2024 Annual Awards Dinner

CHAIRMAN EDWARD DAVID MARTINO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Captain Javier Toro - Hudson County Prosecutors Office

NPDF Delegate Edward Martino legacy includes being an U.S. Army Veteran, Police Officer, successful businessman and Chairman of the Pennsylvania Citizens Commission on Crime.

Fairleigh Dickinson University Graduate School

COLONEL BIENVENIDO PEREZ-PERDOMO MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Keith John Thompson

Colonel Perez-Perdomo legacy includes being a highly decorated police official with the Dominican National Police who served as the official NPDF Delegate to the Dominican Republic for the past twenty-eight years.

Pennsylvania State University

NYPD DETECTIVE JAMES “BARNEY” FERGUSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Nicholas Mazzola

Detective James “Barney” Ferguson legacy was being a highly decorated detective of the New York City Police Department. He was a member of several NYPD fraternal police organizations and in 1978 Barney was appointed as the “Grand Marshall” of the St. Patrick’s Parade in Manhattan.

College of Staten Island

2024 INSPECTOR ROBERT ABRAHAM MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Christina Singh

Inspector Robert Abraham legacy includes being a highly decorated Police Inspector with the New York Police Department. He was a board member of several NYPD Police fraternal organizations and served as a Delegate to the NPDF.

St. Johns’s University

ANNA R. VENDITTI MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Emily Caragliano

Anna R. Venditti is a “survivor of the shield” whose son, NYPD Detective Anthony Venditti was killed in the line of duty in 1986. Anna served as a board member on multiple police fraternal support groups which provided moral support and assistance to the families of other NYPD officers killed in the line of duty.

Undecided College

TED BUCZEK MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Sophie Myerson

Ted Buczek, a World War II veteran, is a “Survivor of the Shield” whose son, NYPD Policer Officer Michael Buczek was killed on October 18, 1988 by foreign drug lords who fled the United States. Ted successfully lobbied Congress and the Administration for over a decade to extradite those suspects who were later convicted. In his son’s memory, Ted established the P.O. Michael Buczek Little League and was a board member of multiple fraternal police organizations.

University of Pittsburgh

MARIO APUZZO, ESQ. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Theresa Caragliano

Mario Apuzzo, Esq., a former Police Commissioner, and municipal prosecutor, was a practicing attorney in New Jersey. Mario served as the National Police Defense Foundation. Treasurer and Legal Counsel. He was also a board member for several Italian-American fraternal organizations, including the Order Son’s of Italy and the Commission for Social Justice.

Pace University

JOHN J. FAHY, ESQ. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

James A. Lacorazza

John. “Jay” Fahy, Esq., a former Bergen County Prosecutor and Assistant U.S. Attorney, was a partner in a New Jersey law firm who served as the National Police Defense Foundation Treasurer and Legal Counsel. He was also the legal consultant for a national television network.

Rutgers University

DET. JOHN “JACK” HOLDER, JR. MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

Anthony Lacorazza

John “Jack” Holder, Jr., a former U.S. Marine was a decorated Detective with the New York City Police Department who worked on numerous high-profile organized crime investigations. Jack proudly served as the President of the National Police Defense Foundation for twenty-five years and was internationally recognized as a true humanitarian for arranging life-saving medical treatment for critically ill children worldwide under the “Operation Kid’s Program.

Union County College

ROBERT “BRADLEY” BLACKMAN, ESQ. MEMORIAL FUND

Rachael Roda

Robert “Bradley” Blackman, Esq., a former Prosecutor and municipal court judge, was a prestigious practicing attorney in Edison, New Jersey who served as the Legal Counsel to the National Police Defense Foundation and New Jersey State PBA.

Rowan University