DUTY
Detective Bryan J. Lubarsky
Detective Kevin P. Moore
Detective Francis A. Pierri
Detective Anthony H. Weed (2)
Officer James W. Burke (2)
Officer Frederick R. Fayo IV
UNIT CITATION AWARD
Chief Daniel J. Valeri
Lieutenant Frederick R. Fayo III
Detective Sergeant Christopher P. Sylvester (5)
Sergeant Hannah M. Ward
Sergeant Alexander S. Ragni (3)
Sergeant Jason Ross (4)
Sergeant Ryan S. Sussman
Detective Jeremy J. Arcaro (7)
Detective Bryan J. Lubarsky (2)
Detective Kevin P. Moore (7)
Detective Francis A. Pierri (8)
Detective Anthony H. Weed (5)
Officer John T. Babcock (2)
Officer Joseph V. Bell
Officer Steven J. Bohr (2)
Officer Brenden J. Byman (2)
Officer Frederick R. Fayo IV (2)
Officer Joseph D. Finnerty (2)
Officer Stefano G. Gagliardo (2)
Officer Cassidy C. Hazard
Officer William T. Hazard
Officer Jhonattan N. Josesanatana (3)
Officer Brian P. Levy (4)
Officer John A. Martin
Officer Saul Rivera
Officer Rafael A. Santiago (4)
Officer Hannah M. Schmitt
Officer Anthony J. Vega
Dispatcher Daniel L. Bennet
Dispatcher Christopher M. Butcher
Dispatcher Suzana Starr
Sergeant Kevin Jodice, City of Newburgh PD
Sergeant Francis Quinn, City of Newburgh PD
Detective Jason Fitzsimmons, Town of Newburgh PD
Detective Thomas O’Connell, Town of Newburgh PD
Detective Michael Sisia, Town of Newburgh PD
Hudson Valley Safe Streets Task Force
NYSP Aviation
NYSP VGNET (2)
HONORABLE MENTION AWARDS
Officer James Burke
Officer Brenden J. Byman
Officer Stefano G. Gagliardo
Officer Brian P. Levy (3)
Officer Tyler J. Prokosch
SERVICE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Lieutenant Frederick R. Fayo III, 35 Years
Chief Daniel J. Valeri, 25 Years
Sergeant Jason Ross, 20 Years
Officer John A. Martin, 20 Years
Deputy Chief Brian G. Hollifield, 15 Years
Sergeant Paul M. Cronk, 15 Years
Sergeant Matthew G. Frankl, 15 Years
Sergeant Alexander S. Ragni, 15 Years
Detective Seamus P. Gallagher, 15 Years
Detective Kevin P. Moore, 15 Years
Officer Joseph V. Bell, 15 Years
Officer Hardy K. Pierce, 15 Years
Officer Michael Y. Takeuchi, 15 Years
MILITARY SERVICE AWARD
Officer Liam M. Conroy
Officer Peter Persoon
Officer Rafael A. Santiago
SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Special Agent Thomas Anderson, FBI
New Windsor EMS
CIVILIAN RECOGNITION AWARD
Jeffrey J. Barrett, Town of New Windsor
Stephen A. Bedetti, Town of New Windsor
Earlier in the day a ceremony was held to dedicate a monument outside police headquarters honoring the department’s K-9 Unit. The unit, which was officially formed in 1985, has been served by 14 past and 3 current teams. Many of the former handlers attended the ceremony along with the current members. Also in attendance were town officials and employees, police department staff and the current K-9 class and their trainers from the Orange County Sheriff’s K-9 School. Chief Valeri thanked Town Supervisor Bedetti and the Town Board for their support and commitment to the unit. He went on the thank, former chief, Michael Biasotti for his vision and leadership that laid the foundation for the department’s K-9 program, as well as the past and current handlers for their service and commitment. The chief said, “This monument stands as a tribute to every K-9 who wore the badge and served with honor. May it remind us all of their loyalty, bravery, and the unbreakable bond they shared with those who walked beside them.”
Officer Babcock became a Police Officer because he wanted a career that was not only challenging but one that he could give back to the same community that he grew up in. He found that in the New Windsor Police Department.
Use the following link to learn more about Officer Babcock: View on Instagram
We look forward to putting out more content like this. It is another way that the New Windsor community can get to know their Police Officers.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE #23-06 Issued on: May 15, 2023
This year, in honor of Police Week, New Windsor Police Chief Dan Valeri, along with Lieutenant Matt Monahan, Sergeant Hannah Lake, PBA President Frank Volpe and School Safety Officer Hardy Pierce, participated in this year’s Virtual National Police Week Memorial 5K – a race uniting thousands of law enforcement officers and their supporters to remember those officers killed in the line of duty. Chief Valeri ran in honor of Sergeant Vincent Oliva and Officer John Cortazzo of the Port Authority Police Department, both of whom died as a result of illnesses sustained during the rescue and recovery efforts following the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. Chief Valeri was a classmate of Cortazzo and a student of Oliva when he attended the Port Authority Police Explosive Detection Canine School in 2001. Lt. Monahan ran in honor of NYPD Officer Patrick Monroe who died as a result of cancer that he developed following his assignment to the search and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Officer Monroe was the uncle of New Windsor Officer Joseph Finnerty. Sgt. Lake dedicated her run to the memory of NYPD Detective Michael Hanson. Det. Hanson died of a neurological illness which was likely attributed to his response to the 9/11 World Trade Center Attack. His family is still awaiting the line of duty death designation. Officer Pierce, who is assigned as the School Safety Officer at the Little Britain Elementary School, ran with school employees Todd Grodin, Marisa Sitko, Lindsey Krause and Jeanna Santagato, who chose to join his team for the event. Together they ran in honor of Officer Breann Leath. Officer Leath was an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officer who was shot and killed on April 9, 2020 while responding to a domestic disturbance. In addition to honoring the fallen officers, Chief Valeri created the team to participate in this year’s event to promote wellness and unity within the department. He also ran the 3.1 miles in his department issued bulletproof vest as a reminder to officers that there is no good reason not to wear their body armor. The National Police Week 5K is presented by The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring America’s fallen law enforcement heroes. As the largest law enforcement memorial in the United States, ODMP preserves the memories of 26,000+ fallen officers in its online memorial and reflection pages.
[PHOTO CAPTIONS] NWPD team members (left to right) Lt. Monahan, Chief Valeri, Sgt. Lake and PBA President Volpe. Little Britain School team members (left to right) Todd Grodin, Marisa Sitko, Lindsey Krause, Jeanna Santagato and School Safety Officer Hardy Pierce.