Stamford Police Association Announces 2 Officers Of The Year

Information via the Stamford Police Association

STAMFORD, CT — The Stamford Police Association announced this week veteran police officers Louis Burdi and David O'Meara have been named Officers of the Year for 2020.

According to a news release, the annual award recognizes offers for their outstanding work to keep the citizens of Stamford safe. Both officers are partners and members of the department's Squad B Major Crimes Investigations unit.

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Throughout the year and during a global pandemic, both officers proved that the challenges posed by coronavirus restrictions would not come in the way of seeking justice for residents of Stamford.

Burdi and O'Meara are both ten-year veterans of the force. The duo has had a leading role in several noteworthy felony arrests, solving cases including, but not limited to, shootings, stabbings, armed robberies and homicides.

Burdi has become well recognized for his attention to detail in combing through digital and phone data, carrier records and social media search warrants, while O'Meara has a specialty in combing through video surveillance data and analysis.

In the spring and fall of 2020, the Mobil gas station on West Main Street was robbed at gunpoint on three separate occasions. O'Meara combed through hours of surveillance footage, identified a particular suspects movement across town and timed to the arrival at the location.

Using this proof is but one example of Officer O'Meara successfully filing for an arrest warrant due to significant evidence recorded by residential and commercial surveillance cameras across any typical community.

Unfortunately during 2020, Stamford was among the towns and cities that experienced an increase in shootings, with both officers involved in several significant investigations, including multiple shootings and robberies that that were ultimately determined to be spearheaded by a known suspect. Burdi was able to build a significant case detailing evidence about the suspect's involvement.

Both officers were also involved in the highly notable investigation into the murder at Marco Jewelers. Stamford Police teams, working in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, including the NYPD and FBI, were able to identify a suspect now under federal indictment.

"Even in an ordinary year, policing is never easy," SPA president Kris Engstrand said in a news release. "Given the added complications of a pandemic, it can only be described as extremely difficult. What Officers Burdi and O'Meara showed was that justice is vital to the safety and security of the communities where we live and work. These two officers are a great example of having well-trained, diligent and honest women and men serving in the Stamford Police Department."

Each Year, the Stamford Police Association awards an officer or officers with the distinction of being Officer of the Year. Winners for both 2019 and 2020 will be honored at a gala on June 11.