Police Officers Honored At Award Ceremony In Philadelphia
By David Spunt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- With a view of the city that rivals a page out of a calendar, about 200 people, mostly Philadelphia Police officers met for a night of celebration in Fairmount Park.
Officer Thomas D'Alesio was awarded the Commanding Officers Excellence Award and was recognized as police officer of the year.
"It's good to be recognized by your peers and supervisors," D'Alesio told Eyewitness News.
D'Alesio and his team helped police solve the murder of 51-year-old James Stuhlman, who was shot to death in March while walking his dog in the Overbrook part of West Philadelphia. D'Alesio helped put three teenagers behind bars.
"A guy was just walking his dog and gets killed by three kids just because they wanted to rob somebody. It felt good to be able to catch them," he said.
"Because of his attention to detail, solved that, and actually started the investigation just because he recognized a book bag. That's just a taste, a little sample of the dedication this officer has," Captain Joseph Bologna said of D'Alesio.
Deputy Commissioner Richard Ross, who some speculate will be the next police commissioner come January, praised D'Alesio and the other officers in the district.
"What's important is that they get the sense that the community at large is behind them and they are," Ross told Eyewitness News.
