Making A Difference in Irondequoit Awards

Presented by the Irondequoit Police Department

The Making A difference in Irondequoit awards program provides the police department an opportunity to recognize individuals who have made a contribution to the town of Irondequoit in the area of crime prevention and public safety.  Each year we ask our officers to nominate citizens who they feel have gone “above and beyond the call of duty” for their community. 

Monro Muffler employees – 999 East Ridge Road
Manager Ray Crosby and employee Bill Wagner, Bruce Sarfaty Jr. (a private citizen)

On May 27th, 2009 at about 12:49pm the Irondequoit Police responded to the First Niagara Bank at 1000 E. Ridge Rd. for the bank robbery
just occurred.  The bank robbers escaped the bank with an unknown amount of cash and fled the area in a vehicle.  As the suspects left the scene of the incident a large amount of money was thrown out of the suspect’s vehicle onto E. Ridge Rd. in close proximity to the bank and to Monro Muffler.  As IPD units responded to the area a substantial amount of US currency was seen lying on the roadway.  Police Officers noted a number of Monro Muffler Employees and a Private Citizen – Bruce Sarfaty Jr.- positioned in such a way as to protect the roadway crime scene and currency from being touched or taken by individuals in the area.  As they safeguarded the location police were able to properly position patrol vehicles and officers needed to secure the entire crime scene, and to collect the evidence.  The actions of these individuals assisted in maintaining the integrity of the robbery crime scene and prevented further loss of currency to the First Niagara Bank.  For their prompt actions we award the employees of Monro Muffler – manager Ray Crosby and employee Bill Wagner-  and  Private citizen Bruce Sarfaty Jr. with the Making A Difference in Irondequoit Award.    

Town Resident Thomas Parisi 

On June 19, 2009 at about 2:15pm Parisi noticed 2 males acting “out of place” and exiting a driveway in the neighborhood.  Parisi felt the males were acting suspiciously and he notified 9-1-1 to have an officer check out the males.  The males started to leave the area, and Parisi chose to follow them at a safe distance in his vehicle, while providing the 9-1-1 dispatcher up to date information on the suspicious male’s descriptions and locations.  A burglary/robbery was reported in an area adjacent to where Parisi had first noticed the suspicious males.  When the police officers stopped the males which Parisi had been following it was learned that the males had just burglarized a house and when the homeowner interrupted the burglary the suspects pulled a gun out and threatened the homeowner.   Parisi was an outstanding witness during the incident and later positively identified both suspects during a show-up procedure.  For his prompt action notifying 9-1-1 of his observations and his diligence in following the incident through to a final arrest of the suspects we award Thomas Parisi with the Making a Difference in Irondequoit Award.  

Town Resident - Kimberly Brown 

On July 8, 2009 at about 3:58pm Kimberly Brown noticed an unknown male enter her neighbor’s yard from an adjacent parking lot.  Brown watched the male and saw him cut the screen to gain entrance to the house.  Brown Immediately called 9-1-1 and gave responding officers a detailed description of the male along with a description of the suspect’s vehicle which was parked nearby.  Brown saw the male leave her neighbor’s home with a package, and get into the waiting car and leave the area.  Brown reported the direction of travel the “get away car” and the license plate number of the car.  Brown was an outstanding witness and she later identified the suspect in a show-up procedure.    For her prompt action reporting her observations to 9-1-1 and for her dedication to follow-through the incident to show up and arrest of the suspect, we award Kimberly Brown with the Making a Difference in Irondequoit Award.