This past Monday night, the annual Reading Police and Fire Badge Pinning Ceremony took place at Reading Memorial High School. It kicked off with the Reading Police Honor Guard Presentation of Colors, The Irish American Police Officers Association Pipe and Drums, the National Anthem sung by Todd Angilly, the Pledge of Allegiance and concluded with welcome and acknowledgements by Chief Gregory Burns, Chief David Clark and Town Manager Fidel Maltez.
Below are the recipients of the various awards and promotions as well as our photos from the event. The original high-res and uncompressed copies can be found on our Facebook page.
Reading Police & Fire Promotions and New Hire Badge Pinning Presented by Chief Gregory Burns & Chief David Clark
- Lieutenant Patrick Silva, RPD Officer Michael Davis, RPD
- Paramedic Evan Loreth, RFD Paramedic Patrick Steward, RFD
- Sergeant Benjamin Woodward, RPD Officer Andrew Schmitz, RPD
- Paramedic Michael Poulin, RFD Officer Robert Hutchins, RPD
- Sergeant Scott Craven, RPD Officer DaLonn Pearson, RPD
- Paramedic Andrew Smith, RFD
Awards Presentation
Police Department “2023 Officer of the Year” SRO Brian Lewis
Fire Department “2023 Firefighter of the Year” Firefighter Derek Loftus
Police Department “2023 Employee of the Year” Mental Health Clinician Taunya Jarzyniecki
Police Department “Chief’s Unsung Hero Award” Lieutenant Detective Rich Abate
Police Department “Perseverance Award” Officer Erik Drauschke
Fire Department “Firefighter Service Awards”
25 Years: Firefighter Michael Wood
20 Years: Firefighter Sean Devlin, Firefighter Thomas McCarthy, Captain Scott Myette
Police Department “Community Service Ribbons”
CSO Kristen O’Shaughnessy
SRO Matt Vatcher
Officer Cody Costa
Traffic & Safety Officer Mike Scouten
SRO Brian Lewis
Fire Department “Outstanding EMS Provider Awards”
Presented by EMS Coordinator FF/Paramedic Joseph Lapolla
“Patient Treated for Cardiac Arrest w/Full Recovery”
Captain Daniel Pouliot
Lieutenant Ryan Buckley
FF/Paramedic Derek Loftus
F/F Paramedic Eric Bagby
“Patient Treated for Cardiac Arrest w/Full Recovery”
Lieutenant Brian Ryan
F/F Paramedic Steven Binari
F/F Paramedic Marckendy Vernet
F/F Paramedic Karl Granoth
F/F Paramedic Evan Loreth
“Patient Treated for Complete Airway Obstruction w/Full Recovery”
Lieutenant Paul Dalton
FF/EMT Stephen Pelrine
FF/EMT Dana Ballou
FF/Paramedic Adam O’Doherty
FF/Paramedic Joseph Bialecki
Life-Saving Award
Officer Kaylyn Balbo
“Police Department Community Supporter”
Reading Rifle & Revolver Club
Middlesex Animal Clinic
Women’s League of Reading
Special Thank you’s
Rachel O’Neil of The Flower Shoppe for the floral arrangements & Al Pereira from Advanced Photo for the pictures.
