Nine from UPD awarded highest SUNY honors

Nine members of the University Police Department have been recognized this year for saving the life of an overdose victim and de-escalating a confrontation with a despondent motorist.

The nine were among three dozen campus law enforcement from across SUNY who were recipients of the 2025 University Police Awards, the highest award given by the SUNY Police Chiefs Association.

“SUNY’s university police officers are an integral part of our campus communities and an essential element of our commitment to student safety,” SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said in a prepared statement. “I am grateful for their dedication to ensuring that our campuses remain safe and nurturing environments for all.”

Lt. Catherine Guzman and officers Jason Converse, Gregory Kuchta and Alexis Goodlander received the Lifesaving Award for their actions during the late-night hours of April 2. The four responded to a report of an unresponsive male inside a vehicle in the special events parking lot on the North Campus.

Guzman and Goodlander removed the male — who had a pulse but was not breathing — and administered NARCAN. With assistance from Kuchta and Goodlander, Guzman and Converse began administering chest compressions on the victim while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. The male was transported to Buffalo General Medical Center, where he recovered.

Lt. Scott McMillan and officers Dylan Wojciechowski, Nicholas Pokorski, Christopher Sprigg and Amy Revelas were awarded the association’s Heroism Award for their intervention during the evening of May 4 following a traffic stop by Wojciechowski on Chestnut Ridge Road, adjacent to the North Campus.

The driver emerged from the vehicle brandishing a knife before barricading himself inside the car. Additional department resources were called to the scene and officers used their training in negotiation and de-escalation tactics to take the suspect safely into custody.

While the incident lasted several hours, the officers’ ability to “maintain composure, assess the situation and effectively communicate under extreme pressure demonstrated outstanding training and professionalism.”

“Our officers demonstrate exceptional dedication every single day. These examples highlight the incredible work they perform to keep our community safe,” says Chief Kim Beaty. “After all, being a hero is never easy — it takes hard work and commitment.”

The 2025 University Police Awards were handed out on Dec. 3 in Albany. The awards are given annually to recognize lieutenants, officers and staff for their professionalism, lifesaving acts and heroic efforts on campus.