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More Than 60 Police Officers Honored at New Rochelle Ceremony

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. – Trinity Elementary School fifth-grader Shamar Harris was recognized Wednesday for his second place essay during the New Rochelle Police Department’s Annual Memorial and Awards ceremony.

Harris composed his essay about why he cares about the police department.

“Everybody thinks that the police are just somebody that helps us,” said Harris. “They’re more than that. They’re somebody that helps the community,” he said.

More than 60 officers were recognized for their life-saving and heroic efforts in the line of duty during the 2011 calendar year.

The department also remembered four retired officers who passed away during the last year. These included Police Officers Raymond Bagdy, Frank Civitano, John Fitzgibbons and George Straehle.

“This is a two-fold day today,” said New Rochelle Police Commissioner Pat Carroll.

Carroll said the department has seen less traffic-related deaths within the past two years. Carroll also discussed his views on guns and said the department continues to work on making the city a safer place.

“We still have a lot of work ahead of us,” he said.

City Manager Charles Strome, who was joined by other city officials, said New Rochelle has been able to remain one of the safest communities for a city of its size despite tough economic times, which has forced officer positions to be cut.

“That’s a testament to the staff and officers of the New Rochelle Police Department,” he said.

The force currently has 158 officers down from 187.

Webster Elementary School fifth-grader Dannie Bell read her first-place essay, in front of the crowd at the event located at the Greentree Country Club. Bell’s essay was about why she appreciates the police and how they helped her in a timely manner when she was in a car accident.

Ward Elementary School fifth-grader Ljiljana Rajkovic won third place for her essay also about why she appreciates the police department.

The department received 150-200 submissions for its community affairs essay contest about policing and the work officers do.

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