Yorktown PD welcomes new hire, celebrates promotions

Police Chief Robert Noble presented the officers at the Feb. 4 Town Board meeting

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YORKTOWN, N.Y. — The Yorktown Police Department has sworn in a new officer, promoted two lieutenants, and assigned Matthew Racioppo to the position of Detective Sergeant.  

During Tuesday’s Town Board meeting, as proud families looked on, Chief Robert Noble took to the podium to introduce the new officer and announce the recent promotions within the department. He commended the officers for their dedication to service and their unwavering commitment to the Yorktown community.  

“The promotions were well deserved. The new addition is also well deserved.”  

The officers thanked their loved ones for their tireless support despite long and difficult hours and cited ties back to the local community—making them all the prouder to serve. 

Officer Vincent Giordano was born and raised in Yorktown. The 2006 Lakeland High School graduate is a black belt in karate and a brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Westchester Community College in 2009.  

He went on to study corporate and homeland security at Mery College before joining the New York City Police Department’s 52nd Precinct in July 2013. There, he served as a patrol officer and an intact training officer. He received two Meritorious Police Duty awards. During his last two years at the NYPD, he served as a certified field training officer. He was hired by Yorktown PD in November 2024. Noble said that Giordano is “incredibly proud to serve his community.”  

Noble described the journey of Michael Vuoso, who was promoted to Sergeant, as a “testament to both his dedication and versatility.” Vuoso moved from a “passionate pursuit of music” to a career in law enforcement.  

Vuoso graduated from North Rockland High School, and Noble said his early years were defined by his love for music, particularly with the cello. A commitment to the craft earned him a spot at the Manhattan School of Music, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in music in 2006. 

“While music was his first passion, Michael’s career path took a significant turn in 2012,” Noble explained, when Vuoso decided to enter law enforcement. He joined the NYPD in July of that year. He was assigned to the housing bureau in Harlem and the South Bronx after graduating from the Police Academy in December 2012.  

 He has earned two Excellent Police Duty awards, Officer of the Month and a Medal of Valor—one of the NYPD’s highest honors. In 2017, he applied for and was accepted into the NYPD Highway Patrol. He was hired by Yorktown PD in 2018 and has “worked diligently.” He completed the Yonkers Motorcycle School in 2019. 

Most recently, Noble said that Vuoso was honored with a Lifesaving Award. “Michael’s path from music to law enforcement exemplifies his ability to excel in diverse fields, and he remains deeply committed to making a positive impact in the community that he serves.”  

A Yorktown native, Matthew Racioppo, has been assigned as Detective Sergeant. After he graduated from Yorktown High School, he joined the United States Marine Corps Reserves. Noble said that he served on active-duty status for several years, including a deployment to Iraq. He continued his service in reserve status while attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice, earning a bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology and a master’s degree in criminal justice.  

 He was honorably discharged from the Marine Crops in 2012 and was hired by the Yorktown Police Department a short time after. He’s served as both a patrol officer and patrol supervisor. He’s also served since 2014 in the role of accident investigator and as a drug recognition expert since 2018—a status Noble said very few law enforcement officers achieve. “It’s a unique and special skill.”   

Noble called Racioppo’s work ethic “tireless” and said he is “diligent.”  

Lieutenant Samuel Sansone was born and raised in Yonkers and moved to Yorktown during his senior year of high school. He attended Sacred Heart University and Pace University before he was hired by the NYPD in July 2004. He worked in the 46th Precinct after graduating from the Police Academy before he was hired by the Yorktown PD in 2006. During his time in the Patrol Division, Noble said Sansone worked as both a patrol officer and a desk officer. 

In 2019, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to oversee a patrol squad, working primarily with the midnight squad and then the Traffic Unit. In June 2024, he was reassigned to the Detective Division as Detective Sergeant. In January, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and was assigned to the Professional Services and Standards Division commander. Sansone will oversee the department’s implementation of the body-worn camera program. He also oversees the School Resource Officer Program and manages the in-service departmental training.  

Noble said Sansone scored a 102 on the Lieutenant's exam in Westchester County, which ranked him No. 1 in the county. “The tasks and responsibilities that he now has—he’s going to fly right through them like he has with everything else.”   

Lieutenant Mark Rapisarda graduated from Mahopac High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Fordham University and has over 26 years of police service. He started his career in 1998 with the NYPD in the 49th Precinct and transferred to the city of Poughkeepsie Police Department in 2004, where he worked as an undercover narcotics officer.  

In 2005, he transferred to Yorktown PD where he’s served in a number of capacities. In 2015, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, supervising a patrol squad, supervising the field officers' training program. In 2019, he was reassigned as Detective Sergent, supervising day-to-day operations of all detectives, juvenile officers and plain clothes initiative operations.  

In June 2024, he was promoted to Lieutenant as the Professional Services and Standards and was tasked with coordinating the arrival and setup of the department’s new body-worn camera program, as well as supervising School Resource Officers and in-service training for the department. As of January, Rapisarda has been reassigned as the Patrol Division Commander.  

During his time with the Yorktown PD, Rapisarda has earned three Meritorious Police Duty awards, seven Excellent Police Duty awards, and a Westchester County Category Two Commendable Merit Award.  

Noble said Rapisarda, “remains dedicated to serving the Yorktown community,” citing that the Lieutenant has family, that both lives and operates a business in town.  

“He is an excellent representative of this police agency.”  

Noble said that the 2024 Use of Force Report shows that the department follows a policy of “non-escalation” and reported that there have been “no personnel complaints.”  

He urged the community to “support your police department” and emphasized that the officers are the “backbone” of Yorktown. 

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