On August 5, 2003 while working the 4:00 pm to 2:00 am shift, Lieutenants Paul Delano and Amy Marracino of the Buffalo Police Department were flagged down by a woman who pointed to a man while yelling, "That's him! That's him! He raped her!"  They ordered the suspect, who was on a bike, to stop, but he peddled faster.  The lieutenants gave chase. Lieutenant Delano followed the suspect into a rear yard where he was ambushed by the suspect, who hit him over the head with a lead pipe.  Lieutenant Delano fired at the suspect. The suspect dropped the pipe and came after the lieutenant's gun.  The two men wrestled for the gun.  Despite his head injury, Lieutenant Delano was determined not to let the suspect get his gun. Lieutenant Marracino, who had returned to the car to radio for backup, finally caught up with Lieutenant Delano and the suspect. She quickly realized that the slide on the gun was open rendering it useless. Lieutenant Marracino jumped into the fray and quickly helped subdue the suspect. The suspect, who was recently paroled from prison, had just brutally raped a young college student and attempted to rape another, who was forced to jump out a second story window to escape.  On September 15, 2004 this suspect received a 75 year to life sentence as a persistent violent felony offender.  If not for the quick action and determination on the part of these officers, a very violent and dangerous man would still be on our streets.

     The 100 Club of Buffalo & Western New York recognizes Lieutenants Paul Delano and Amy Marracino for their heroic actions August 5, 2003.