Awards

COLANGELO AWARD

In 1985, NYPD Chief of Detectives, Robert Colangelo assumed the reins as President of the American Academy of Law Enforcement. At that time, the financial condition of the organization was poor, membership was low and activities were virtually nonexistent. Through dedicated work and strong commitment to quality, Chief Colangelo was successful in revitalizing AAPLE. The membership grew rapidly and activities, such as professional seminars, became common events that were sponsored by AAPLE. His efforts to improve and revitalize our organization is memorialized in an award to an AAPLE member who epitomizes Chief Colangelo's ideals and commitment.

Bradley Silverbush is this year’s Robert Colangelo Award Recipient. Ever generous with his time, Bradley has served proudly as Counsel to the American Academy for Professional Law Enforcement NYC Inc. for the past two years. His tireless efforts throughout the year have been integral to the organization’s mission to assist needy children through our charitable endeavors in 2010. Congratulations.

Bradley Silverbush is a senior litigation partner at Rosenberg & Estis, P.C., who has specialized in all facets of landlord-tenant litigation for over 30 years. He is one of the most respected trial attorneys in New York City specializing in owner representation in landlord-tenant matters, and is a recognized expert in the field of real estate, and particularly illegal use cases, in which he is often called upon by the New York District Attorney’s Office to confer. He received his BA in philosophy and political science from the University of Buffalo in 1977, and his JD from Pace University School of Law in 1980. He is admitted to practice in New York State, and before the Southern and Eastern Districts of the United States District Court, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States of America.

He is an active member of the New York County Lawyers’ Association, the Jewish Lawyer’s Guild, and the City Bar of New York. As a Small Claims Arbitrator, he is a member of the American Judge’s Association, and is frequently called upon to lecture the Civil Court and Housing Court Judges on a variety of legal issues.

AWARD RECIPIENTS

1993	Felicia Shpeitzer	1994	John Stendrini
1995	David A. Kondrup	1996	Robert Trotta
1997	Charles Rose	1998	Lisa Manzi
1999	John Santimauro	2000	Frank Smith
2001	Alfonso Campagnola	2002	Judy Dynia
2003	Chip Smith	2004	Ted Lotti
2005	John D'Agastino	2006	Thomas Lawless
2007	Albert Becker	2008	Pat Kelleher
2009	Mitchell Weiss	2010	Charley Duffy
2011	Bradley Silverbush

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OF THE YEAR

The Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award recognizes outstanding professionals whose performance has demonstrated the highest ideals of excellence in law enforcement.

Chief of Transit Raymond Diaz is this year’s AAPLE Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. His extensive experience, professionalism and steadfast dedication to the citizens of the City of New York and the NYPD, has certainly earned him this honor. Congratulations.

Chief of Transit Raymond Diaz joined the New York City Police Department in January 1970, and began his career on patrol in the 1 Precinct. He was promoted to Sergeant in September 1983; Lieutenant in July 1985; Captain in July 1993; Deputy Inspector in August 1995; Inspector in July 1997; Deputy Chief in July 1999; Assistant Chief in June 2001; and Chief of Transportation in March 2010. He has served in the 1, 25, 70, 71, 72, 90, 120, 122 and 123 Precincts, as well as the Patrol Borough Staten Island Auto Larceny Unit, Auto Crime Division, Staten Island Field Training Unit, Patrol Borough Manhattan South, Patrol Borough Manhattan North, and the School Safety Division.

Chief of Transit Diaz is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of NYC’s entire subway system, including 468 subway stations and a daily ridership of over five million commuters. Previously, Chief Diaz served as Commanding Officer of Patrol Borough Manhattan South and Patrol Borough Manhattan North, as well as the School Safety Division and the 25, 70 and 90 Precincts.

Chief Diaz received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the College of Staten Island. He is a Vietnam veteran who served as a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps from September 1967 through December 1969, and is the recipient of two Purple Hearts.

AWARD RECIPIENTS

2000	Richard Green	2001	Joseph Dunne
2002	William Morange	2003	Joseph Esposito
2004	James McMahon	2005	Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly
2006	Joanne Jaffe	2007	Joseph F. X. Cunneen
2008	Joseph Fox	2009	Robert Giannelli
2010	Deputy Commissioner Patrick Timlin	2011	Raymond Diaz

SCHOLARSHIPS

One of the most important parts of our organization is the AAPLE Scholarship Program, made possible by the generosity of our donors. This year, we awarded ten scholarships of $1,000 each to the children and the grandchildren of AAPLE members. We hope you will continue to work with us on future activities and help us enrich our events and scholarship programs.