Town Of Hempstead Police Service Award

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray (2nd left), Town Clerk Mark Bonilla (right) and Receiver of Taxes Don Clavin (left) present Garden City Police Department Sergeant Thomas Mauren with the 2007 Town of Hempstead Police Service Award. The 2007 Town of Hempstead Police Service Awards Program was held at the Nathan L. H. Bennett Pavilion at town hall in Hempstead. Sergeant Thomas Mauren has been a police officer with the Garden City Police Department for 16 years. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an intense commitment to the safety of the Garden City community. During the past year, his bravery and skills have saved a choking child and prevented a known assailant from causing further harm to others. This past spring, Sergeant Mauren swiftly responded to a call from a frantic mother whose one-year-old son had swallowed a Lego toy. As the infant stopped breathing, his mother became hysterical and refused to let Sergeant Mauren touch the child. Sergeant Mauren pried the baby from his mother's grip and administered the Heimleich maneuver and dislodged the toy from the baby's throat. It was determined that Sergeant Mauren's quick and decisive actions saved the child's life and prevented any permanent injury. In another instance, Sergeant Mauren broke a door window to forcibly enter a home where a known assailant had beaten his sister and locked her and her mother in the basement. Sergeant Mauren's brave and prompt action resulted in the arrest of the assailant. For his years of dedicated service assisting the residents of Garden City and for his continuing displays of bravery, the Town of Hempstead honored Sergeant Mauren.