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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 13-46

April 18, 2013

CONTACT:

Adam Bosch (845) 334-7868 / Chris Gilbride (718) 595-6600

Commissioner Strickland Promotes Nine Veteran Members of Department of Environmental Protection Police Force

DEP Police Protect Drinking Water for 9 Million New Yorkers

New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Carter Strickland today presided over a promotion ceremony for nine Environmental Police Officers at the department’s Police Academy in Kingston, NY. One Inspector was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief, while eight Officers were promoted to Detective Specialist. The promoted officers reside in Rockland, Sullivan and Ulster counties. Since 2002, DEP has doubled the size of its police division, which now includes 221 sworn members.

“The tragic events in Boston this week remind us that the threat of terrorism is still very real and our Environmental Protection Officers are the first line of defense in protecting the lands, reservoirs and infrastructure that provide clean drinking water to 9 million New Yorkers,” said Commissioner Strickland, who was joined by Deputy Commissioner for Police and Security Kevin McBride and Chief Peter Fusco. “I congratulate these officers for demonstrating the skill, character and dedication that make them effective leaders in the Police Division and remind all DEP employees to remain vigilant - because we all share in the collective responsibility of protecting our employees and critical facilities.”

The DEP Police Division was established more than 100 years ago. It is charged with protecting the city’s water supply system, which includes more than 2,000 square miles of watershed land across nine counties, 19 reservoirs, three controlled lakes, hundreds of miles of tunnels and aqueducts, seven upstate wastewater treatment plants, laboratories, and chlorination, water filtration and ultra-violet disinfection facilities. DEP police patrol the watershed by foot, bicycle, all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle, boat, and aircraft. They also maintain specially trained units that include a detective bureau, emergency service unit, canine unit, strategic patrol unit and aviation unit.

The following inspector was promoted to deputy chief:

Deputy Chief Frank J. Milazzo joined the DEP police in December 1995 and began his career on patrol in the Croton Precinct. He was promoted to Detective in July 1997; Sergeant in December 1997; Lieutenant in April 2000; Captain in December 2001; and Inspector in July 2007. He has served in the Croton and Hillview precincts and the Police Director’s Office.

Currently the Bureau Administrator, Milazzo previously served as the Commanding Officer of the Chief of Department’s Office; the Special Operations Division Commander; the West of Hudson Patrol Division Commander, and the Hillview Precinct Commander.

Deputy Chief Milazzo earned an associate’s degree from the Culinary Institute of America. Prior to his service with the DEP police, he served with the Town of Marlborough and Town of Fishkill police departments for eight years.

The following environmental police officers were promoted to detective specialist:

Det. Joseph Colby joined the DEP police in July 2006, and began his career in the Special Operations Division, Strategic Patrol Unit. In May 2008, he was selected for and transferred to the Emergency Service Unit. Colby has proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps since November 2003.

Det. Ronald Hewlett III joined the DEP police in July 2001, and began his career on patrol in the Neversink Precinct. In February 2007, he was selected for and transferred to the Special Operations Division, Emergency Service Unit. Hewlett attended Sullivan County Community College.

Det. William R. Kresser joined the DEP Police in July 2006, and began his career on Patrol Division in the Ashokan Precinct. In August 2007, he was selected for and transferred to the Special Operations Division, Emergency Service Unit. Kresser graduated from Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in communications.

Det. Gregg Marinelli joined the DEP police in October 2002, and began his career on patrol in the Neversink Precinct. In August 2003, he was selected for and transferred to the Special Operations Division, Canine Unit. In August 2007, he was selected for and transferred to the Emergency Service Unit.

Det. Benjamin P. Monell Jr. joined the DEP police in December 2003, and began his career on patrol in the Neversink Precinct. In February 2007, he was selected for and transferred to the Special Operations Division, Emergency Service Unit. Monell attended Alfred University for criminal justice.

Det. Jose E. Rivera joined the DEP police in July 2002, and began his career on patrol in the Hillview Precinct. In February 2007, he was selected for and transferred to the Special Operations Division, Emergency Service Unit. Rivera attended John Jay College for criminal justice.

Det. Michael Upshaw joined the DEP police in March 2007, and began his career in the Special Operations Division, Strategic Patrol Unit. In May 2008, he was selected for and transferred to the Emergency Service Unit. Upshaw attended Columbia-Green Community College.

Det. Michael Wilkins joined the DEP police in December 2005, and began his career in the Special Operations Division, Strategic Patrol Unit. In February 2007, he was selected for and transferred to the Emergency Service Unit. Wilkins has proudly served in the Armed Forces since 1998.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than one billion gallons of water each day to more than 9 million residents, including 8.3 million in New York City, and residents of Ulster, Orange, Putnam, and Westchester counties. This water comes from the Catskill, Delaware, and Croton watersheds that extend more than 125 miles from the City, and the system comprises 19 reservoirs, three controlled lakes, and numerous tunnels and aqueducts. DEP employs nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers and others professionals in the upstate watershed. In addition to its $68 million payroll and $153 million in annual taxes paid in upstate counties, DEP has invested more than $1.5 billion in watershed protection programs—including partnership organizations such as the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Watershed Agricultural Council—that support sustainable farming practices, environmentally sensitive economic development, and local economic opportunity. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program with over $13 billion in investments planned over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nycwater, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nycwater.

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