Capowich, Begley earn awards for outstanding service at Troop B

HARTFORD —The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recognized nine of its Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police Officers and one state trooper for outstanding performance and service to the state of Connecticut in a ceremony on July 7.

Governor M. Jodi Rell said, “These  officers have gone above and beyond the call of duty in the past year in order to protect both state residents and our environment. Those we are honoring today are among Connecticut’s most courageous public servants. We are privileged to have these and other dedicated law enforcement officers working for our great state.â€�

Two of the officers are from the Northwest Corner.

Officer Tate Begley of Sharon earned a Medal for Meritorious Service; an award bar with two gold stars will be permanently displayed on his uniform.

The Medal for Meritorious Service is awarded to any officer who renders service beyond the ordinary course of duty with alertness, perseverance, or timely judgment in the performance of a difficult task which results in the recovery of stolen property, the prevention or solving of a major crime, or the apprehension of an armed or dangerous person.

“After developing information that a group of poachers were killing large numbers of deer and selling the meat, EnCon Police Sergeant James Warren and Officer Tate Begley began conducting surveillance on a location in New Milford,â€� according to a press release from the state. “On Nov. 27, 2006, the two men observed suspects entering the location with what appeared to be an untagged deer. Based on evidence gathered, the officers obtained search warrants for the barn and for one of the vehicles in the driveway at the location. Upon executing the search warrants, three subjects were arrested for a variety of hunting violations.  Officer Begley continued the investigation and gathered information from confidential informants, allowing him to obtain additional arrest warrants in March of 2007.â€�  

State Trooper Edward Capowich of the Troop B barracks in North Canaan was awarded the Medal for Lifesaving. The Lifesaving Medal is awarded to any officer who performs a heroic duty resulting in the saving of a person’s life or a valiant attempt to do so.

“On Feb. 23, 2007, Connecticut State Trooper Edward Capowich was conducting an after hours patrol of Mohawk State Forest when he located a vehicle with the front driver’s door open and an unconscious male, without a shirt, lying halfway out of the vehicle,â€� according to the press release. “The weather was 12 degrees Fahrenheit.  Trooper Capowich treated the person for exposure and contacted Cornwall EMS to transport the individual to a hospital. It was later learned that the subject of the event was attempting to commit suicide. Trooper Capowich’s vigilance and dedication to public safety saved the individual’s life.â€�

— Cynthia Hochswender