U. Police commended for catching suspects

Seven University Police officers are being recognized by their department for "exemplary work" in apprehending suspects in recent crimes, University Police Lieutenant George Clisby said Monday. The forthcoming commendations and recognition by the department follow the pursuit and arrests made by University Police last week of two males who robbed and assaulted a student near Williams Hall. Clisby said he was very pleased with the fast response by University Police officers, which he said may have been due to the increase in patrol in the vicinity of Houston Hall. He added that the two men who were arrested in the robbery may be connected to other robberies which have occurred recently in the area. Samuel McCray, 40, and Omar Nelson, 23 -- the two men arrested for the robbery -- have been charged with two counts each of robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, aggravated assault and conspiracy. During the apprehension of McCray and Nelson -- which followed an automobile accident between the car in which they were riding and two University Police cars -- an officer was injured in the line of duty, Clisby said. Officer Frank Cavone received lower back injuries in the automobile accident and was treated at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The student and a suspect were also injured during the robbery and ensuing apprehension. Clisby said individual officers will receive different levels of commendation, depending on the role each played in the arrests. "Each will receive recognition in one form or another," Clisby said. "Some [officers] made commendable contributions while others assisted with secondary tasks, such as transporting and securing the crime scenes." University Police Commissioner John Kuprevich praised the officers receiving recognition for the arrests. "It's clear that any time we've had a significant incident occur, our officers have risen to the occasion," Kuprevich said. "They often go above and beyond what is expected of them." The officers who will be recognized by University Police for their work in the Williams robbery arrests are Cavone, Darryl Blaire, Andrew Malloy, Nick Viola, Salvatore Mannino, Anthony Riccio and Al Sulpizio. Clisby also said that 10 officers are being recognized for their role in the apprehension of two suspects who robbed the Penn Federal Credit Union of $1,240 at gunpoint early last month. The officers are Jim Blackmore, John Washington, Carnell Thomas, Joseph McGarvey, Marvin Jones, Darryl Northington, Bill Kane, Michael Sandt, Darren Young and Stacey Sullivan.