Bedford Police Department to honor officers for service, lifesaving efforts

BEDFORD, N.Y. - Police Officer Jack DeAlto has been named Bedford’s 2025 Police Officer of the Year and his brother, Police Officer Robert DeAlto, the Traffic Safety Officer of the Year.

They are among a host of men and women in blue scheduled for recognition for their service on Monday, May 11, at Police Department headquarters, 307 Bedford Road. The program, open to the public, is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

As always, ceremonies will include a tribute to Sgt. Thomas Wade, who had served 11 years on the Bedford force before he was killed in a motorcycle crash on Route 35 in 1925. The program will also include the promotion of Police Officer Joseph Sagliano to sergeant.

Chief Melvin Padilla is expected to present these other awards:

Excellent Police Officer Duty to Police Officers Jordan Baschnagel, Natasha Villegas and Robert DeAlto.

Excellent Police Officer Duty/Unit Citation to Police Officers David Friedman, Zach Leone and Natasha Villegas, Sgt. Christopher Colello, Police Officers Joseph Sagliano (Sgt.), Detective/Sgt. Adam Grisanti and Detectives Thomas Keane, Matthew Whalen and Kyle Peterson.

Life Saving Award to Police Officers Dennis Mancia, Gerard Williams and Doug Romeo.

2025 Unit Citation to Police Officer Joseph Sagliano (Sgt.), Detectives Matthew Whalen and Kyle Peterson, Police Officers Jordan Baschnagel and Brian Sacher, Detective Eric Henderson, Detective/Sgt. Adam Grisanti, Detective Thomas Keane, Police Officers Vincent Ventarola, Andrew Klein, David Friedman and Jack DeAlto.

An earlier version of this story had incorrectly identified Robert DeAlto as Officer of the Year and Jack DeAlto as Traffic Safety Officer of the Year.