From: Christopher P. Reddy – Chief of Police
To: Commanding Officers, All Divisions
Please Read at all Roll Calls
I would like to commend the following officers whose immediate response and subsequent heroic actions led to the arrest of three armed suspects, along with the seizure of an illegal firearm and other weapons.
- Sergeant Gary Hagerty
- Officer Nikolay Bashko
- Officer Reny Beltran
- Officer Nicholas Bona
- Officer Michael Donovan
- Officer Daniel Keough
On March 6, 2023, at approximately 2247 hours, Officer Nicholas Costa and Officer Elizabeth Troisi (C-17), were dispatched to a Southside Avenue address on a report of gunshots. Initial reports indicated that one victim may have been struck by a bullet, and that 2 – 3 male suspects wearing dark clothing were observed running up Southside Avenue toward Boston Street.
Upon arrival Officer Costa and Officer Troisi observed shattered glass on the front steps and damage from multiple gunshots into the house. Officers worked quickly to determine whether anyone was injured and to update other responding units with information. Initially there was concern that a daughter with special needs may have been struck by a bullet, as she complained of feeling pain in her back while lying in bed after hearing the gun shots. It was later determined that a bullet had entered her mattress, but she had not suffered any physical injury.
Sergeant Peter Panacopoulos (S-1), Officer Hector Orellana (C-7), and Officer Ioan Rasinariu (C-11) also arrived on scene and began gathering evidence. Sergeant Panacopoulos located several shell casings in the street across from the victim’s home.
Officer Orellana and Officer Rasinariu canvassed the neighborhood and located several witnesses, as well as video evidence from multiple residential security cameras. The video showed the suspects arriving and then fleeing the area after the shooting.
As this was occurring, Officer Daniel Keough (C-16) and Officer Reny Beltran were canvasing the area in search of the suspects when they observed three males wearing dark clothing in the area of Holyoke Street. The three men looked back at the cruiser, and then quickly walked away and turned into Curwin Circle. C-16 broadcast their observations to other units in the area; and Officer Nicholas Bona (C12), Officer Michael Donovan (C-15), Officer Nikolay Bashko, and Sergeant Gary Hagerty (S-2) immediately responded to assist them.
While waiting for backup units to arrive, Officers Keough and Beltran exited their cruiser, and attempted to engage the three suspects. The officers gave repeated verbal commands for the suspects to stop and to remove their hands from their pockets; but the suspects refused to comply.
As other units arrived, one suspect suddenly ducked down between two motor vehicles, before quickly emerging back with the others. As he ducked out of sight the officers heard the sound of metal hitting the ground. The officers then drew their duty weapons, and again gave verbal commands for the suspects to stop.
The individuals complied, and officers were able to approach and search them for weapons. The officers located a double-edged dagger in the pocket of one party, and a collapsible baton on the ground between parked cars, where another suspect ducked out of sight.
Cars 16 and S-2 then retraced their path and located a firearm next to a bush at the entrance of Curwin Circle where they initially saw the suspects walking. The officers were then able to compare the suspects with images from the videos that had been collected on Southside Avenue, and they determined them to be the same.
Officer Keough and Officer Beltran showed keen observation skills and strong tactics as they located three potential suspects, called for assistance, and maintained contact while keeping a safe distance.
Sergeant Hagerty, Officer Bashko, Officer Bona, and Officer Donovan all acted with personal courage and showed strong tactics; as they engaged multiple suspects who were believe to be armed and had just been involved in a shots-fired incident. As a result of their actions, three suspects were taken into custody and multiple weapons were seized as evidence, including an illegal firearm.
I hereby order that Sergeant Gary Hagerty, Officer Nikolay Bashko, Officer Reny Beltran, Officer Nicholas Bona, Officer Michael Donovan, and Officer Daniel Keough, be commended for their actions, with a copy of this Commendation placed in their personnel file.
In addition, I also want to recognize the professional response and dedication to duty demonstrated by Sergeant Peter Panacopoulos, Officer Nicholas Costa, Officer Hector Orellana, Officer Ioan Rasinariu and Officer Elizabeth Troisi. Their immediate response, as well as their urgent efforts to quickly assess the scene, gather critical evidence, and promptly communicate information to officers that were engaged with the suspects, demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and dedication to duty. I hereby order that these officers each be awarded a Letter of Recognition for their actions, with a copy of that letter to be placed in their personnel files.