State Police give troopers awards for actions

MONTPELIER — Six Vermont State Police troopers were honored Friday for their roles in the fatal shooting of an armed, mentally ill man during a standoff last summer. The awards were among several dozen honors and promotions given to state police troopers, officers from other agencies and civilian personnel. They were given at the state police's annual promotion ceremony in Montpelier. Other awards were given to troopers who saved people stricken by heart attacks or injured in crashes, or for their roles in helping investigate an Aug. 24 shooting at Essex Elementary School or the disappearance of University of Vermont senior Michelle Gardner-Quinn. Twenty-eight troopers received promotions from Gov. James Douglas and Public Safety Commissioner Kerry Sleeper, including Col. James Baker, who was appointed commander of the state police in September. "The challenges that we face as troopers are significant," Douglas said. "The challenges are obvious. The rewards are more subtle. They derive from the opportunity to make a real difference." Many troopers were accompanied by family members who posed for photographs with Douglas and the other officials. Sgt. Marc Thomas and Senior Trooper Andrew Campagne received Combat Cross awards for their roles in the fatal shooting, which occurred June 24 in Corinth. Senior Troopers Jeremy Hill, Mark Magnant, Hugh O'Donnell, and Robert Snetsinger II, members of the state police tactical team, were given directors' awards for their work that day. The shooting occurred after a police tactical team and hostage negotiators were called in when Joseph Fortunati, 40, of Fairlee, pointed a handgun at his brother. Police tried to get Fortunati to drop the weapon and fired nonlethal beanbags at him, but when he pointed the pistol at troopers, he was shot to death. Last month, the attorney general's office determined the shooting was justified. "As members of the tactical services unit, you were deployed into a remote area in an attempt to take a dangerous individual into custody," the officers' citation read. "You demonstrated remarkable discipline in a stressful situation while attempting to bring this incident to a conclusion. Your dedication, training and commitment to keeping other members safe was clearly displayed." Fortunati's father, who has criticized police for shooting his son, didn't immediately return a telephone message seeking comment on the officers' awards. Fortunati, who suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, had not been taking his medication, his father has said.