Little Falls Police Department Honors Officers, Civilian Hero at Awards Ceremony

LITTLE FALLS, N.Y. – The City of Little Falls held an awards ceremony Tuesday morning recognizing several police officers, civilian honoree Isabella Stone, and LeeAnn Dooley for actions that department leaders say reflect the best of the community.

Chief Robert Thomas presented the awards, with Police and Fire Commission members Tom Wind and Mark Feane on hand alongside Mayor Deborah Kaufman, who delivered closing remarks.

Chief Thomas told the crowd he organized the event to make sure officers know how much their day-to-day work is appreciated by him, the department, and the city administration.

He said he has spent six years leading the department and called the officers he works with among the most dedicated he has encountered in more than three decades in law enforcement, including previous roles running other departments and serving as an undersheriff.

A Major Drug Operation

The centerpiece of the ceremony was recognition tied to a large-scale narcotics operation carried out on April 3, 2026.

According to Chief Thomas, the case began with an extended investigation – at least six months of undercover work – that initially targeted six suspects on felony drug sale charges.

Rather than serving warrants separately, the department opted to hit two residences simultaneously with SWAT support, an unusual move for a department of its size.

The operation, conducted with the Herkimer Police Emergency Response Team, resulted in far more arrests than anticipated: more than 20 people taken into custody, including eight facing high-level felony drug sale charges, all within about an hour and a half.

Chief Thomas said no officers or suspects were injured during the operation, and that the strength of the evidence gathered has already led a significant share of those arrested to plead guilty rather than contest the charges.

Five awards stemmed directly from that operation:

• Sergeant Thomas J. Carinci received the Medal of Merit for coordinating more than a dozen investigative steps between November 2025 and the April 3 operation, work that department leaders credited with establishing the credibility behind the search warrants and subsequent arrests.
• Sergeant Vincent M. Grainer received the Medal of Merit for his role with the Herkimer Police Emergency Response Team, where he conducted surveillance, analyzed intelligence, and helped develop and execute the tactical plan for both simultaneous warrants.
• Sergeant Brandon A. Macrina received the Medal of Merit for independently planning and coordinating patrol logistics for the operation, managing the transition of more than 20 arrested individuals from scene to station to court, and participating directly in evidence collection.
• Public Safety Secretary Tina L. Fox received the Medal of Merit for managing the logistics of processing more than 20 arrestees in the department’s confined office space, recognized both for that day and for 25 years of service to the city.
• All members of the department received a Meritorious Conduct Unit Commendation for executing the two simultaneous search warrants safely and professionally under circumstances that required roughly twice the department’s available manpower.

In a statement prepared for the occasion, department leadership praised the operation’s scope: “Our officers demonstrated exceptional skill and resolve during one of the largest drug operations in the city’s history. Months of meticulous planning, seamless coordination with partner agencies, and precise execution alongside SWAT units allowed them to safely dismantle a significant trafficking network. Their professionalism and courage under pressure set a high standard for law enforcement in Little Falls and beyond.”

Civilian Honored for Roadside Rescue

The ceremony’s other major recognition went to Isabella Stone, a Little Falls resident honored with the Lifesaving Medal for pulling a stranger from a burning vehicle.

According to the department’s award citation and a proclamation issued by Mayor Kaufman, Stone was walking on Main Street near the U.S. Post Office on the morning of June 7, 2026, at approximately 11:35 a.m., when she heard an explosion nearby.

She located the source – a vehicle that had caught fire and was engulfed in flames and heavy black smoke – and saw the male driver attempting to climb out through the driver’s side window.

Without protective equipment and without regard for her own safety, Stone entered the area around the burning vehicle, ran to the man after he fell from the door, and directed bystanders to call for emergency help.

As the fire continued to intensify, she helped move him away from the vehicle to safety, then stayed with him alongside a responding police officer, providing basic care and reassurance until paramedics arrived.

Chief Thomas called it extraordinary for police officers to step into a crisis like that – and said it’s even more remarkable when a civilian does the same.

Mayor Kaufman echoed that sentiment in a statement she read alongside the honor: “Isabella Stone’s actions on the morning of June 7th exemplify the very best of our community. Without hesitation and with no regard for her own safety, she entered a dangerous situation to help a stranger in need. Her courage and compassion saved a life that day, and for that, the City of Little Falls is profoundly grateful. We are proud to honor her with the Lifesaving Medal and to publicly thank her on behalf of our residents.”

The mayor’s formal proclamation, issued under the city seal, extends the “heartfelt gratitude and the profound ‘Thanks’ of a grateful community” to Stone on behalf of the city’s residents.

LeeAnn Dooley was also recognized during the ceremony, joining Stone and the department’s officers as part of Tuesday’s honors.

Following the presentations, family members of the honorees were invited to take photographs with the award recipients at City Hall.