Putnam County Sergeant Named 2016 State Marine Law Enforcement Officer

CARMEL, N.Y. -- Putnam County Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Szabo has been named the New York State Marine Law Enforcement Officer of the Year for 2016.Szabo was selected from the ranks of marine law enforcement officers across the entire state, said Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith.

Undersheriff Peter Convery, Sgt. Michael Szabo, State Parks representative Richard Stefanski, Sheriff Donald B. Smith and Capt. Thomas Velott honor Szabo.
Photo Credit: *Putnam County Sheriff's Office*

K Reakes

07/29/2016 11:00 a.m.

State Parks representatives Richard Stefanski and Timothy McGuire visited the Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, July 26, to present Szabo the award during a ceremony attended by Sheriff’s Office personnel and members of Szabo's family.

During the ceremony, Smith praised the sergeant for his outstanding service in the Marine Unit, pointing out that the sergeant played a key role in organizing a recent boating event on Lake Mahopac that raised funds for veterans groups in the county.

Smith called Szabo “a great Sheriff’s Office ambassador for community policing in Putnam County.”

In reading the state award citation, Stefanski cited a number of Szabo's achievements in the areas of marine enforcement and boating safety, including his training of more than 400 citizens in boater certification courses and instructing other officers in marine law enforcement.

He also mentioned what he called “Sgt. Szabo’s fun and creative approach” in encouraging kids to wear life-preservers by handing out ice cream treats to youngsters seen wearing them while boating with their families on Lake Mahopac.

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