PACA SAVE Award Presented at Miami Police Department Yesterday

Sgt. Leandro Abad, 37, a K-9 handler and SWAT team member of Miami Police Department, was the fourth Miami officer shot this year. On August 20th, Abad and Officer Jason Clifford were led on a car chase where the gunman fired at the officers. The bullet scraped Abad's left arm as it traveled toward his chest, deflected by his PACA Body Armor SVII vest.

''Thank God he was wearing his vest -- because he's alive,'' said Miami police spokesman Cmdr. Delrish Moss.

Yesterday morning, Oct. 15, 2008, the Miami Police Department awarded several police officers for their extraordinary, exceptionally outstanding acts of heroism. Sgt. Leandro Abad was among those specially recognized.

Police Chief Frank Fernandez spoke about the vital importance of body armor in saving officers lives and introduced Mike Foreman and Ron King as they presented Sgt. Abad with the commemorative PACA Body Armor SAVES Recognition Award.

Deputy Sheriff Shot During Standoff, Saved By PACA Smart Tactical Vest with ESIIIA Ballistic Package!

September 9, 2008

Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that on Monday evening September 8th, at approximately 11:02PM, Deputy Sheriff's Chad Shufelt, Patrick Logue and Brian Molinski were attempting to execute an Arrest Warrant for Assault 3rd Degree, Menacing and Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree, for Michael L. D'Alessio, 44 years of age at his residence, 48 Prospect Street in the Village of Philmont. While at the residence and after Deputy Sheriff's had announced themselves, D'Alessio fired a weapon inside of the house at which time Deputy Sheriff's retreated and set up a secure perimeter around the residence. Shortly after, they were assisted by State Troopers from Livingston and Village of Philmont Police Officers.

The Arrest Warrant stemmed from an incident earlier in the evening when D'Alessio assaulted an individual who had brought D'Alessio's children to his residence for a supervised visit. His children were not injured and D'Alessio was the only person in the residence when Deputy Sheriff's attempted to arrest him at 11:02PM.

The Sheriff's Office SWAT Team, as well as Incident Negotiators from the Sheriff's Office and State Police BCI, responded to the scene and were attempting to contact D'Alessio several times by phone. At about 01:52AM D'Alessio fired a weapon again from inside the resident and struck Deputy Sheriff Louis Bray. Deputy Sheriff Bray, as a member of the Sheriff's SWAT Team, had taken a position outside of the residence and was struck in the front of his bullet proof vest, the projectile then deflected and struck his arm causing minor injury. He was treated by Philmont Rescue Paramedics at the scene and remained on duty throughout the incident.

Additionally, the State Police Mobile Response Team, (MRT), were requested and responded to the scene and assisted the Sheriff's SWAT Team and patrol Deputy Sheriff's and Troopers in evacuating the immediate area. Evacuation of nearby neighbors on Prospect Street began shortly after the incident began and continued over a several hour period. Approximately twenty residents were evacuated to the Philmont Fire Department where fire personnel, Columbia County Emergency Management, the County Fire and EMS Coordinators established a temporary shelter.

For Several hours, D'Alessio did not respond to numerous attempts to speak to him by phone and from outside the residence. At about 6:00AM, Incident Negotiators Sr/Investigator William Foster, Deputy Sheriff Eli Fieser and Sr/Investigator Gary Mazzacano, supported by State Police MRT and Sheriff's Office SWAT were able to approach the house in an Armored Personnel Carrier provided by the MRT and again attempted to establish contact with D'Alessio so that he would exit the house. At about 6:20AM, D'Alessio did exit the house and was taken into custody without further incident.

As of 10:30AM, charges in addition to the initial charges in the Arrest Warrant, are being considered by Sheriff's Investigators and District Attorney Beth Cozzolino's Office.

Sheriff David Harrison, Jr., who was at the scene said, "I am relieved that this situation resulted in no further injury to anyone involved and that Deputy Sheriff Bray was not seriously injured when he was shot. I commend the job done by all agencies and believe that the manner in which everyone worked together is why this incident ended without further violence."

In addition to uniformed patrol Deputy Sheriffs, State Troopers and Village of Philmont Police Officers at the scene were: Undersheriff James Sweet, Captain David Bartlett, Lieutenant James Andrews, State Police Captain Scott Brown, MRT Captain Robert Nuzzo and Lieutenant Gene Hallenbeck, Philmont Police OIC Vern Doyle, Sheriff's Senior Investigators William Foster and Kevin Skype, State police Senior Investigator Gary Mazzacano, ADA Michael Cozzolino and Philmont Rescue Squad. At the temporary shelter were: Philmont Fire Chief Chris Carlsen and Asst Chief Dick Howard, Emergency Management Director William Black and Deputy Director Paul D'Onofrio, Fire Coordinator James VanDusen and EMS Coordinator PJ Keeler. Cumberland Farms in Philmont donated bottles of water for the shelter.

Those residents who had been evacuated were cleared to go back to their residences by 7:00AM. In addition to the original charges contained in the arrest warrant, and after consultation with District Attorney Beth Cozzolino, D'Alessio is charged with Attempted Aggravated Murder – AI Felony, Attempted Manslaughter 1stDegree – C Felony and Criminal Use of a Firearm 1st Degree – B Felony for shooting Deputy Bray. He will be arraigned later this morning.