Post by -|Noel|- on Aug 11, 2006 15:59:04 GMT -5
Get to know the men and women who have dedicated their lives to saving abused animals.
Dale Riedel
Vice President for Humane Law Enforcement
Dale Riedel is the Vice President for Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Mr. Riedel joined the organization in July 1999. Prior to joining the ASPCA, Mr. Riedel was a member of the New York City Police Department for 27 years.
(No Picture) John Polovoy
Assistant Director for Humane Law Enforcement
Assistant director Polovoy joined the organization in June 2004, after having been employed with the New York City Police Department. His responsibilities include providing field supervision to the agents, responding to citizen complaints, assisting in the development of investigative plans, seeing to the timely release of animals in the custody of the ASPCA and overseeing the maintenance of HLE vehicles. Assistant director Polovoy enjoys the satisfaction he receives by saving animals and giving them the opportunity to have better lives. He also hopes to assist the new agents into becoming seasoned professionals and qualified investigators. Assistant director Polovoy lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his wife, two sons, dog and two birds.
Annemarie Lucas
Supervisory Special Investigator for Humane Law Enforcement
Special investigator Lucas has been with the organization for nine years. She has received training from both the New York City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is a state-certified instructor in the field of law enforcement. Although Animal Precinct takes place in New York City, special investigator Lucas hopes viewers realize that animal cruelty is a problem across the country. She lives with her four rescued cats, Shaney, Benny, Mako and Cody; and her four dogs, Phoebe, Sasha, Tess and Ace.
Watch a video clip of Annemarie Lucas.
Mark MacDonald
Special Investigator for Humane Law Enforcement
After 30 distinguished years of service at the ASPCA, special investigator MacDonald now supervises daily operations and investigations in the department. His career has included several highly successful undercover investigations of -- and dog-fighting rings, pet-shop inspections, and animal-cruelty arrests and convictions. Special investigator MacDonald joined the ASPCA in 1974 as a kennelman. Presently he serves as a field training officer and first grade investigator. He resides in New York City with his wife, three children, five dogs, four birds, cat, tropical fish and exotics.
Timothy Stack
Special Investigator for Humane Law Enforcement
Investigator Stack joined HLE in March 1994. Prior to joining the ASPCA, investigator Stack was employed by the New York City Emergency Medical Service. He currently resides in Long Island.
Diane DiGiacomo
Special Investigator for Humane Law Enforcement
Special investigator DiGiacomo has been employed with the ASPCA since June 1997. Prior to working at the organization, she was a member of the New York City Police Department. Investigator DiGiacomo resides in New York City with her child.
Paul Romano
Special Investigator for Humane Law Enforcement
Special investigator Romano joined the organization in September 1998. Prior to working at the ASPCA, investigator Romano was a lieutenant peace officer for a private housing complex in New York City for 12 years. It was in this capacity that he became interested in humane law enforcement after numerous interactions with ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement agents. It is his hope that crimes involving animals will eventually be viewed as seriously as crimes involving people. Investigator Romano resides in New York with his wife, children and dog.
Michael Tietje
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Special agent Tietje joined the HLE in July 1995, after 22 years of service with the New York Police Department. He found out about the position through his Police Benevolent Association. Agent Tiejte hopes that Animal Precinct will raise awareness about animal cruelty and motivate individuals to report cruelty when they witness it. He resides in upstate New York and owns a bird.
Henry Ruiz
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Henry Ruiz joined the HLE in 2001 after serving 17 years with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). While with the NYPD, Ruiz worked with the Narcotics Division of the Organized Crime Control Bureau for his last 12 years of service. As a narcotics officer, he was involved in over 300 arrests and over 1,000 undercover operations. Since joining the ASPCA, he has primarily worked undercover as "Agent H," infiltrating hundreds of -fighting and dog fighting rings as well as numerous other special operations conducted by the HLE. Several months after joining the HLE, he obtained the first Felony Animal Cruelty Indictment in New York City. Ruiz currently resides in The Bronx. His "unveiling" from an undercover agent was featured in an episode of Animal Precinct that aired July 18, 2005, on Animal Planet.
Richard Raheb
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Richard Raheb joined the organization in January 2005. Prior to joining the ASPCA, Agent Raheb was a village constable in the County of Suffolk, N.Y. With a passion for animals and their welfare, he volunteered at his local SPCA as an animal-cruelty investigator. Raheb had no idea how widespread animal cruelty was until his work with the SPCA. He decided to incorporate his law enforcement experience with his love for animals and joined the New York City ASPCA full time to fight animal cruelty. In the course of Agent Raheb's work he has rescued and taken home a number of animals, which he has rehabilitated and sent off to happy homes. Agent Raheb says, "This is the best job in the world — rescuing animals from cruelty and locking up the offenders who commit these awful crimes."
Joann Sandano
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Sandano joined the organization in August 1999. Prior to joining the ASPCA, agent Sandano volunteered at her local SPCA as an animal-cruelty investigator. In addition, she was employed as a security officer for various retail stores and college campuses. With her love of animals and previous law-enforcement experience, officer Sandano says her job, as an HLE agent, is a dream come true. Agent Sandano lives in Long Island with her father, two dogs and a cat.
Tina Salaks
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Salaks joined the organization in November 1999. Prior to her employment with the ASPCA, agent Salaks was former mounted officer with the New York City Parks Department. The horse assigned to Agent Salaks while she was employed with the Parks Department after retirement was adopted by her and currently lives on a farm in New Jersey. Agent Salaks resides in Manhattan.
John De La Torre
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent De La Torre joined the organization in May 2001. Prior to joining the ASPCA, he was employed as a veterinary assistant in Roslyn, N.Y. In 1999 he earned an associate's degree in graphic design and advertising from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Agent De La Torre currently lives in Queens, N.Y., with Tuesday, a pit bull he rescued.
Adam Gankiewicz
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Gankiewicz joined the organization in November 2001. Prior to joining the ASPCA, he was a detective for the New York City Police Department. Agent Gankiewicz, his wife, Stacy, and daughter, Ashley, share their home with their rottweiler, Justice, and Japanese fighting fish, Fishy.
Paul H. Lai
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Lai has been with the organization for five years. Prior to joining the ASPCA, he held a variety of positions in the criminal justice field, including: federal police officer with the U.S. Veteran Affairs Department, park enforcement ranger, private investigator and mail carrier. He received a bachelor of science degree with a major in criminal justice from St. John's University. Agent Lai enjoys working with the animals he rescues and the satisfaction of having the ability to arrest their abusers. He currently resides in Queens, N.Y.
Joseph Pentangelo
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
After a 20-year career with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in the mounted unit and as a NYPD spokesperson, agent Pentangelo joined the ASPCA in May 2001. In his spare time, agent Pentangelo uses his law enforcement expertise as an actor playing similar roles. He has been acting for 15 years and has appeared in such television shows as Law & Order. Currently, agent Pentangelo lives in Staten Island, N.Y., with his wife, two sons and three dogs. The rescue and adoption of Cain, one of Joe's dogs, was featured on an episode of Animal Precinct.
Richard Ryan
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Ryan joined the organization in August of 2003. Prior to joining the ASPCA, agent Ryan spent 21 years as a New York City police officer, including eight years with the mounted unit. He resides in the suburbs of New York City.
Peter Rivas
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Rivas joined the organization in June 2004. Prior to his employment at the ASPCA, agent Rivas was employed for six years as a police officer for the New York City Police Department. He was also employed for four years as a parks enforcement officer for the New York City Parks Department. Agent Rivas enjoys helping the animals he saves and educating the public about the proper way to care for their pets. Currently, agent Rivas resides in Queens, N.Y., with his daughter.
Kristi Adams
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Adams joined the organization in July 2004. Prior to joining the ASPCA, she was employed for five years as a veterinary assistant in an animal hospital located in Monroe, N.Y., and as an animal control officer in a humane society located in upstate New York. Agent Adams currently resides in Brooklyn, N.Y., with her sister Kym, a pit bull named Bruno, a rottweiler named Brittney, a Maltese named Jack and two cats named Piper and Manch.
Dale Riedel
Vice President for Humane Law Enforcement
Dale Riedel is the Vice President for Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Mr. Riedel joined the organization in July 1999. Prior to joining the ASPCA, Mr. Riedel was a member of the New York City Police Department for 27 years.
(No Picture) John Polovoy
Assistant Director for Humane Law Enforcement
Assistant director Polovoy joined the organization in June 2004, after having been employed with the New York City Police Department. His responsibilities include providing field supervision to the agents, responding to citizen complaints, assisting in the development of investigative plans, seeing to the timely release of animals in the custody of the ASPCA and overseeing the maintenance of HLE vehicles. Assistant director Polovoy enjoys the satisfaction he receives by saving animals and giving them the opportunity to have better lives. He also hopes to assist the new agents into becoming seasoned professionals and qualified investigators. Assistant director Polovoy lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his wife, two sons, dog and two birds.
Annemarie Lucas
Supervisory Special Investigator for Humane Law Enforcement
Special investigator Lucas has been with the organization for nine years. She has received training from both the New York City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is a state-certified instructor in the field of law enforcement. Although Animal Precinct takes place in New York City, special investigator Lucas hopes viewers realize that animal cruelty is a problem across the country. She lives with her four rescued cats, Shaney, Benny, Mako and Cody; and her four dogs, Phoebe, Sasha, Tess and Ace.
Watch a video clip of Annemarie Lucas.
Mark MacDonald
Special Investigator for Humane Law Enforcement
After 30 distinguished years of service at the ASPCA, special investigator MacDonald now supervises daily operations and investigations in the department. His career has included several highly successful undercover investigations of -- and dog-fighting rings, pet-shop inspections, and animal-cruelty arrests and convictions. Special investigator MacDonald joined the ASPCA in 1974 as a kennelman. Presently he serves as a field training officer and first grade investigator. He resides in New York City with his wife, three children, five dogs, four birds, cat, tropical fish and exotics.
Timothy Stack
Special Investigator for Humane Law Enforcement
Investigator Stack joined HLE in March 1994. Prior to joining the ASPCA, investigator Stack was employed by the New York City Emergency Medical Service. He currently resides in Long Island.
Diane DiGiacomo
Special Investigator for Humane Law Enforcement
Special investigator DiGiacomo has been employed with the ASPCA since June 1997. Prior to working at the organization, she was a member of the New York City Police Department. Investigator DiGiacomo resides in New York City with her child.
Paul Romano
Special Investigator for Humane Law Enforcement
Special investigator Romano joined the organization in September 1998. Prior to working at the ASPCA, investigator Romano was a lieutenant peace officer for a private housing complex in New York City for 12 years. It was in this capacity that he became interested in humane law enforcement after numerous interactions with ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement agents. It is his hope that crimes involving animals will eventually be viewed as seriously as crimes involving people. Investigator Romano resides in New York with his wife, children and dog.
Michael Tietje
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Special agent Tietje joined the HLE in July 1995, after 22 years of service with the New York Police Department. He found out about the position through his Police Benevolent Association. Agent Tiejte hopes that Animal Precinct will raise awareness about animal cruelty and motivate individuals to report cruelty when they witness it. He resides in upstate New York and owns a bird.
Henry Ruiz
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Henry Ruiz joined the HLE in 2001 after serving 17 years with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). While with the NYPD, Ruiz worked with the Narcotics Division of the Organized Crime Control Bureau for his last 12 years of service. As a narcotics officer, he was involved in over 300 arrests and over 1,000 undercover operations. Since joining the ASPCA, he has primarily worked undercover as "Agent H," infiltrating hundreds of -fighting and dog fighting rings as well as numerous other special operations conducted by the HLE. Several months after joining the HLE, he obtained the first Felony Animal Cruelty Indictment in New York City. Ruiz currently resides in The Bronx. His "unveiling" from an undercover agent was featured in an episode of Animal Precinct that aired July 18, 2005, on Animal Planet.
Richard Raheb
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Richard Raheb joined the organization in January 2005. Prior to joining the ASPCA, Agent Raheb was a village constable in the County of Suffolk, N.Y. With a passion for animals and their welfare, he volunteered at his local SPCA as an animal-cruelty investigator. Raheb had no idea how widespread animal cruelty was until his work with the SPCA. He decided to incorporate his law enforcement experience with his love for animals and joined the New York City ASPCA full time to fight animal cruelty. In the course of Agent Raheb's work he has rescued and taken home a number of animals, which he has rehabilitated and sent off to happy homes. Agent Raheb says, "This is the best job in the world — rescuing animals from cruelty and locking up the offenders who commit these awful crimes."
Joann Sandano
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Sandano joined the organization in August 1999. Prior to joining the ASPCA, agent Sandano volunteered at her local SPCA as an animal-cruelty investigator. In addition, she was employed as a security officer for various retail stores and college campuses. With her love of animals and previous law-enforcement experience, officer Sandano says her job, as an HLE agent, is a dream come true. Agent Sandano lives in Long Island with her father, two dogs and a cat.
Tina Salaks
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Salaks joined the organization in November 1999. Prior to her employment with the ASPCA, agent Salaks was former mounted officer with the New York City Parks Department. The horse assigned to Agent Salaks while she was employed with the Parks Department after retirement was adopted by her and currently lives on a farm in New Jersey. Agent Salaks resides in Manhattan.
John De La Torre
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent De La Torre joined the organization in May 2001. Prior to joining the ASPCA, he was employed as a veterinary assistant in Roslyn, N.Y. In 1999 he earned an associate's degree in graphic design and advertising from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. Agent De La Torre currently lives in Queens, N.Y., with Tuesday, a pit bull he rescued.
Adam Gankiewicz
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Gankiewicz joined the organization in November 2001. Prior to joining the ASPCA, he was a detective for the New York City Police Department. Agent Gankiewicz, his wife, Stacy, and daughter, Ashley, share their home with their rottweiler, Justice, and Japanese fighting fish, Fishy.
Paul H. Lai
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Lai has been with the organization for five years. Prior to joining the ASPCA, he held a variety of positions in the criminal justice field, including: federal police officer with the U.S. Veteran Affairs Department, park enforcement ranger, private investigator and mail carrier. He received a bachelor of science degree with a major in criminal justice from St. John's University. Agent Lai enjoys working with the animals he rescues and the satisfaction of having the ability to arrest their abusers. He currently resides in Queens, N.Y.
Joseph Pentangelo
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
After a 20-year career with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in the mounted unit and as a NYPD spokesperson, agent Pentangelo joined the ASPCA in May 2001. In his spare time, agent Pentangelo uses his law enforcement expertise as an actor playing similar roles. He has been acting for 15 years and has appeared in such television shows as Law & Order. Currently, agent Pentangelo lives in Staten Island, N.Y., with his wife, two sons and three dogs. The rescue and adoption of Cain, one of Joe's dogs, was featured on an episode of Animal Precinct.
Richard Ryan
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Ryan joined the organization in August of 2003. Prior to joining the ASPCA, agent Ryan spent 21 years as a New York City police officer, including eight years with the mounted unit. He resides in the suburbs of New York City.
Peter Rivas
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Rivas joined the organization in June 2004. Prior to his employment at the ASPCA, agent Rivas was employed for six years as a police officer for the New York City Police Department. He was also employed for four years as a parks enforcement officer for the New York City Parks Department. Agent Rivas enjoys helping the animals he saves and educating the public about the proper way to care for their pets. Currently, agent Rivas resides in Queens, N.Y., with his daughter.
Kristi Adams
Special Agent for Humane Law Enforcement
Agent Adams joined the organization in July 2004. Prior to joining the ASPCA, she was employed for five years as a veterinary assistant in an animal hospital located in Monroe, N.Y., and as an animal control officer in a humane society located in upstate New York. Agent Adams currently resides in Brooklyn, N.Y., with her sister Kym, a pit bull named Bruno, a rottweiler named Brittney, a Maltese named Jack and two cats named Piper and Manch.