The Massachusetts Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (MACLEA) is pleased to share that a group of campus police officers and administrators were honored recently for extraordinary, lifesaving and heroic work.

MACLEA’s Annual Awards and Scholarship Program was held in early January at Boston College. Click here to see a gallery of photos from the event.

“We look forward to holding our annual awards event each year, which allows us to recognize the extraordinary lifesaving and community-oriented work that campus police officers do every day,” said Boston College Lt. Laurene Spiess, MACLEA president. “We are also pleased to recognize campus law enforcement leaders for their valuable contributions, and the students receiving scholarships who will carry our profession forward.”

Awards presented at the event were:

Leadership Awards

The D. Joseph Griffin Award for Administrative Excellence was awarded to Ret. Chief Ernest Leffler of Bentley University. He was recognized as a career professional in the field of campus law enforcement, beginning his career as a member of the Northeastern University Public Safety Division as a student dispatcher working throughout his years as an undergraduate student. Upon graduation from Northeastern, he was hired as a university police officer and earned several promotions, ultimately becoming the captain and associate director of public safety in charge of patrol operations.

As his career growth continued, he went on to become the chief of police at Bentley University where he served until his retirement in 2019. He served as an effective and collaborative leader on the Board of Directors for the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators as the northeast regional director. He served the local campus law enforcement community as president for MACLEA.

A significant milestone was achieved for the profession when Ret. Chief Leffler became the first representative of the campus law enforcement community to the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. He served with distinction, building and strengthening communication and cooperation between leaders from campus and municipal police organizations.

Under his leadership, the Bentley University Police Department continued to achieve excellence as demonstrated by the awarding of Accreditation by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission. Ret. Chief Leffler became the campus law enforcement representative to the Accreditation Commission and served from 2018-2021. The interests of campus law enforcement and public safety were at the forefront of his service on the Commission.

Ret. Chief Leffler was the longest serving treasurer for MACLEA serving from 1999 until his retirement in 2019. His commitment to advancing the interests of campus law enforcement through his involvement in leadership and volunteer responsibilities required exceptional administrative competence and commitment to the profession.

The Ralph Avery Leadership Development Award was awarded to Chief Edgar Rodriguez of the Wentworth Institute of Technology. Chief Rodriguez has performed at an exemplary level since his appointment in August 2020.

Chief Rodriguez is the embodiment of leadership, with countless leadership skills and traits that have led to innumerable successes and achievements. He is described as a confident, authentic, self-motivated individual with great integrity who encourages strategic thinking, innovation and action.

He practices transparent communication, builds trust, and clearly and concisely explains problems and solutions. He leads by example and fosters an environment that promotes teamwork and team building to help achieve strategic goals. He successfully motivates and inspires others by creating a sense of higher purpose. Chief Rodriguez draws support through his ability to connect with people. He shows compassion and treats people with respect.

Lastly, he is described as being extraordinarily selfless, and leading with a devoted commitment to the department, the university and to the surrounding community and public.

Lifesaving Award

Officer Ryan Cassidy and Officer Samantha Duran of the UMASS Lowell Police Department

On June 15, 2022, Officer Cassidy was working in the Dispatch Center when he received a call from the campus Wellness Center. The center counselor reported that they had an apparently suicidal student on the phone, but that the student would not reveal their name or location. After some conversation with the student, Officer Cassidy was able to get the student’s name and location, and Officer Duran was dispatched to that location. Officer Duran contacted the student and was able to calm them for transport to the hospital.

Officer Peter Trachtenberg and Sgt. Brian Delaney of the MIT Police Department

On July 22, 2022, it was reported to MIT PD Dispatch that a student had made concerning statements regarding harming themselves. Officer Trachtenberg and the other shift officers were able to identify and locate the distressed student. Sgt. Delaney and Officer Trachtenberg spoke with the student, who voluntarily went to the hospital for further evaluation.

Sgt. William Boulter of the MIT Police Department

On May 3, 2022, Sgt. Boulter was on patrol along the MBTA tracks through campus. Sgt. Boulter observed a man lying flat on his back and apparently suffering an overdose. Sgt. Boulter called for the administration of one dose of Naloxone (Narcan). Within approximately 30 seconds, the man began to regain consciousness and was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.

Officer Corey McGrath of the MIT Police Department

On Sept. 6, 2022, Officer McGrath responded to a report of a person on the train tracks. Upon arrival, Officer McGrath observed a person on the ground who was not responsive and administered Naloxone (Narcan). The individual began breathing, regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.

Sgt. James Kimble, Sgt. David Morrow, Officer Scott Klotzbeecher, Officer Brandon Donahue, Dispatcher Mark Whitaker and Dispatcher Cory Mahoney of the College of Holy Cross Police Department

On Nov. 30, 2021, personnel responded to assist a student who collapsed on campus during ROTC exercises from an apparent sudden cardiac arrest. Collectively, the personnel provided the emergency medical response necessary to save the patient’s life. The dispatchers facilitated EMS response by coordinating with Worcester EMS, and the officers on scene administered high-performance CPR and utilized the defibrillator quickly and effectively.

Their calmness and professionalism, as well as the collective emergency effort on scene allowed the patient to be transported to the hospital for continued care.

Officers Kevin Gaudette, Marjeta Skenderi, Matthew Mahota and Security Officer Bledi Demirazi of the Worcester State University Police

On Sept. 29, 2022, Worcester State University Police were called to an unconscious and unresponsive student in a residence hall. Officers Gaudette, Skenderi and Mahota responded under the direction of Institutional Security Officer Demirazi who was dispatching. Arriving officers surveyed the situation and patient and recognized that the patient had stopped breathing. While CPR was started by one officer, another prepared the AED and connected it to the patient. After some time of CPR, the patient began to breathe and was conscious and alert upon transport to the hospital.

Sean Collier Award

Officer Jeffrey Connors and Officer William Emmons of the UMass Lowell Police Department

Officers Connors and Emmons make up the Campus Resource Officer Program. They are responsible for several Community Oriented Policing Programs and attend neighborhood crime watch groups, speak at student group meetings, conduct safety walks to address lighting issues at night, conduct the National Coffee with a Cop initiative on campus, liaise with international students, conduct new student and new employee safety orientations, and more.

Officer Donald Miller of the MIT Police Department

Officer Miller is dedicated to the MIT community and works tirelessly to build relationships with staff, students and community members. He has been described as kindhearted and as someone who is always building relationships with students and staff. It is not uncommon to see him speaking with students about various safety tips for living in an urban environment.

He can also be found behind his DJ equipment providing music for graduate student family events. Additionally, he attends local government and community meetings, shares information on bike theft prevention, assists with the Team Collier Marathon Fundraising Event and more.

Officer Edward Gilfoy of the Lasell University Police Department

Officer Gilfoy goes above and beyond to know all of Lasell University’s students and faculty — from asking how a student’s classes are going or how their summers went to working out with athletic teams and attending as many campus-wide events and activities as he can. Officer Gilfoy is always willing to be involved in community policing events, such as Coffee with a Cop, and attending student-organized events to show his support.

Around the holiday season, he will dress up as Santa Claus as well as the Easter Bunny to visit the childcare center located on campus, the Lasell Village elderly independent living facility, and a variety of events to enhance community connections. Officer Gilfoy is enthusiastic, friendly, and dedicated to the Lasell community.

Officers Kevin Carrigan and Nashley Gonzalez of the Babson College Police Department

Officers Carrigan and Gonzalez are two of the founding individuals of the Babson College Community Engagement team and demonstrate on a daily basis leadership and innovation surrounding community-oriented policing and crime prevention efforts.

Over the last few years and with the challenges of both the COVID-19 pandemic and police reform, the officers immediately recognized the importance of thinking outside the box and humanizing the law enforcement field of work. They consistently seek opportunities for public safety personnel to personally interact with the community outside of immediate safety and security concerns, which helps to build a sense of humanity, trust and partnership.

The officers have worked hard to implement the successful Community Dog Program, which has been a conduit to community engagement efforts. Additionally, they have been involved in many student meet and greets, campus-wide events, hosted self-defense courses, participated in the Toys for Tots Cruiser drive, and more.

Exemplary Service Award, Heroic Action Award

Sgt. Travis Rixford and Sgt. Anthony DiSchino, Officer John Vickery, Security Officer James Ardizzoni and Dispatcher Michael Amrock (Exemplary Service Award; and Officer Carlos Camacho (Heroic Action Award) of the Bentley University Police Department

In the early morning hours of Oct. 16, 2022, Officers Camacho and Vickery were called to a residence hall to talk with students who reported being threatened with a knife. When the officers arrived, they learned that four adult males had allegedly entered a student room without permission and had stolen electronics from inside the room. When confronted about stealing, one of the suspects allegedly threatened the students with a knife. Officers Camacho and Vickery, with the assistance of Sgt. DiSchino, began to canvas the area for the suspects while Dispatcher Amrock did the same using the camera system.

Officer Camacho received further information that the suspects were in another building on campus. He responded and located one suspect when the second suspect who had reportedly brandished the knife ran from the building. Officer Camacho engaged in a foot pursuit across campus and onto a city road, and was able to take the suspect into custody. Security Officer Ardizzoni arrived and positioned his vehicle to prevent Officer Camacho from being hit by a car as he struggled with the suspect who was allegedly resisting arrest while still armed with the knife. Sgt. DiSchino and Officer Vickery arrived to assist with the arrest.

In the meantime, Dispatcher Amrock was reviewing video footage and was able to locate two additional suspects. The information was relayed to Sgt. DiSchino and Officer Camacho, who were able to arrest the additional two suspects.

Detective Sgt. Rixford was assigned to further the investigation. In doing so, he was able to produce evidence, identify two additional suspects and learned of other crimes allegedly committed by the suspects the night prior. He was also able to get the victims in the incidents resources and support.

Outstanding Personal Contribution to Campus Public Safety by an Individual

Sgt. Greg Gallagher, Sgt. Wayne Cunningham and Capt. Robert Manning of the Lasell University Police Department

In the spring of 2022, an incident occurred between two student roommates on campus. The suspect fled campus after the alleged assault had occurred, returned home, and then allegedly attempted to purchase a firearm in a neighboring state. Capt. Manning and Sgt. Cunningham arrested the suspect, and Sgt. Gallagher has attended all court hearings. He has also worked to support the victim in the case.

Capt. Manning, Sgt. Cunningham and Sgt. Gallagher were recognized for the years of experience, dedication and ideas they bring to the table on how to effectively keep the Lasell community safe.

Click here to read more about each award’s criteria.

Scholarships

Four students were recognized with the John M. King Scholarship for Advancement and Education:

• Casey McCauley – UMass Lowell, daughter of Tufts University Police Department Chief Mary McCauley
• Emma Foyle – University of North Carolina, daughter Westfield State University Capt. Michael Foyle
• Riley Rushton – UMass Dartmouth, daughter of Brandeis University Chief Matthew Rushton
• Emma Bedard – Endicott College, daughter of Elms College Lt. Jeffrey Bedard

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