Nassau Correction Officers Receive Life Saving Award

Nassau County Sheriff’s Correction Officers Ryan Apicella and Anthony Grimaldi were jointly presented with the American Correctional Officers Life Saving Award.

The award was presented recently by the national organization at its 2012 Fall Conference and Medal of Honor Banquet and Awards Ceremony at which correctional officers, who have risen “above and beyond the call of duty" to perform their jobs selflessly and honorably, are recognized by their peers in the profession.

Correctional Officer Ryan Apicella on March 14, 2012, was on duty guarding an inmate who was under psychiatric observation. The 6-foot, 210 pound inmate, in custody for second degree assault, began to repeatedly bang his head against a wall at the Nassau University Medical Center when staff arrived to provide him with medication.

While the medication was being prepared, the inmate suddenly and violently charged at Correctional Officer Michael Daly, who was supervising another inmate in the Psych Area at the time. The inmate locked his hands around Officer Daly’s throat, choking him to the point of near-strangulation.

Officer Apicella and nearby Correctional Officer Anthony Grimaldi swiftly utilized control holds and verbal commands to break the inmate’s chokehold on Officer Daly.

Despite the inmate’s continued defiance, combative stance, attempts to bite Officer Grimaldi and infliction of multiple injuries on Officers Grimaldi and Apicella, both men persisted and were eventually able to restrain the violent inmate.

“Our Correction Officers work in an environment where life threatening incidents occur frequently," said John Jaronczyk, President of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Correction Officers Benevolent Association. "They are constantly under the threat of attack, which reinforces the importance of proper training, staffing and supervision."

"Last March in the face of personal harm and in a selfless act to save a colleague’s life Officers  Apicella and Grimaldi took heroic action," he added. "This exemplified the qualities that jointly earned them the 2012 ACO Life Saving Award.  The Board and members of COBA recognize the commitment and dedication of both of these Officers. They are most deserving of the ACO Life Saving Award."

This was submitted by Corbett Public Relations on beahalf of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Correction Officers Benevolent Association.