"Honor Above All Honors"
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Throughout 2008-2009, Detective II Richard C. Costello #6068 continually demonstrated his ability to conduct outstanding and thorough investigations. Working with numerous law enforcement agencies as a detective assigned to the Metro North Station (Irvington), his investigations have led to numerous arrests.
Two particular cases highlight Detective II Richard C. Costello’s fine investigative efforts:
Detective II Costello utilized gathered intelligence to apprehend a suspect wanted by the F.B.I. His investigation and the subsequent arrest of the suspect aided the F.B.I. in an ongoing investigation that led to the clearing of several bank robberies and the prevention of another planned robbery.
Secondly, while conducting surveillance, Detective II Costello observed a vehicle with four males stopped in a high crime area in the Town of Irvington. One of the men exited the vehicle wearing a bandana, hiding his identity, and rubber gloves while the other three accomplices remained in the vehicle. The suspect paced in the front a commercial establishment and continuously reached into his waistband. The suspect became aware of the surveillance, re-entered the vehicle and departed the scene. Detective II Costello, with the assistance of the Metro-North personnel, conducted a motor vehicle stop and recovered a silver and black handgun. During the course of the investigation it was determined that the suspects were planning an armed robbery. The suspects were charged with Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery. The arrests thwarted the armed robbery attempt.
Detective II Costello has been an instrumental contributor to four separate entities; the Metro North Station where he assisted personnel with investigations and contributed to the arrests of over four-hundred individuals; the Drug Enforcement Administration (D.E.A.) Task Force where he assisted the D.E.A. with targeting narcotics suppliers in urban areas based on his intelligence gathering expertise; the New Jersey State Police Street Gang Unit where he assisted the Street Gang Unit with investigations conducted in the City of Newark based on his intelligence gathering proficiency and investigative skills; the New Jersey State Police High Impact Team where he conducted forty-nine criminal investigations culminating in eighty-six arrests.
Detective II Costello’s ambition, determination, and accomplishments are deserving of the honor of being named "Trooper of the Year." His actions are in the finest traditions of the New Jersey State Police. Detective II Costello embodies the State Police core values of Honor, Duty, and Fidelity.
DSFC Howard Ryan
DSFC Howard Ryan and Detective I Rita Gallo are being honored for their exemplary crime scene investigative work during the Elizabeth Lott murder investigation.
Elizabeth Lott was discovered murdered in her Sussex County home, the victim of multiple massive blunt force trauma injuries to her head. Det. I Gallo processed the crime scene for more than nine hours during which time she compiled detailed notes, conducted an extensive photographic documentation and obtained measurements of the scene. In addition, her search resulted in the collection of numerous items of physical evidence. Unique among these was her recognition and collection of a wooden folding tray table as an unconventional yet possible murder weapon.
Following the scene processing, detectives Ryan and Gallo attended the autopsy of the victim, which involved detailed photographic documentation, evidence collection and a bloodstain analysis of the victim. The cause of death was ruled a homicide and pattern injuries confirmed the murder weapon to in fact be the wooden table. Immediately following the autopsy, detectives Ryan and Gallo also processed a potential suspect that had been identified.
Detective I Rita M. Gallo
At this point, detectives Ryan and Gallo made a crucial decision, one, which would have a significant and lasting impact on the investigation. Not satisfied with what was known at this stage of the investigation, they returned to the original crime scene. Their actions in returning to an already processed crime scene and the nearly six additional hours of scene work would yield five critical items of new physical evidence. These five items together with the murder weapon and a single sneaker from the suspect would serve as silent witnesses to the murder of Elizabeth Lott. Months of follow-up study, photography and bloodstain pattern analysis of this evidence by detectives Ryan and Gallo would reveal details crucial in refuting claims by the defense, which stood in stark contrast to the observations and conclusions of the detectives. Nearly four years later, those items of evidence would take the witness stand in the form of testimony from detectives Ryan and Gallo. The items would be responsible for establishing the facts of the crime and in the process reveal unmistakable truths. Those truths at trial would prove the suspect was at the crime scene at the time of the murder and would tell just how the victim was violently and brutally murdered, while she lay helpless and defenseless on the floor of her home. In January and February 2008 over the course of five days of direct and cross examination testimony, and despite numerous attempts by the defense to discredit their testimony and expert witness status, detectives Ryan and Gallo would prevail as they described in great detail the crime scene and the circumstances surrounding the death of Elizabeth Lott. The suspect was found guilty of murder, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes and criminal trespassing.
This case is a classic example of how a meticulous crime scene investigation coupled with the decision to spend all of the time and resources necessary led to the successful resolution of a brutal murder. Had the above described critical physical evidence and it’s subsequent painstaking analysis by detectives Ryan and Gallo not been discovered and it’s full potential recognized, the prosecutorial strengths of this case might have been substantially weakened or diminished to the point of justice not being served on behalf of the victim and her family.
The work completed by DSFC Ryan and Det. I Gallo exemplifies the highest standards of the New Jersey State Police in the pursuit of truth through an exhaustive and impartial investigation, which ultimately led to an understanding of those truths and the successful prosecution of this case.
DSFC David Dalrymple
In May 2004, the Virginia Beach Police Department recovered three suitcases in the Chesapeake Bay. The suitcases contained the severed remains of William McGuire of Woodbridge, New Jersey. The New Jersey State Police Major Crime Unit and Division of Criminal Justice initiated a cooperative investigation, with the assistance of the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, Woodbridge Police Department and the Virginia Beach Police Department. DSFC David Dalrymple, of the State Police Major Crime Unit, was tasked with being the lead investigator and case manager of the investigative team.
Through various forensic and analytical techniques, DSFC Dalrymple and the investigative team concluded that during the evening hours of April 28, 2004, William McGuire was drugged with chloral hydrate, and then shot once in the head and chest. McGuire's body was then cut into three pieces, wrapped in black trash bags, placed in three matching suitcases and dumped into the Chesapeake Bay.
DSFC Dalrymple discovered that two days before the disappearance and murder of her husband, Melanie McGuire had purchased a .38-caliber Taurus handgun and a box of bullets at a Pennsylvania gun shop. DSFC Dalrymple also discovered that Melanie McGuire had acquired chloral hydrate with a fraudulent prescription.
On June 2, 2005, DSFC Dalrymple directed Major Crime Unit members to arrest Melanie McGuire and charge her with the murder of her husband and related crimes. On October 12, 2006, a State Grand Jury indicted Melanie McGuire for her husband’s murder.
After a seven-week trial in Middlesex County Superior Court, which was broadcast on Court-TV and under intense media scrutiny, Melanie McGuire was found guilty of murder, perjury and desecration of a corpse. DSFC Dalrymple was instrumental in the trial preparation and strategy, spending numerous hours preparing witnesses, exhibits and strategies. Melanie McGuire was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her husband. Melanie McGuire had meticulously planned the murder of William McGuire, but DSFC David Dalrymple was even more meticulous and displayed an even greater determination to arrest the killer. He painstakingly collected evidence, reviewed facts, coordinated and managed the team of detectives leading to a successful prosecution for this heinous crime.
DSFC David Dalrymple's professionalism and commitment in this case were exemplary. His actions have brought great pride and distinction to himself, his family and the New Jersey State Police.
On September 11, 2001, four passenger airliners were hijacked by terrorists and crashed in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC killing thousands of innocent victims including 406 firefighters and police officers in New York City. In accordance with the law, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) assumed the primary responsibility for the investigation into what is to this day the largest terrorist act ever perpetuated against the United States. Four case agents were selected to lead the investigation; known as Pentbomb, one from each of the cities where a flight that was hijacked originated. DSFC Raymond Guidetti who was assigned to the FBIs/Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) was selected as the case agent for flight 93 which originated in Newark. It should be noted that DSFC Guidetti was the only non FBI agent selected for what is arguably the most significant investigation and prosecution ever conducted by the federal government.
Over a period of in excess of four years, DSFC Guidetti working in cooperation with his fellow troopers assigned to the JTTF and FBI agents from around the world, documented the methodology employed by the terrorists in the 9-11 attacks. Those efforts resulted in the collection of sufficient evidence to charge Zacarias Moussaoui as the only surviving member of the original terrorist cell responsible for the 9-11 attacks.
In December 2005, DSFC Guidetti relocated to Alexandria, Virginia where the trial of Moussaoui was to take place. Over the next six months he and the other key members of Federal governments team prepared for and presented the case against Moussaoui. Those efforts ultimately resulted in him being found guilty of six counts of conspiracy to carry out terrorist attacks on U.S. targets, and sentenced to Life in Prison. During the prosecution, DSFC Guidetti testified in uniform regarding the terrorists actions aboard flight 93 as well as the final actions of the victims who attempted to re-capture the plane.
DSFC Guidettis efforts throughout the 9-11 investigation and the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui were in keeping with the finest traditions of the New Jersey State Police. The credit that he brought to our organization as a result of his professional focus during the largest terrorism case in world history is incalculable.
Captain
Kenneth McCarthy
On April 11, 2005 an Amber Alert was issued from the town of Irvington indicating that a subject had wounded a citizen and kidnaped his girlfriend and child. The vehicle occupied by the armed suspect and his victims was observed by an alert New Jersey Turnpike toll collector exiting Interchange 14 toward Interstate 78 westbound. Somerville Station patrols located the vehicle and attempted a motor vehicle stop, which escalated into a pursuit onto Interstate78 westbound.
The pursuit continued on Interstate 78 where Perryville and Washington Station patrols became involved. The suspect exited the interstate onto Route 22 and into a condominium complex.
The pursuit immediately became a hostage situation when the armed and despondent suspect turned down a street with no outlet. Captain Kenneth McCarthy immediately headed to the scene of the hostage situation. Captain McCarthy immediately seized command of the scene by establishing an inner and outer perimeter and removing unnecessary law enforcement personnel from within the "hot zone," and evacuating residents in the immediate area. These actions contributed to de-escalating the intensity of the incident, calmed the suspect and maximized the safety of responding officers.
Several attempts were made to establish a line of communication with the suspect, but were unsuccessful. Captain McCarthy then made the transition from incident commander to hostage negotiator and began a productive dialog with the suspect. During the next six to seven hours, Captain McCarthy maintained communications with the hostage taker while taking cover behind a vehicle within firing range of the suspect. Through several disruptions and distractions Captain McCarthy persevered and continued his negotiations. After approximately five hours of outstanding negotiating the suspect released his victims. Captain McCarthy's negotiations led to the peaceful surrender of the suspect three hours later despite his repeated threats to take his own life.
Captain McCarthy's actions during this incident demonstrated commitment and dedication in the finest traditions of the New Jersey State Police.
The events of Sept. 11, 2001, surrounding the World Trade Center disaster will forever be remembered for their horrific impact upon our country. This is certainly true for those who helped with the rescue effort on that day.
After learning that the first tower of the World Trade Center had been struck by terrorists, Trooper Alex Koopalethes, Trooper Joe DeMarino and Trooper Clark Motley departed from Newark Bay Station in their 40-foot State Police patrol vessel and headed toward New York Harbor. While clearing the last buoy in Newark Bay, they watched as the second tower was struck and it too became engulfed in flames. The troopers arrived on scene and took a position on the Hudson River 50 yards west of North Cove Marina. They watched as the helpless people trapped in the upper floors of the towers jumped to their deaths.Then, the first tower began to collapse, forcing the vessel back to avoid the falling debris. As the dust and smoke cleared the troopers noticed that the injured were being brought into the marina and to an area along the Hudson River. Knowing that the marina was now unsafe because of its narrow access and proximity to the second tower, they maneuvered their vessel alongside the river bulkhead, just south of the marina, and from there began loading the wounded. They then ferried the wounded across the river where waiting ambulances relayed them to area hospitals. Upon returning to their position, the troopers observed that the more critically injured, many on stretchers, were being assembled in North Cove Marina. Without hesitation, they entered the cove and began loading these seriously injured, which included many New York City firemen. Then, the second tower began to collapse, engulfing the boat in hot ash, concrete dust and debris. In zero visibility Trooper DeMarino navigated the boat out of the cove while Trooper Koopalethes and Trooper Motley safeguarded the injured exposed on the rear deck of the vessel. Again, they made their way across the river to awaiting ambulances. They repeated this trip numerous times, being joined by other vessels in the harbor. More lives would have been lost had the aforementioned Troopers not reacted in a way indicative to the high expectations and sense of duty that is part of the New Jersey State Police tradition.
Trooper Bryan M. Everingham (#5347), assigned to the Community Policing Unit within the Patrol Support Section, Field Operations Bureau, embodies the tradition of the New Jersey State Police and, as Trooper of the Year, achieved dramatic reductions in crime and calls for service within his assigned community/patrol area. Tpr. Everingham accomplished this goal and achieved success by combining law enforcement duties with an intense commitment to community service.
Throughout 1999, Tpr. Everingham initiated and implemented many innovative and proactive programs designed to improve the quality of life within the Countryside Village community in Upper Deerfield Township.
While the Community Policing Unit is still in its infancy within the State Police, Tpr. Everingham has demonstrated that by being a committed, caring and involved trooper, the State Police and individual troopers can make a substantial impact on the communities in which they serve - accomplishing such goals as reducing the actual instances of crime and criminal activity; fostering community involvement and pride; serving as a role model for local youth; and building bridges between many different racial, religious and ethnic groups.