On Friday, January 10, 2025, Farmingdale State College’s (FSC) University Police Department (UPD) recognized three officers as part of its annual UPD Awards and Promotions Ceremony. 

UPD Awards 

The evening event, held in Ward Hall’s Great Room, first highlighted Officer Connor Coghlan, ’18, and Officer Ryan O’Donnell, who both recently received a State University of New York (SUNY) Police Chief Life Saving Award for their heroic actions last summer answering an emergency call. 

On Sunday, July 7, 2024, both officers were on shift when at approximately 5 p.m. a neighboring agency put out a stabbing call for Adventureland Amusement Park, located across the street from FSC’s main entrance. Responding without hesitation, the officers were first on the scene with Coghlan immediately treating the victim’s severe injuries and O'Donnell swiftly locating the suspect. New York State University Police Department jurisdictions extend to adjoining roadways and the attached properties. 

“The courageous actions of both Officers O'Donnell and Coghlan saved the victim’s life and led to the quick arrest of the suspect--preventing what could have been a far worse outcome,” said FSC Chief of Police Daniel Daugherty, who presented the officers with honorary FSC plaques. 

“These two officers have demonstrated very quickly that they are among the finest officers that have ever worked here at Farmingdale State College,” Daugherty added of O’Donnell and Coghlan, who joined FSC in January 2022 and June 2023 respectively. “Even in this short period of time, these officers have distinguished themselves among their peers and have served this institution with an impressive level of professionalism.” 

“It feels extraordinary to be honored today and I’m very thankful that the individual I was able to help, his life was saved,” shared Coghlan, an FSC Criminal Justice Program graduate as well as a former emergency medical technical (EMT) and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Officer.  

“I just love being able to serve the students and campus community here,” Coghlan added of professionally joining his alma mater, where he was also a member of the cross-country team. “It’s come full circle, and I’m so happy to be back.”  

Additionally, although not included in the 2025 ceremony, new FSC Detective Gary Borowski recently received the SUNY Police Chief Award for Professionalism for his prior service at Stony Brook University, where his actions helped resolve a parental inquiry that rapidly evolved into a missing person. After a multiagency international search, the student was safely reunited with her family.  

UPD Promotion  

During the ceremony, Daugherty was proud to announce the promotion of Officer Andrew Sousa to technical sergeant.  

“You would be hard pressed to find someone who would have anything bad to say about him,” Daugherty said of Sousa, who started at FSC in April 2016 and quickly gained the respect of his colleagues.  “Always willing to go the extra mile, Officer Sousa has the ability to deal with every type of situation this job throws at him with an incredible level of professionalism and a great--although dry--sense of humor,” he added to appreciative chuckles around the room.  

 “As a police instructor, Officer Sousa has begun teaching fair and impartial policing to all of our department members. And it is in this role that I am certain he will continue to flourish,” said Daugherty. 

“We have great equipment, and we receive great training and that is instrumental in not just saving a life but also handling day-to-day situations and community policing--especially in a campus environment,” said O’Donnell, a former EMT and NYPD Officer who served alongside Coghlan in the 10th Precinct.   

“We do a lot of, we call them ‘walk talks,’ where we walk around campus and engage with people,” he added. “It comes with the territory. We are in such a unique environment, where you have to be able to do everything. And I think, as a department, we are doing a great job.” 

For more information, please visit the FSC University Police Department webpage. 

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