YNN (Rochester)
Policeman's Ball Honors Law Enforcement Sacrifices
By: Anne Lithilux
It's one of the biggest social events of the year for Western New York police officers: The Policeman's Ball
For one night area police officers traded in their uniforms for tuxedos. For the third sell out year in a row the Policemans Ball drew 750 people honoring law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty in Western New York.
Its huge to have one night where rank really isn't an issue," said Badge of Honor Association President Justin Collins. "You have captains, commanders, chiefs from all different police departments to the most junior officer here."
The Badge of Honor Association promotes camaraderie between officers, and honors those who died in the line of duty.
"The stress of being a police officer puts on a family," said Collins. "My father was a police officer, my grandfather was a police officer so I understand the stress and the damage it can put on a relationship. Having the wife, girlfriends and parents here to be with the police officers and it's a relaxed environment and a chance to let loose."
To let loose, but also to honor officers who put their lives on the line.
"Weve got people coming from Buffalo, Syracuse, and Niagara Falls," Collins said. "We're going to have five officers that were shot in the line of duty here tonight and were going to honor them. Two from Niagara Falls and three from RPD."
One of those officers is Anthony DiPonzio, the Rochester officer who was shot in the back of the head last year.
"I was here in Rochester for an economic development meeting, and there was a point when Mayor Duffy got up and told me that he had to leave because a police officer was shot," said Governor David Paterson, who attended the event. "That officer's name is Anthony DiPonzio and he joins us this year in a whole lot better shape than he was last year.
Some of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Autism Council of Rochester.
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
At Policeman's Ball, Officers show off fancy footwork
By: Sean Dobbin
Rochester police Officer Bing Reaves Jr. joked that if he won the "Dancing with the Law" competition at Saturday night's Policeman's Ball, he was going to celebrate by eating a dozen doughnuts.
Reaves came up just short, finishing in second place behind an officer who could not be identified because of her undercover work.
But he'd have been forgiven if he indulged in a doughnut binge anyway. The two months of training sessions he went through at Arthur Murray Dance Studio to prepare for the event saw him shed 15 pounds.
The dance-off was the highlight of the third annual Policeman's Ball, which drew 750 people to the Riverside Convention Center. The event, which also featured a charity casino, live entertainment and a silent auction, was hosted by the Badge of Honor Association to raise money for its charitable causes and for the Autism Council of Rochester.
"Police have the power to bring people together to help people, and what better way to help a great charity than like this," said Officer Justin Collins, the president of the Badge of Honor Association.
It was the third year that the Badge of Honor Association has hosted the ball, which drew police officers from 14 area departments. In 2009, the event raised $20,000 for the association and last year's co-charity, Hunter's Hope Foundation.
Gov. David Paterson was on hand to express his support for the Badge of Honor Association, which was founded by Collins in 2007 to raise money for families of fallen police officers. Speaking from the podium during dinner, Paterson recounted his two trips to Rochester in the past year to visit Officer Anthony DiPonzio, who was shot in the back of the head last January.
DiPonzio attended the ball and was seen walking around and socializing with fellow officers. When his name was mentioned alongside Officers Luca Martini and Daniel Brochu, who were shot while responding to a home invasion in December, the attendees gave the trio a lengthy standing ovation.
The silent auction featured a variety of electronics, firearms and sports memorabilia. For attendees who were interested in emulating the salsa, cha-cha and rumba dances they saw during the contest, there was also a 60-lesson dance package auctioned off by Arthur Murray Dance Studios, whose franchisee Tiffany Nuessle estimated that she'd donated $9,000 to the event between the package and the free lessons that her studios offered to the "Dancing with the Law" participants
Mike Lesniak, a lieutenant for the Rochester Police Department, has attended the Policeman's Ball since it started in 2008, and said events like this were important for the morale of officers.
Said Lesniak: "I've been on for 27 years, and since I started, it's the first time they've had such a nice social event.
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle
Fireman Reigns In Doughnut-Eating Contest
Ashwin Verghese " Staff writer " August 9, 2009
The doughnut-eating contest at Cop-A-Palooza on Saturday was won by a Rochester firefighter.
Richard Brongo won the contest and the champion's trophy by eating a dozen doughnuts faster than any of his 25 fellow competitors.
Many of the other contestants were police officers and law enforcement agents. Brongo was the only firefighter to compete.
"He showed us all up," said Otto Harnischfeger of the Badge of Honor Association, which helped organize Cop-A-Palooza.
The event, in its third year, was held at Cobbs Hill Park. More than 3,000 people attended, said Harnischfeger.
The event honored police, firefighters and other emergency responders from throughout western New York. There was a softball tournament, a motorcycle pride ride and a 5K run for Rochester police.
Every year, Cop-A-Palooza raises money for a charitable cause.
This year, money was raised for the Pirate Toy Fund, a nonprofit group that donates toys year-round to needy children in the Rochester community.
"It's a great cause," Harnischfeger said.
The Badge of Honor Association is a nonprofit that honors law enforcement agents who died in the line of duty.
AVERGHESE@DemocratandChronicle.com
YNN (Rochester)
Police Gather to Help Families of Fallen Officers
By: Greg Johnston
08/08/2009
Cops were all over Cobbs Hill Park Saturday, but not to worry. It was the third annual Cop-A-Polooza.
The Badge of Honor Association hosts the event formed to help families of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. The organization also teams up with a local charity every year.
This year, organizers chose the Pirate Toy Fund.
"What we're starting to see them come from all around. Like I was saying, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Syracuse. It started as a Rochester event, grew to Western New York event and were on our way to becoming a New York State event," said Justin Collins, from the RPD and president of the Badge of Honor Association.
More than 2,000 people from law enforcement and fire agencies across the region turned out to help make the event a success.
Badge of Honor Association
BUFFALO NEWS
Hunter's Hope receives $10,600 donation
06/27/2009
Officials with the Badge of Honor Association, which raises money for the families of fallen police officers, presented a check Thursday for $10,600 to the Hunter's Hope Foundation.
Hunter's Hope, which promotes universal newborn screening, will receive a portion of the money raised at the association's Policeman's Ball.
Former Buffalo Bill Jim Kelly and his wife, Jill, formed the foundation after their son, Hunter, was diagnosed with Krabbe Leukodystrophy, an inherited fatal nervous system disease.
The Badge of Honor Association was founded by South Buffalo native Justin Collins, a member of the Rochester Police Department.
R NEWS
Officer's Recovery Aided by Support
by Casey J. Bortnick
Published Feb 21, 2009
Police from the Rochester area and Western New York gathered at the Riverside Convention Center Saturday night to help raise money and support for families of officers hurt or killed in the line of duty. Half of the proceeds from the Second Annual Policeman's Ball will go to the recovery fund of Anthony DiPonzio, the Rochester police officer who continues to recover after he was shot in the back of the head while on duty late last month.
DiPonzio still has a long way to go. But the 23-year-old is making significant progress. Just this week he actually got out of bed and took his first steps since the shooting. It's a recovery some say has been aided by the overwhelming support of the community and his fellow officers.
"We're family. We're all together and we all stand tight together," said Otto Harnischfeger of the Badge of Honor Association.
Even during a Saturday Night's black tie affair, most of the officers would rather have been at the hospital.
"Tony's doing great and he took 15 steps on his own. It's looking promising for him," Harnischfeger said.
DiPonzio was transferred to the Unity Health Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center this week. Dr. Paul Maurer says he's ahead of schedule.
"He's speaking fluently, he's very well-oriented. And for this point after that type of injury, it's astounding. The night he came to Rochester General, I would have never envisioned this rapid a recovery and this much progress so quickly," Maurer added.
Maurer said a continuing message of support from the community is getting through.
"I talked to him Wednesday and he's very much aware of it and he's very appreciative of it," Maurer added.
Nearly three years after A.J. Sperr was killed in the line of duty his father is still feeling that support.
"You don't know it's there until you need it. And then it's there in spades," said A.J.'s father, Andrew Sperr.
Sperr said he knows the DiPonzio's will receive the same kind of help his family relied on.
"It's tough times ahead for them to go through and I can't wait until the point where I can go up there and wish them my best," Sperr said.
Harnischfeger hopes the efforts of so many will inspire DiPonzio to get better.
"It just shows how everybody comes together, especially to honor the one that have been hurt or lost their lives and made the ultimate sacrifice," Harnischfeger added.
DiPonzio's family attended the Policemen's ball but asked the media to respect their privacy. For more information on the Recovery Fund of Anthony DiPonzio, click on the link below.
13 WHAM
Policeman's Ball Honors DiPonzio
Officer Anthony DiPonzio was on the minds of many Saturday night at the annual Policemen's Ball. Hundreds attended this year's ball which was held at the Convention Center in downtown Rochester.
Each year, the ball raises money for the officer's "Badge of Honor" fund. The fund is designed to help families of officers killed or injured in the line of duty. This year, half of the money raised for the "Badge of Honor" fund will go to help Officer DiPonzio's family. DiPonzio was shot in the back of the head on Dayton Street in Rochester just three weeks ago while making a routine call. DiPonzio survived the injury, however, faces a lengthy road to recovery. This week, DiPonzio was transferred to Unity Hospital's Brain Injury Clinic for long-term rehabilitation.
"They're struggling to be more themselves. They'd rather be by their son's side. And, they're doing that on our behalf I believe because they know how strong we feel about Tony," says Otto Harnischfeger, a member of the board of directors for the Badge of Honor Fund, "so, at this point, we don't want to make them do anymore that they don't want to do. We just want them to feel comfortable we want to show them we're behind them no matter what it takes. And that's one of the purposes here tonight."
Media access to the ball was limited out of respect to the families in attendance, among them Officer DiPonzio's family. Rochester Police, NYS Police, Buffalo Police, Monroe County Sheriff's as well as other town police were also in attendance. If you would like more information on donating to the "Badge of Honor" fund call: (585) 428-8850 or write to:
BADGE OF HONOR ASSOCIATION
P.O. Box 30735
Rochester, NY 14603
R NEWS
Law Enforcement Hosts Fund Raiser
by Scott Fairbanks
Published Aug 09, 2008
Organizers say it's an event for local police to help give back to the community. It's the second annual Copapalooza, held at Cobbs Hill Park Saturday afternoon. It's an event put on by the Badge of Honor Association, which was formed to help families of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty.
This year, the group is holding Copapalooza to help raise money for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Law enforcement and fire agencies from across Monroe County turned out to help make the event a success, including a motorcycle run and a softball tournament.
"Sometimes we get a negative feedback about officers and this is something we want to show what we give back to the community - which we do on an everyday basis - but this is something we can give back to other agencies or NCMEC. We did the Golisano Childrens Hospital for last year's policeman's ball, said Otto Harnischfeger. We want to give back to the agencies in our community as well as our agency to help families help people in our area in need in our community.
The cops even poked fun at themselves and had a doughnut eating contest.
It's estimated more than 1,000 people helped take part in the fundraiser. |
R NEWS
Police Gather to Raise Money
by Cristina Domingues
Published Feb 09, 2008
Members of the Rochester Police Department are bringing back some tradition Saturday night with the first Policeman's Ball.
More than 500 members from police agencies around the county are attending for dinner, dancing and a silent auction.
The money raised will go to the Golisano Children's Hospital and the Badge of Honor Association that is hosting the event. That group donates money to the families of fallen officers.
"It's been years since it's been held, as you said decades. It's an opportunity to bring police officers, friends, families and people in the community together to socialize, celebrate their unity in law enforcement as well their involvement in the community," said Sgt. Mark Sofia, Rochester Police Department.
The Badge of Honor Association plans to make it annual event.
R NEWS
RPD Remembers Fallen Cops
By: Seth Voorhees
08/24/2007
Some members of the Rochester Police Department are remembering 13 fellow officers killed in the line of duty over the years.
Ronnie Siver always wanted to be a police officer. A goal he reached when he joined the Rochester Police Department.
Ronnie's brother Don and brother-in-law George Reiss have a lot of memories of Ronnie. Still, one memory hits them like a ton of bricks.
"There was a drowning in Irondequoit Bay and we were there to recover the body," said Reiss, retired RPD officer.
George and Ronnie were members of the RPDs scuba team. On August 19, 1984, Ronnie Siver drowned during a recovery just north of the Irondequoit Bay Bridge.
"I can still remember the phone call when we got it. It's still heart wrenching today, said Don Siver.
"It was a terribly shocking day. Not only was he one of my colleagues, he was my brother- in-law. So, it's still fresh in my mind," said Reiss.
Now, some current city cops are making sure Ronnie Siver, and a dozen other Rochester police officers killed in the line-of-duty are not forgotten.
The newly formed Badge of Honor Association dedicated signs in the officers' memory at sites across the city where they died.
"The men and women of law enforcement don't get the recognition sometimes they deserve and I think when you pay the ultimate price, some type of recognition like this is good for the morale, and shows that people don't forget," said Reiss.
Ronnie Siver's death 23 years ago marked the last time a Rochester Police officer died in the line-of-duty. The sign is a fitting tribute.
Cops hope they never have to hang another sign.
"He was the kind of person, he walked into a room and lit up the place and we all miss him still, to this day," said Reiss. |
