Eight Niagara County law enforcement officers recognized as Lawmen of the Year

Apr. 23—Eight Niagara County law enforcement officers were honored for acts of heroism and bravery at the annual Legal and Business Professionals of Niagara County Lawman of the Year awards dinner Saturday night.

The organization, previously known as the Judges and Police Executives Conference of Niagara County, is composed of members of the local judiciary, law enforcement and the business and education communities. The group regularly supports local charities in addition to recognizing the work of members of law enforcement.

This year's honorees are Niagara County Sheriff's deputies David Ganz and Shagundeep Virk, Niagara County Corrections Officer Scott Mendola, Lewiston Police Officer Joshua Belin, Niagara Falls Police officers Kayla Richards and Ian Sitek and Town of Niagara Police Lt. Kellie Aderman and Officer James Bissell.

Sitek and Richards were honored for their handling of an active shooter incident in Niagara Falls. On the night of Aug. 3, police dispatchers received multiple calls about shots fired near the Estella Apartments on Niagara Avenue.

Richards, the first officer to arrive on the scene, encountered a man sitting in front of the apartments and holding a handgun. Sitek arrived on the scene 11 second later and both officers were approached by a woman, who pointed at the suspect and said that he had shot at her vehicle.

The officers later learned that the suspect had actually been firing at another person.

Body camera video, released by Niagara Falls Police Department, showed Richards begin to approach the man, asking him multiple times to show his hands. The video showed the man stand up and walk toward Richards while waving the handgun in her direction.

As Richards repeatedly implored the man to drop his gun, Sitek provided cover for her and joined her in calling for the man to lay down his weapon. The body cam video shows the suspect continued to walk toward the officers and briefly raise his hands, in what appeared to be a surrender, before lowering his right hand and firing at Richards.

Investigators determined that the bullet fired from the man's gun missed striking Richards by "just a few feet" and slammed into the door of her patrol car.

Sitek and Richards then returned fire and fatally wounded the man.

The professionals' association said, "These officers' tactics, professionalism and calm demeanor under pressure are in the highest tradition of the Niagara Falls Police Department. They are a credit to themselves and the community that they serve."

Aderman and Bissell were recognized for their work in the aftermath of an armed home invasion robbery at a town of Niagara apartment complex.

On Jan. 18, 2023, Bissell and Aderman were dispatched to the Royal Park Apartments on Porter Road for a report of a burglary in a lower apartment. The suspects had kicked in the door of an elderly resident but then ran to another apartment.

As Bissell arrived on the scene, he saw what appeared to be a person coming out of the window of an upper apartment. As he watched the window, Bissell saw a hand, holding a gun, fire three shots at him from the window.

None of the shots hit Bissell and he returned to the front of the apartment building to take cover. As he got to the front of the building, three males began to leave the apartment complex.

Aderman saw the men were all wearing masks and what appeared to be latex gloves. She ordered the suspects to the ground and they were taken into custody.

In honoring Bissell and Aderman, the association said, "Due to the heroic actions by Lt. Aderman and Officer Bissell in the face of direct fire, three prolific criminals were taken of the streets and thankfully, no one was injured."

Ganz and Virk were honored for their efforts to save the life of a 3-year-old girl who had been attacked by a pack of dogs.

The deputies said when they responded to the call, on April 12, 2023, they found "a horrifically bloody scene" and thought the child had died. The girl was "face down on the kitchen floor, covered in lacerations and puncture wounds from head to toe."

The deputies reported that "the child's head had the most significant injuries; her legs and arms were covered with multiple puncture wounds from the dogs biting her. In addition, she had severe bleeding throughout her face, including a wound from one of her eye sockets."

Ganz, a certified paramedic, joined the ambulance crew that rushed the girl to Oishei Children's Hospital. Physicians said that without the "quick and immediate response of Deputy Virk, and the lifesaving care provided by Deputy Ganz while on the way to the hospital, the child would have perished."

Belin was honored for attempting to rescue a person from a burning home on Saunders Settlement Road on Dec. 8. As fire companies battled the blaze, Belin entered the home to try to find a person reportedly trapped inside. He was unable to bring the person out due to their medical conditions and confinement to a wheelchair, and during the attempt he was exposed to heavy smoke and sustained third-degree burns on his hands.

The associated noted that, "Officer Joshua Belin put his life and safety in danger in an attempt to rescue another. His heroic actions, courage and dedication to the lives of others are to be commended."

Mendola was recognized as a "role model for corrections officers." In particular, he was cited for his work in the officer wellness program, including the Peer-to-Peer Support Program and Crisis Intervention Training. In addition, the association noted, he teaches in the DARE and ALL STAR programs at local schools.