Sixty officers, two state troopers and two Springfield police civilian employees were honored in the Thursday night ceremony.
SPRINGFIELD – Emily Rios was there for Jennifer Rene McCloskey’s first moments on this earth; On Thursday night, baby Jennifer, and her parents Jessica and Michael McCloskey were on hand when Rios, a Springfield police officer, received the first commendation of her police career.
Rios, and her partner Patrick Denault were honored Thursday night at Central High School for their actions on the night of June 11 when they assisted in the delivery of baby Jennifer in the hallway of the McCloskey’s Forest Park home after the mother suddenly went into labor.
The McCloskey family stood on stage as Rios and Denault were presented commendations for meritorious service by Police Commissioner William Fitchet. The ceremony, scheduled to celebrate outstanding police achievement over the past two years, presented commendations to 60 officers. In addition commendations were also awarded to two Massachusetts State Police troopers and two civilian employees of the Springfield Police.
Of Rios and Denault, Fitchet said “These two officers displaced good police sense as first responders, and kept calm and professional in a stressful situation.Their actions are highly commendable and in keeping with the Springfield Police Department.”
Rios, a rookie officer who had been on the job for a little less than a year in June, was praised in praised for taking charge of the situation, keeping the first-time parents calm, and delivering the baby when it became clear the ambulance would not make it in time.
“The ambulance never arrived but Jennifer Rene McClusky - all 6 pounds pounds of her came into the world safe and healthy, and in the capable hands of Springfield police officer Emily Rios,” Fitchet said, as the roomful of seasoned police officers and their families burst into applause.
In the hallway following her commendation, Rios seemed in awe of all the attention. “It’s not for anything bad, so that’s good,” she said.
Asked how she felt, she paused for a second, then borrowed a reporter’s notebook and neatly wrote down the following: “humbled, grateful, appreciated. Proud of myself, partner, and brothers in blue.”
The McCloskeys, who said they have kept in contact with Rios and Denault, said they were both proud and honored to be invited to take part in the ceremony.
“We’re very grateful and very proud of what Emily and Patrick did for us,” Jessica McCloskey said. “This award is a great. It is nice to award good things going on in the city of Springfield.”
He thanked all of the officers, as well as their families, for their personal sacrifices “that are not often appreciated in the community.”
He also asked the crowd to give a moment to remember the 17 names of fallen officers etched into the monument outside of police headquarters.
“I am proud of the Springfield Police Department and the officers and civilians who contribute to the success of our mission every day," Fitchet said.
Others honored included homicide investigators Sgt. Mark Rolland and Detective Anthony Pioggia for their tireless work in investigating several unsolved homicides that in 2010 led to convicted serial killer Alfred Gaynor, serving a life sentence since 2000, admitting guilt in the murder of four additional women.
Their relentless pursuit of answers brought closure to the “reign of terror’ caused by Gaynor and “allowed the families the solace of knowing who was responsible for their loved ones’ deaths," said Deputy Police Chief Robert McFarlin, who read the commendation.
“Sgt. Mark Rolland and Detective Anthony Pioggia brought honor to the Springfield Police Department – Did they ever!” McFarlin said.
Also honored were Lt. Thomas Kennedy and officer James Goldrick for their work on Dec. 31, 2010, in apprehending two Connecticut men, Jesus Ashanti and Yannick J. Faris, moments after they robbed banks in Springfield and Ludlow. Ashanti would be convicted of holding up six separate banks in the Springfield area in the months before his arrest.
Commissioner Fitchet reads the commendation for officers Rios and Denault
Springfield police: Lt. Thomas Kennedy, Sgt. Christopher Hitas, Sgt. Mark Rolland, Sgt. Albert Witkowsky, Sgt. Daniel Reigner; officers Manuel Ayala, Seth Barker, Igor Basovsky, Brian Belliveau, Alan Bethea, Daniel Billingsley, Jonathan Blanchard, Jose Canini, William Catellier, Joseph Colglazier, Sean Condon, Luke Cournoyer, Patrick Denault, Joseph Dunn, Michael Dyer, Darrin Edwards, Juan Estrada, Michael Goggin, James Goldrick, James Gormally, Edwin Hernandez, Daniel Huard, Edwin Irizarry, Thomas Kakley, W. Shawn Kearney, William Kelly, Thomas Korzec, Mel Kwatowski, Matthew Lee, Luz Lizarribar, Matthew Longo, James McCoy, Michael Murphy, Brendan O’Halloran, Anthony Pioggia, Lee Prentice, David Ramos, Daniel Leon-Resto, Emily Rios, Jeremy Rivas, Emmanuel Rivera, Mike Rivera, Juan Rodriguez, Ivan Rosas, Richard Ryder, Edward Seder, Stephen Sicard, Jason Sleeper, Scott Stelzer, Jonathan Torres, Anthony Tyler, Steven Vigneault, Lannox Williams, John Zollo
Massachusetts State Police: Troopers Rafael Cazares, Adam Mathieu
Civilian employees: Jeffrey Stringer, Milta Vargas