Six Syracuse firefighters to be honored

Syracuse, NY – Six Syracuse firefighters will be decorated this morning at the city’s annual ceremony honoring public safety officers. The honorees and the awards they will receive include: The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Palace Theatre in Eastwood. Absent from the festivities will be the Syracuse Police Department. Twenty police officers were to receive awards,...

Syracuse, NY – Six Syracuse firefighters will be decorated this morning at the city’s annual ceremony honoring public safety officers. The honorees and the awards they will receive include:

• Firefighter Adam Smith, the Mayor’s Medal.
• Firefighter Joseph Gonzalski III, the Fire Chief’s Medal.
• Lt. Lee Eckl, the Medal of Valor.
• Lt. Frank Somers, the Francis Hendricks Medal.
• Firefighter Eric Szentmiklosi, the Arthur Jenkins Medal
• Firefighter Kevin Cox, the Medal of Honor.

The ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Palace Theatre in Eastwood.
Absent from the festivities will be the Syracuse Police Department. Twenty police officers were to receive awards, but the Syracuse Police Benevolent Association decided to boycott after Mayor Stephanie Miner, citing a jury verdict against the recipient, declined to sign the commendation for the officer who was to receive the Wallie Howard Jr. Award.

Syracuse Fire Fighters Local 280 President Tom Sexton said his union was not getting pressured by the police union to boycott the ceremony.

“They realize it’s our day, too,” Sexton said. “It’s unfortunate.”

Had the police awards been given, here's a list of the honorees and their commendations:

Detective Richard Curran, the Francis Hendricks Medal

Detective Edward FAlkowski, the Francis Hendricks Medal

Detective Mark Techmanski, the Jerome P. Slater Award

Officer David Mathewson (retired), the Jerome P. Slater Award

Officer Andrew Rawson, the Jerome P. Slater Award

Detective Michael Musengo, the PBA Presidents Award

Detective Clark Farry, The Post-Standard Award

Detective Michael Murphy, The Post-Standard Award

Officer Leo Dadey, the John C. Dillon Award

Officer Paul Rose, the John C. Dillion Award

Detective Kevin Birardi, the Mayor's Achievement Award

Officer Ty Cogan, the Chief's Achievement Award

Detective Alp Llukaci, the Wallie Howard Jr. Award

Lt. Steven Baratta, the Timothy Laun Award

Officer Scott Fura, the PBA Merit Award

Officer Shawn Prue, the PBA Merit Award

Officer William Summers, the PBA Merit Award

Officer Alfonso Valaro, the PBA Valor Award

Officer Joseph Evans, the SPD Life Saving Award