By Carol P. Bartold

Jun. 3, 2015:  It's rare to have almost all the Bronxville Police Department officers in one place. On May 11, however, Chief Christopher Satriale and most of the department's officers gathered in the trustees room at village hall to welcome new officers, to celebrate assignments and promotions, and to give an affectionate send-off to two retired officers. 

Mayor Mary Marvin welcomed the chief and officers to the board of trustees meeting for the ceremony. "We're honoring some of you gentlemen tonight," she said, "but please know we should honor you all every day." 

Trustee Anne W. Poorman, board liaison to the police department, administered the oath of office to the new, newly assigned, and promoted officers. 

With the retirements of Sergeant Alton Gray and Police Officer Brenton Dorre, the Bronxville Police Department had two vacancies to fill. Chief Satriale, Mayor Marvin, and village administrator Jim Palmer reviewed resumes received from officers in police departments throughout Westchester County. After Lieutenant Richard Bunyan conducted candidate interviews, the committee selected three promising candidates. The candidates were subjected to an extensive background investigation, medical exams, physical background checks, and uninvited and unannounced visits to their homes. The committee also contacted the candidates' prior employers and character references. From that field of applicants, the committee hired Police Officers Nigel Butler and Baldwin Firbo. Both men began their law enforcement careers with the Mount Vernon Police Department in July of 2012. 

Butler, a graduate of Mercy College, where he majored in behavioral science, worked as a teaching assistant in the Mount Vernon School District prior to becoming a police officer. He volunteered in an after-school program that served troubled youth. He is a certified emergency medical technician and a trained SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) officer. 

Firbo studied electrical engineering at City College of New York and worked in the electric power division of Consolidated Edison before joining the Mount Vernon department. He is bilingual in English and Spanish. 

Chief Satriale reported that both officers have earned firearms certifications for the weapons carried by the Bronxville Police Department. 

Receiving his assignment as an officer in the department was David DiBenedetto, hired in June of 2014. An Iona College graduate, he studied economics. He joined the Mount Vernon Police Department in July of 2012. DiBenedetto volunteers as a youth lacrosse coach for fourth-grade boys in Bronxville. He will attend law enforcement officer training in June and join the department's patrol roster. 

Assigned to the department's detective division was Detective Watson Morgan, a member of the force since 2007. A certified New York State youth officer, he graduated from Dominican College, where he majored in social sciences and received teacher certification.

Police Officer William Carroll received a promotion to police sergeant. He will fill the vacancy resulting from Police Sergeant Alton Gray's retirement. Carroll joined the Bronxville department in July of 2007 after serving four years with the New York City Police Department. He earned a degree in education from State University of New York Cortland. He is a New York State certified youth officer and has taught many programs to students at The Bronxville School. 

The trustees and police officers honored and thanked retirees Sergeant Alton Gray and Police Officer Brenton Dorre for their service in the Bronxville Police Department. 

"These two officers had a way about presenting themselves professionally while doing their jobs," Chief Satriale said. "They did it day in and day out. A big part of our family is leaving us." He added that it was important that new Police Officers Nigel Butler and Baldwin Firbo see the "big shoes" they will have to fill.

Pictured here (rotating):  Nigel Butler, Baldwin Firbo, David DiBenedetto, Watson Morgan, and William Carroll, each being sworn in by trustee Anne Poorman.

Photos by C. Bartold