MTA Honors 30 NYC Transit Workers
It is the holiday season so it is nice to share some good news from the MTA. The latest form of that comes from the agency honoring 30 NYC Transit workers for acts of bravery & excellence. Here is more via the official press release:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today recognized 30 New York City Transit employees for their acts of bravery and distinguished service that showed how they performed above and beyond their duties to help customers, their colleagues or the public.
The honorees, their families and co-workers, as well as top NYC Transit officials, attended the ceremony, which was held in downtown Brooklyn. Medals and commendations are awarded annually to NYC Transit employees for specific acts of bravery, quick thinking in potentially dangerous or fatal situations, and for excellent service in day-to-day operations.
“Every act we celebrate today shows us a glimpse of how we would like to be all the time – selfless, compassionate and courageous. I thank all our medalists for giving us that glimpse and inspiring us,” said NYC Transit President Carmen Bianco.
This year’s honorees include a train conductor and an operator working together to secure a train at a station and prevent the perpetrator of an assault from fleeing the scene; an off-duty special inspector who helped apprehend a man threatening subway customers with bodily harm; a bus operator whose immediate response to a co-worker’s heart attack helped save a life; two car cleaners who found an autistic boy reported missing from his home and notified authorities to reunite him with his family; and a Staten Island Railway conductor who helped calm a distressed woman and called for medical assistance.
Awards were presented in three areas:
• Heroism: For employees who perform specific acts of bravery, on or off duty, in the face of extremely dangerous circumstances that could have resulted in personal injury or death;
• Commendations: For job-related acts involving personal risk or requiring exceptional judgment. The employee’s decisions and actions indicate that, without quick thinking and corrective measures, highly undesirable and dire consequences could have resulted;
• Distinguished Service: For employees who have demonstrated outstanding efficiency that reflects the highest standards and ideals of a dedicated public employee.
“Today’s program is about showing our appreciation for your notable deeds – not only to Transit, but also to your coworkers and our customers. You have responded to all types of occurrences, while still providing unparalleled service,” said MTA Chief of Staff Catherine A. Rinaldi.
Honorees:
Heroism (6 awards; 6 recipients)
William Kennedy – train service supervisor – Restrained customer from touching live third rail
Ancy Kernizan – bus operator – Safely evacuated customers during bus fire
Carlos Padro – special inspector – Assisted in arrest of man threatening subway customers with bodily harm
Robert Sanders – bus operator – Safely evacuated customers during bus fire
George Smith – bus operator – Safely secured customers during bus shooting
Jennifer Worthy – bus operator – Secured safety of customers near street shooting
Commendation (14 awards; 23 recipients):
Luis Albino, David Soto, Stewart Azzato, Clyde Ferguson – power distribution maintainers, track workers – Rescued falling colleague who became unconscious while working on elevated tracks
Naomi Andino, Joaquin Lopez – conductor, train operator – Prevented perpetrator from fleeing scene of assault
Carol Goring, Deslyn Collins – car cleaners – Found autistic child reported missing
Robert J. Esposito – special inspector – Apprehended robbery suspect
Jamila Francois – bus operator – Safely evacuated customers during bus fire
Curtis Hall, Kevin O’Neill, David Rosa, Jose Salazar, Jose Valette – maintenance supervisor, track workers – Assisted customer who had fallen from platform onto tracks
Steven Hodovanec – train operator – Reported unsafe rail condition to avoid potentially dangerous situation
Nathaniel Jenkins – bus operator – Revived co-worker suffering heart attack
Luis Manrique – train operator – Found child reported missing from home
Victor Nicasio – bus operator – Alerted emergency workers to pedestrian suffering seizure
Brett Peace – bus operator – Prevented customer in wheelchair from falling
Jason Prashad – conductor – Reported robbery in progress and assisted police in arrest
James Thompson – conductor – Calming suicidal woman on platform
Stephen Ward – bus operator – Performed CPR on elderly customer who became ill on bus
Distinguished service (1 award; 1 recipient):
Frank Gurrera – machinist – MTA employee for nearly 45 years
Congratulations to all of the deserving recipients as your actions will never be forgotten!
xoxo Transit Blogger
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