BEDFORD, N.Y. - Brother police officers Jack and Robert DeAlto received top individual honors at the Bedford Police Department’s annual awards ceremony earlier this month.
Robert DeAlto was named the department’s 2025 Police Officer of the Year, while Jack DeAlto was recognized as its Traffic Safety Officer of the Year.
Police Chief Melvin Padilla welcomed guests to Police Department headquarters for the May 11 ceremony, which recognized numerous officers for their service and celebrated the promotion of Police Officer Joseph Sagliano to the rank of sergeant.
The ceremony also included the department’s annual tribute to fallen Sgt. Thomas Wade, who served 11 years on the Bedford force before he was killed in a motorcycle crash on Route 35 in 1925.
Lt. Peter Sikoryak announced the honorees, and Chief Padilla presented the award certificates.
Excellent Police Officer Duty Award
Police Officers Jordan Baschnagel, Natasha Villegas and Robert DeAlto were honored after responding to a dog-kennel fire and rescuing “upwards of 30 dogs, with one officer suffering a dog bite in the process,” according to their certificate. “All dogs were safely removed from the building.”
Excellent Police Officer Duty/Unit Citation
Police Officers David Friedman, Zach Leone and Natasha Villegas; Sgt. Christopher Colello; Police Officer Joseph Sagliano; Detective/Sgt. Adam Grisanti; and Detectives Thomas Keane, Matthew Whalen and Kyle Peterson were recognized for their response to an incident on June 13, 2025.
After a car became wedged between a handrail and a building near Bedford Road and Cherry Street, officers found a man in need of medical attention. They summoned an ambulance and inventoried the vehicle before it was towed. During the inventory, officers discovered a loaded handgun and cocaine. A subsequent search warrant uncovered additional evidence, leading to the driver’s arrest.
Unit Citation
Police Officers Vincent Ventarola, Andrew Klein, David Friedman and Jack DeAlto were honored for their response to reports of a violent, emotionally disturbed person on June 13, 2025.
The officers encountered a 23-year-old man who was yelling, hallucinating and behaving erratically due to drug ingestion. Officers were able to calm the man enough to safely place him in handcuffs and transport him to the hospital without using force.
“These officers were able to mitigate a potentially dangerous situation which posed a threat to the safety of the male and the public without incident,” the certificate states.
Life Saving Award
Police Officers Dennis Mancia, Gerard Williams and Doug Romeo were recognized for helping save the life of a man who suffered an anaphylactic reaction to multiple bee stings.
The man was unresponsive and had no pulse when officers arrived on June 21, 2025. Officers administered CPR, oxygen and epinephrine before the patient was transported to Northern Westchester Hospital, where he later began breathing on his own and speaking.
2025 Unit Citation
Police Officer Joseph Sagliano; Detectives Matthew Whalen and Kyle Peterson; Police Officers Jordan Baschnagel and Brian Sacher; Detective Eric Henderson; Detective/Sgt. Adam Grisanti; Detective Thomas Keane; and Police Officers Vincent Ventarola, Andrew Klein, David Friedman and Jack DeAlto were recognized for their response to a vehicle crash on April 29, 2025.
The officers responded after a man crashed a stolen vehicle into another motorist’s car, igniting a fire. The suspect fled on foot, but officers coordinated with state and local police agencies to locate and arrest him while he was hiding in the woods.
Traffic Safety Officer of the Year – Police Officer Robert DeAlto
“Throughout the year 2025,” his certificate states, “Officer DeAlto worked above and beyond expectations in the area of traffic enforcement. He led the department in both DWI arrests and VTL Section 511 arrests. His total number of traffic stops was nearly double that of the next closest officer. His efforts have made a significant impact on overall traffic safety within our town.”
Officer of the Year – Police Officer Jack DeAlto
During his seven years with the department, Jack DeAlto has served as an active patrol officer and has led the department several times in traffic enforcement activity. He is also a member of the Accident Investigation Unit and currently serves as a school resource officer for the Bedford Central School District.
“He has excelled at bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community,” his certificate states. “He is well aware that the job is difficult yet rewarding and has shown he is up to the task. He does very well with investigations pertaining to the school and is able to operate with little supervision, demonstrating strong leadership qualities. Officer DeAlto continues to represent this department in a positive light and has done so throughout the year 2025.”
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