March 10, 2023

DEP Police Protect New York City’s Drinking Water Supply Systems Throughout the Catskills and Lower Hudson Valley

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today held its Bureau of Police and Security’s promotions and awards ceremony recognizing the promotions of 13 members and awarding 58 members with citations for “meritorious” or “excellent” police service during 2022. All were recognized for their service protecting the City’s 2,000-square-mile water supply system including the safeguarding of watershed land and infrastructure in nine counties throughout the Catskills and lower Hudson Valley.

The ceremony was held at the Staff Sgt. Robert H. Dietz DEP Police Academy in Kingston, New York.

“We are always proud to recognize the extraordinary efforts of every member of the DEP Police family who are integral in protecting the quality of our water and our critical public infrastructure, and I personally congratulate all who were honored today,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala.

Awarded citations for Meritorious Police Duty: Capt. Christian Gallagher, Capt. Joseph Miceli, Capt. Joey Rosa, Capt. Shane Turck, Lt. Frank Emmett, Lt. Randall Hurlbert, Lt. Thomas Reis, Lt. Jose Rivera, Lt. Joseph Santamaria, Sgt. Nicola Cavallo, Sgt. Erik Johnson, Sgt. Edwin Laryea, Sgt. Francis Lynch, Sgt. Brett Misenar, Sgt. Jesse Ryan, Sgt. Michael Upshaw, Det. Elliot Clanton, Det. James Dipietrantonio, Det. Scott Hogan, Det. Cliff Johnston, Det. Matthew Kruger, Det. Giuseppe Multari, Det. Michael Shackelton, Det. Zacharry Vagias, Det. Michael Wilkins, Ofc. Allen Bateman, Ofc. Joseph Carey, Ofc. Giancarlos Castrillon, Ofc. Christopher Corporan, Ofc. Anthony Farina, Ofc. Franklin Fauble, Ofc. Nino Kalmeta, Ofc. Christopher McDermott, Ofc. Eric Locher, Ofc. Joseph Murphy, Ofc. Edward Nehrebecki Jr., Ofc. John O’Sullivan, Ofc. Kevin Schwartz, and Ofc. Matthew Walerski.

Awarded citations for Excellent Police Duty: Ofc. John-Nicholas Arce, Ofc. Karen Barrios, Ofc. Matthew Barsanti, Ofc. Ryan Cassidy, Ofc. Katherine Disla Martinez, Ofc. Jenna Gill, Ofc. Brandon Hickey, Ofc. Ivor Jordan, Ofc. Drew Kapica, Ofc. Michael Kelly, Ofc. Arlex Leon, Ofc. Dennis McLaughlin, Ofc. Keven Mella, Ofc. John Miller, Ofc. William Piemonte, Ofc. Panwarat Porfidio, Ofc. Dominick Senzamici Jr., Ofc. Christopher Sharp, Ofc. Samuel Yankowitz.

Promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief

Deputy Chief Brian Handy joined the force in August 1999 and has served as inspector since 2020, when he was commanding officer of the Patrol, Academy/Training, and Special Operations divisions. Handy previously served with the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office as well as the villages of Schoharie and Cobleskill police departments. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Empire State College and is married with two sons.

Promoted to the rank of Inspector

Inspector Justin R. Kight joined the force in 1999 and was initially assigned to the Ashokan precinct in Ulster County. As a deputy inspector, Kight served as commanding officer of the Hillview, Ashokan and Eastview precincts and of the bureau’s Training division. He served four years in the United States Air Force and is married with three children.

Promoted to the rank of Captain

Captain Joseph Santamaria joined the force in 1999 and initially served in the Neversink and Downsville precincts. As a lieutenant, he was the Detective Division’s executive officer. Santamaria also served in the United States Army and the New York National Guard for a total of 17 years. He attended Broome County Community College and is married with three children and two grandchildren.

Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant

Lt. Erik Johnson first joined the force in 2001 and was assigned to the Schoharie precinct. Johnson previously served on the Fulton County Village of Northville Police Department and graduated from the State University of New York at Delhi.

Promoted to the rank of Sergeant

Sgt. Ioannis Alexatos first joined the force in 2015, patrolling from the Hillview precinct where he remains stationed. Alexatos graduated from the Long Island Business Institute with a degree in homeland security and emergency management and is married with one son.

Sgt. Michael Kelly first joined the force in 2016, patrolling from the Eastview precinct where he remains stationed. Kelly was recently engaged to be married. Sgt. Amrit Maharaj joined the force in 2011 and works out of the Hillview precinct in Yonkers. Maharaj graduated from the State University of New York at Old Westbury with a Bachelor’s Degree in criminology/sociology.

Sgt. Wendy Mattson joined the force in 2013, working first in the Eastview precinct in Westchester County, and has since been assigned to work out of both the Beerston precinct in Delaware County and Gilboa precinct in Schoharie County. Mattson graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in environmental science and is married with a son.

Sgt. Albert Rafuna joined the force in 2020 and has since been assigned to the Hillview precinct in Yonkers. Rafuna graduated from Brooklyn College with both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in exercise science. He is married with a son.

Promoted to the rank of Detective

Det. Franklin Fauble joined the force in 2017 and was assigned to the Special Operations Division, Emergency Service Unit in 2020. Fauble graduated from Ulster County Community College with a degree in criminal justice.

Det. Eric Locher joined the force in 2017 and was assigned to the Special Operations Division, Emergency Service Unit in 2020.He graduated from John Jay College with a Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice and is married.

Det. James Lukacs joined the force in 2009 and was selected as a K9 handler working out of the Eastview precinct in Westchester County in 2019. Lukacs graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in justice and law administration.

Det. Joseph Murphy joined the force in 2017 as a patrol officer in the Beerston precinct in Delaware County and was assigned to the Special Operations Division, Emergency Service Unit in 2020. Murphy graduated from Nassau Community College with a degree in emergency management.

The DEP Police Division was established more than 100 years ago. Its approximately 220 sworn members are charged with protecting the City’s water supply system, which includes more than 2,000 square miles of watershed land across nine counties, hundreds of miles of tunnels and aqueducts, 14 wastewater treatment plants, laboratories, and chlorination facilities. DEP Police patrol the watershed by foot, all-terrain vehicle, boat and helicopter. They also maintain specially trained units that include a detective bureau, emergency service unit, canine unit, and aviation unit.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing approximately one billion gallons of high-quality water each day to more than 9.5 million New Yorkers. This includes more than 70 upstate communities and institutions in Ulster, Orange, Putnam, and Westchester counties, which consume an average of 110 million total gallons of drinking water daily from New York City’s water supply system. This water comes from the Catskill, Delaware, and Croton watersheds that extend more than 125 miles from the City and are comprised of 19 reservoirs, three controlled lakes, and numerous tunnels and aqueducts. DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers, and other professionals in the upstate watersheds. In addition to its $70 million payroll and $170 million in annual taxes paid in upstate counties, DEP has invested more than $1.7 billion in watershed protection programs—including partnership organizations such as the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Watershed Agricultural Council that support sustainable farming practices, environmentally sensitive economic development, and local economic opportunity. DEP has a robust capital program, with a planned $20.1 billion in investments over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.